Posts Tagged ‘plants’

WINTER KILLS

Posted: February 12, 2013 in Bromeliads, Bromeliaholic, Desert gardening, Plants, Tillandsia, Uncategorized
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Hummingbird resting on Aloe Dichtoma (Quiver Tree)

OK, Yes, the blog title is a Yazoo reference (I’m a huge Vince Clark/Alison Moyet fan!)  I kept thinking about this song because of the crazy cold winter we are having (NOTHING compared to the rest of the country, but yet & still, cold for US).  It has been awhile since I last made an entry.  For the most part this is because I was doing damage control after freezing temps jacked up some of my fave Broms.  I’ve been removing them from their planting media and pots, washing them well. letting them dry out a bit, then treating with SuperThrive & repotting them.  A few seem to be perking up.  Sadly, I lost 5 plants to the cores freezing and rotting out.  An Aechmea ‘Greg’ was among them.  I’m bummed!  A. Greg is a Aechmea chantinii hybrid that has amazing leaf coloring & the inflorescence when blooming is one of the most showy of the Aechmea hybrids, in my opinion.  I guess it is the yellow & salmon emerging from the purple/burgundy & olive green that really does it for me…

Aechmea mother plant of my offset that perished

Aechmea ‘Greg’ mother plant of my offset that perished

If I had more suitable plant-space in the house, I would have brought all the plants indoors.  I did put most of the frost sensitive plants under our back covered patio for protection.  The cold wind was something I didn’t factor into the equation.  Everything just got chill-blasted from what seemed like every direction!  I was afraid some of the “Tank-Broms” were going to have problems in the winter months—One reason I haven’t obtained more of these species.  They are so attractive and that makes me want to buy them, but when I lose even one of them, it fills me with sadness & regret.  The way our house was designed and constructed for energy efficiency here in the Desert, there aren’t many windows to provide bright sunlight for these sun-loving Bromeliads.  What few windows we have, are already home to species I keep inside year-round.  (The next house we get, I am going to insist on a conservatory or a sunroom!<LOL>)  The climate in our house is much more hospitable to tropical Bromeliads, unfortunately, space is limited.

Ananas comosus 'Variegatus' in its spot by my living-room French doors

Ananas comosus ‘Variegatus’ in its spot by my living-room French doors

In my last post (My Birthday in the Rainforest)  I stated I would post pictures of the plants I purchased at RFI.  Here are photos of them below…

T. straminea sitting on a piece of driftwood I found in the garage

T. straminea sitting on a piece of driftwood I found in the garage

Tillandsia straminea in his spot in my bathroom among his cousins

Tillandsia straminea in his spot in my bathroom among his cousins

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Vriesea philippo-coburgii

Example of Vriesea philippo-coburgii bloom-stalk

Example of Vriesea philippo-coburgii bloom-stalk

V. philippo-coburgii and Neoregelia hybrid in front window

V. philippo-coburgii and Neoregelia in front window

Tillandsia x'Creation': hybrid of T. Cyanea & T. platyrhachis. Bought from RFI

Tillandsia x’Creation’: hybrid of T. Cyanea & T. platyrhachis

Tillandsia 'Creation'

Maroon foliage detail of Tillandsia ‘Creation’

T. 'Creation' in bloom

T. ‘Creation’ in bloom

As sad as it is to lose plants to bad weather….Life does go on—and so I keep collecting plants like a Mad Man!  As much grief as my Partner gives me about being a plant hoarder,  He hasn’t really helped my addiction any.  Here’s a plant that he picked up for me at a garden center for me for Valentines Day!!  I tried to identify it with a name (could not)—Best as I can tell, it is some form of spineless Neoregelia hybrid.  It sure it pretty though!

Neoregelia hybrid that my Partner gave me for Valentines Day!

Neoregelia hybrid that my Partner gave me for Valentines Day!

He also brought home an Orchid which is really beautiful.  I cautioned him that HE is to be responsible for it as I have a ‘black thumb’ when it comes to growing Orchids (which is really unfortunate, because I meet so many Orchid collectors who want to trade plants with me!  There is usually zero humidity here in the Desert which makes it oh-so-difficult for me to successfully keep them happy.  Excuses, excuses…I know, because SOME HOW folks manage to grow them in Palm Springs quite well!  *sigh*….)

Of course, I’ve got some new editions out in the backyard as well.  Most are Hechtias with the odd Dyckia & Puya here and there.  I have (just) A FEW more en route as I am writing this.  I will endeavor to show them after they have arrived—along with the others I haven’t posted in this thread.  Some that I bought from an online retailer look a bit stressed from their shipping journey.  I wanted to treat them with Superthrive and see if they pretty up.  This isn’t growth season for Bromeliads and I hesitate to fertilize ANY Terrestrial Brom in February for fear of burning.  Perhaps, some of these guys just need some time to acclimate.

The majority of the new spiny fellows pictured below I have obtained from Andy Siekkinen (Seller sda128 on ebay) & Liz Butler (Seller redfinkelstein on ebay).  They are both located in the San Diego area & the growing climate there is milder in summer as well as winter than here in the Desert.  Plants I buy from both sellers always arrive healthy and in great shape after shipping.  I can’t say enough good things about either and highly recommend them both as terrific sources for Terrestrial Bromeliads.  I know Andy was President of The San Diego Bromeliad Society for quite a few terms and is owner of Eagle Eye Adventures: Botanically themed tours & Botanical education & exploration (www.eagle-eye-adventures.com).  Liz Butler is proprietor of Cycad Mania and has been collecting for quite some time.  If you are interested in finding out more detailed information about the Terrestrial Bromeliads pictured below, I recommend checking out XericWorld.com.  It’s a forum site dedicated to growers, collectors, enthusiasts and admirers alike of Succulents, Cacti, Agave, Aloe as well as Bromeliads.  I checked out threads there long before actually becoming a member.  I’ve been finding some really useful information there as well as meeting cool like-minded gardeners.  I would like to become more knowledgeable about other succulent plant species, Cacti, palms & Cycads.  Xeric World Forums is a GREAT place to start learning & interacting!! 😉

Hechtia 'X1' Andy Siekkinen hybrid (H. texensis x H. stenopetala)

Hechtia ‘X1’ Andy Siekkinen hybrid (H. texensis x H. stenopetala)

Hechtia argentea

Hechtia argentea

Hechtia 'Bakers Beauty'

Hechtia ‘Bakers Beauty’

Hechtia glomerata RA clone

Hechtia glomerata RA clone

Hechtia scariosa (left) and Hechtia sp. collected by Dorothy Byer (aka: "H. NOT-arentea")

Hechtia scariosa (left) and Hechtia sp. collected by Dorothy Byer (aka: “H. NOT-argentea”)

Hechtia marnier-lapostollet

Hechtia marnier-lapostollei

Hechtia lyman-smithii starting to bloom

Hechtia lyman-smithii starting to bloom

Puya collected in north Huaraz, Peru by Kelly Griffin

Puya collected in north Huaraz, Peru by Kelly Griffin

Orthophytum sp. purchased from redfinkelstein

Orthophytum sp. purchased from redfinkelstein

Tephrocactus articulatis in bloom

Posted: December 13, 2012 in Desert gardening, Plants
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OK, so this plant is a trip.  It came to me several years ago from my Partner, who had previously kept it with him as he moved from different places in Southern California and in the Inland Empire.  He obtained it from his best friend, Nancy, who bought it from a yard-sale in Highland AGES AGO.  He said he gave it to me because: “You like funky, bizarre & ugly plants.”

Hmmm….I tried not to take that personally!

To the best of any of our knowledges, it has never bloomed for any of us before now.  After long and tedious web-searching, I have come to find this plant is some type of Tephrocactus articulatis (subfamily: Opuntioideae).  These species come from high elevations in the Andes mountains and are generally very frost resistant.  Without the bloom, it has always just looked like strange half-dead, phallic alien pods!  At any rate, I thought it deserved a spot here in the blog.

Tephrocactus articulatis among my specimens

Tephrocactus articulatis

Tephrocactus articulatis

Tillandsias in bloom

Posted: December 11, 2012 in Bromeliaholic, Plants
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Tillandsia recurvifolia is an attractive small plant suited to sunny, semi-dry locations with short stout silvery grey leaves forming a compact rosette, well covered with silver scales.  It is native to Bolivia and Brazil.  I was very happy to see it start blooming this last weekend and decided to snap a few pics of it today.  I guess it likes its bright spot in my master bathroom window!

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Tillandsia are members of the subfamily Tillandsioideae and of the entire bromeliad family comprise the largest number of species and cover the widest range of territory.  Identified species presently number in excess of 650 and new varieties are being discovered each year.  They are found throughout South America from Argentina to Venezuela and Columbia & in Central America from Panama to Mexico and the West Indies.

I am currently building up my collection of Tillandsias very gradually here in the Desert.  When I lived in Los Angeles (before 2003) I had been given many unusual species from a Brom collector who was the housemate of a person I was dating.  When I first saw his collection of Bromeliads, I nearly lost my mind!!  Rows and rows containing many species and large growing varieties of Aechmea, Portea, Billbergia and Neoregelia—just MAGNIFICENT!!  Hanging proudly above them all under shade-cloth canopies were a massive amount of bizarre looking colonies of Tillandsias.

The humidity in L.A. is great for most Tillandsias and I never had a problem growing them there.  Here in D.H.S. I have had to research which plants will adapt to life with very little humidity in the air.  Tillandsias are probably the most fascinating group in the entire plant kingdom.  Commonly known as ‘air plants’, they take in moisture and nutrients through their leaves.  They have relatively small root systems, just enough to secure them to their support, such as tree branches or rocks.  I have been trying to stick with “Tillys” from hot, dry regions which usually have greyish, green or reddish foliage, and are covered with a silvery scale that are called tricomes.  Though, sometimes I cannot resist the allure of the soft, green leafed varieties that are usually found in the natural habitat, high in the tree tops of humid wet rain-forests.  Luckily, Tillandsias are very adaptive to their surroundings and with regular weekly soakings (submerging plants completely for several hours during the day) followed by a thorough drying out period before putting them back in the bright growing locations, mine have been doing very well.Image

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Tillandsia x”Eric Knobloch” in bloomImage

Detail of T. recurvifolias bright salmon-pink bracts and white flowers

Detail of T. recurvifolias bright salmon-pink bracts and white flowers

Billbergia ‘Casablanca’

Posted: December 10, 2012 in Bromeliaholic, Plants
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Billbergia ‘Casablanca’ is a cross of Billbergia ‘Caramba’ & B. ‘Afterglow’. It was bred by Bob Spivey.  I have just a few Billbergia in my collection, but this particular plant has the most noteworthy foliage of them all.  It has olive-green strap-like leaves which grow in narrow upright vase form covered in white spots (mottling) with overall pink cast.  This plant has just started blooming and honestly shocked me when I saw the brilliant colors of the flowers and bracts.  I thought the leaves of Casablanca were spectacular—so the bloom is just gravy as far as I’m concerned!  Hardy to zone 10, I’ve been growing this plant in my back yard under a large Queen palm and tucked together with a few other Broms and a large Aloe.  I know Billbergia prefer bright light of filtered sun–full sun in some humid climates.  This plant seems to be handling the colder Desert nights quite well.  Our cold nights here was one concern I had for buying too many Billbergia and other tropical Broms right off the bat.  As long it is protected from frost I have the feeling it will make it through the winter just fine (it is Dec 10 today).

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ImageBillbergias are native to eastern Brazil, Mexico and Central America for the most part, but have also been found in Peru and Argentina.  They are epiphytes and in their natural habitat and found usually in large clumps growing in good light.  Some plants do fall from their high perches and grow very well in the ground, adapting to a terrestrial habit without any difficulty.

One thing about Billbergias I have noted is that their blooms don’t often last as long as other Bromeliads such as Aechmeas, Dyckias or Hechtias.  The color combos are often very remarkable, though!  Since the flowers are only around for a short while–Don’t forget to snap some pics before they are gone! 😉

I bought this plant as a clump from shirleygk a Bromeliad Seller on eBay.  Her store’s name is “The Nature Collection”.  Shirley has many gorgeous healthy plants for sale year round and many are hard to find exotic species.

I will be buying many more plants from her in the future!

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My on-going fascination with fierce Flora…

Posted: September 7, 2012 in Bromeliads, Bromeliaholic, Desert gardening, Plants
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"Wild Mexican Pineapple" or "Heart of Flame"

My Bromelia Balansae currently in bloom

I’ve been growing and collecting plants for many years (more than I’d care to admit at this point in my Blog!!)  I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii & from a very young age was drawn to plants that looked harsh & evil but then would eventually produce the most flabbergasting colorful blooms!!  My parents and I lived in a small area called Ewa Beach.  Our little cul-de-sac was surrounded by dense wooded areas as well as commercial Sugar Cane & Pineapple (Ananas Cosmosus, a terrestrial Bromeliad belonging to the subfamily Bromelioideae, originating from Brazil.) fields.  My Mom was obsessed with Pineapple motif decor and I soon became intrigued with the Pineapple plant and wanted to know everything about it (Of course, this led to me DEMANDING that we take a tour of the Dole Pineapple Plant which bothered Mama, because ‘Only tourists do THAT!’).  Keep in mind, at this point in my life I was 6 years old.

Today, I live in the Southern California Desert—Desert Hot Springs, to be exact.  The summer months here can be pretty brutal, but the rest of the year is spot-on GORGEOUS!  We have sun here about 97% of the time, and I have found that you can grow almost anything here with the right micro-climates in your yard or indoors by bright windows.  I’ll try to stick with this blogging thing.  It is kind of new to me–I’ve only ever done 1 other private blog and that was basically just a photo sharing tool for myself and a friend of mine on the East Coast!  I decided to give this a ‘GO’ because I haven’t found many folks such as myself here in the Desert who are into collecting and growing Bromeliads.  When I lived in Los Angeles, I met MANY.  Perhaps it is due to the milder climate/higher humidity there.  When I relocated to Palm Springs in 2003, I sadly left many prized plants behind because they were so happy in their landscape spots in & under tall trees and rock gardens, I didn’t have the heart to dig them up or cut them down just to potentially fry them in the hot & dry desert climate.  It is a good thing, too—For the KEY to having your Tropical Broms thrive out here in 120° heat is microclimates.  Both houses I have lived in here in the Desert were on empty dirt lots with just pools when I bought them.  I had to do extensive landscape plantings in both cases to create the right environments for my collection of plants.  So, I brought with me my most desert geared plants: Terrestrial Bromelia, Dyckia, Deuterocohnias, Hechtia, Puyas—as well as Agaves, Aloes, Cacti, Cycads & Yuccas.  Sure, if you are in the Desert and have the time, $$$$ and space for climate-controlled Shadehouses, you can get right to it growing soft-leaved varieties of Bromeliads.  My next house, I would like to have a couple of shadehouses with irrigation, misters and rows and rows of Neos, Guzmanias, Vriesea and Cryptanthus.  I the meantime, I do what I can with what I have to work with!!

Stay Tuned!! 😉