More tillandsias from Brian Chudleigh fillana’sia edithiae BROMEUADS NEW ZEALAND May 2005 Vol 45 No 5 \ 'Tlllands'la cultivation *P-l‘us...time to gef yo b: oms ready for Wi t BROMELIADS NEW ZEALAND EYY BromeliadSoeietyolNcealandlne Bromeliad Journal — May issue 2005 CONTENTS President’s Page 3 The Society’s April meeting news — Dave Anderson 4 Eden Gardens update 5 Tillandsia cultivation — Brian Chudleigh 6 Seed Bank — Barry Uren 11 Getting ready for Winter — Gerry Stansfield 12 We’re all a little different — H.Alton Lee 14 Update on Brisbane conference 15 Buy & Swap 15 Tillandsia ionantha a delightful miniature — Dave Anderson 16 Sharing a garden — Jacquie Storm 18 Group news 19 Society officers, subs and Journal directory 23 More tillandsia photos from Brian Chudleigh 24 The opinions expressed in articles or letters in this Journal are the contributors’ own views and do not necessarily express the views or the policy of the Bromeliad Society of New Zealand COMING EVENTS For details of Bromeliad group meetings, venues and times, see the Group news section, starting on page 19. MAY JUNE contd OFFICERS Patron: Patricia Sweeney President: Barry Uren (09)520—0246 Vice Presidents: Lester Ching (09)576—4595 Alan Cliffc (09)479-l451 Secretary: Glenys Guild (09)810-9669 Treasurer: Peter Waters (09)534-5616 Librarian: Noelcne Ritson (09)625-81]4 Committee: Dave Anderson Becky Cavit Bev Ching Jocelyn Coyle Andrew Devonshire Jason Lio Natalie Morris Andrew Steens (09)638-867l (09)482-2994 (09)576-4595 (09)416—8272 (09)478-2562 (09)580-1984 (09)520—0246 (o9)425—7474 22"" Wellington Tillandsia Study Group meeting 24tll Society meeting at Greyfriars Hall, corner of Mt Eden and Windmill Roads, Mt Eden, Auckland at 7.30pm. Plant of the month: Variegated aechmeas. Gerry Stansfield will talk on ‘Variegations in bromeliads’ and show examples. 11"‘l 12fll Subtropical Society sale atASB Stadium, Corner Kepa and Kohimarama Roads, Auckland. 9.00am-2.00pm both days. $5.00 entry. 12‘“ Far North Group meeting. l9th Eastern Bay of Plenty Group meeting. 26“ Society working bee at Eden Gardens, from 1 1.00am. Life Members: Laurie Dcphoff, Harry Sandy Stonham Martin, Patricia Perratt, Patricia Sweeney, Alan Thomson Len Trotman Des Yeates Auditor: Colin Gosse Cultivar Registrar: Scientific Officer: Gerry Stansficld Peter Waters (09)534-5616 Seed Bank Chairman: Barry Uren (09)627-9658 (09)620-6959 (09)838-6535 (09)834-7l78 (09)520-0246 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION New Zealand: 7 Ordinary membership NZ $35.00 ($5.00 discount if paid before-the end ofFebruary) Dual membership (same household) NZ $45.00 ($5.00 discount also applies as above). Overseas: AUD $30.00 Australia, US $30.00 United States and other overseas countries. Send all pay- ments to the Treasurer, Peter Waters, 22 Half Moon Rise, Bucklands Beach, AUCKLAND. CORRESPONDENCE All general correspondence should be sentto the Secretary, Bromeliad Society of New Zealand, P.O.Box 108-168, Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand. The opinions expressed in letters or articles in the Journal are the contributors’ own views and do not necessarily express the Views or the policy of the Bromeliad Society of New Zealand Inc. BROMELIAD JOURNAL Deadline All enquiries and contributions welcome, For all editorial and advertising, the first Egigfgfi‘igéltgftSingd’fizmggieif$232323; Tuesday ofpubllcationmonth Half Moon Rise, Bucklands Beach, 28*“ Hawkes Bay Group meeting 28"I Society meeting at Greyfriars Hall, comer of Mt Eden and Windmill Roads, JUNE Mt Eden, Auckland at 7.30pm. Plant of 5“ SouthAuckland Group meeting. the month: Vriesea species. Brian 8‘“ Bay of Plenty Group meeting. Chudleigh, from Bay of Plenty, will talk on growing cryptanthus. Front cover story: Thanks go to Bay of Plenty grower and photographer, Brian Chudleigh, for our article on tillandsia cultivation. It starts on Page 6. On the cover we have fillandsiafascz‘culata v. venosispica (sometimes incorrectly called v. tricolor) Editorial Committee Auckland or DaveAnderson email: waterspj@ihug.co.nz Murray Mathieson Barry Uren Display advertising Peter Waters Rates are: Full Page $60.00 Half Page $30.00 Regular writers Q11arter Page $15-00 33,11,312“... ‘BuyMwaP’ Geri S taiis fiel d Listings in ‘Buy & Swap’ are FREE for 'y members of the Society (max 30 words). For Production advertising enquiries and material, please Murray Mathieson contact Murray Mathieson Ph (09) 418 0366 Distribution or email: mathieson.marketing@xtra.co.nz Roy Morton 23 22 had flowered after 15 years and produced a seed pod. T sphaerocephala is flowering after being moved to a cooler position. Other plants discussed: T capitata (caulescent, Guatemala) with a long inflorescence and deep purple flowers, T califanii with purple tubular flowers , Tcochabambae with a deep pink spike and mauve flowers, and T ixioides ‘White Star’ a yellow flowered one. Next meeting: May 22"" at 1.30pm at Morris Tarr’s, 32 Plunket Ave, Petone. Hawke’s Bay Group - Julie Greenhill Our A.G.M. was held on the 23rd April with 12 people attending. The current officers were all re-elected and matters i 'r I i arising from last years minutes discussed, covering mostly our use of funds and the possibility of changing our meeting times to suit more people. Then followed a normal meeting including discussion and photos from our recent Whakatane “experience” and other general housekeeping. Colin Anderson told us about his visit to Auckland recently and, particularly, how impressed he was with Peter Brady’s garden in Epsom. Julie Greenhill led a session learning about Aechmea fasciata and its different forms and hybrids. The competition was won by Judy Newman with a Tillandsia viridiflora, Wade Smith with Neo. ‘Sheer Joy’ second and Margaret Bluck with Neo. ‘Midnight’ was third. A lovely flowering vriesea was the raffle . prize won by Annette Menzies. Next meeting: May 28th at Masonic Hall.’ ' Viliflwiififiitiifitifitfififi Spend sometime at POTTERING ABOUT GARDEN CENTRE * Orchids * Bromeliads * Succulents * Tropical plants * and much more 254 Military Road, Otakiri, Whakatane Bay of Plenty (67) 3228201 Presldent’s Page e nights are drawing in and the I temperatures in Auckland have plummeted this last month with temperatures to 5°C and 6°C. It is time to think of pulling out your frost cloth and making sure that all tender plants are covered or taken inside. Many of the aechmeas, tillandsias and indeed the variegated neoregelias do not like the mixture of cold and wet which we so often get in Auckland and are susceptible to cold damage so, be warned and take precautions early and do not be sorry later. Over recent years we seem to be getting a lot of polar blasts in our weather so be aware and keep a close eye on the forecast. It was gratifying that a good number of people from the Committee turned up at the Eden Gardens working bee, however, it was disappointing that only one couple from the general membership gave of their time. Thanks to, Pat Sweeney, Len Trotman, Gerry Stansfield, Dianne Timmins, Joanne Elder, Barry Uren, Andrew Steens and Sally Bolton for their offers of donations of nidulariums. The next working bee will be Sunday 26‘h June at l 1.003m in Eden Gardens. Please try to give your Society a couple of hours of your time and, if you can, please donate some plants so we can make this something to be proud of for all bromeliad lovers. The Committee is pleased to announce that our Society with be represented at the Subtropical Society sale and conference as a means of putting your Society before the public, thanks to the generosity of Marjorie Lowe. It’s at the ASB Stadium on June 11th and 12th from 9am-2pm. Our October Sale and Novice Show will be held on the weekend of 29th and 30th October at the Milford School, 34 Shakespeare Rd Milford, open each day from 10am-4 pm. This is a nice venue with a backdrop of Lake Pupuke. It would be great to think we could top the 89 entries we had in last year’s Novice event and as we have a very nice trophy list it is well worth winning. So come on you novices, start grooming your plants so that we can show off some fine plants to the North Shore public. If you need help in selecting and preparing your plants any member of your Committee will happily assist, all you have to do is ask. More bromeliad URLs for the computer buffs amongst you try : Anwyl Bromeliads: http://www.anwyl.com/ Bromeliads on Line: http://www.bromeliads.co.nz/ Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies: http://www.fcbs.org/ ' Charlies Web: http://www.charlies—web.com/ Bromeliad Society International: http://www.bsi.org/ Keep your Broms well and warm!!! I Barry Uren Bromellad Soclety Aprll Meetlng News bout 80 members attended the AApril meeting. Peter Waters lead he discussion on the Show and Tell plants. First up and wanting a name was a Neoregelia carolinae type that had a brilliant purple centre with leaves with relatively wide sheaths. It was reminiscent of Neo carolinae ‘Princeps’ but this usually has somewhat narrower leaves near the base, so the conclusion was that it was probably a carolinae hybrid. A Billbergia for naming was identified as De Nada - a Don Beadle cross made in 1979; ‘cv. of amoena x ‘Manda’s Othello’ - Beadle said “Small to 14” laxly loose flared bulbous asymmetric rosette becoming mostly white at maturity - bordered and marbled in barn red”. Finally Lester Ching had brought in for display two Tillandsia pruinosa plants - one with the inflorescence always remaining green while the other plant had pink floral bracts. The plants had been grown from the same batch of seed and grown side by side. Peter said that this does occasionally happen and if one wanted to label each plant the colour could be written in brackets afier the plant name. They could be given different cultivar names but this is probably not justified Paddy Escott won the special raffle prize this month with the door prizes going to Noelene Read, Philippa Lendrum and Len Trotrnan. COMPETITIONS Open Flowering: First Gerry Stansfield with Vriesea ospinae var gruberi and second was Peter Coyle with Neoregelia ‘Yellow Devil’ - cv. of cruenta ‘Sun King’ - Dave Anderson X kautskyi - Elmore says, “Medium upright plant resembling cruenta - upreaching leaves in yellow- green w/tiny red spots”. Vriesea ospinae var gruberi has beautiful dark banding up its leaves, however like Vriesea splendens the pups grow tightly around the flower spike and are difficult to remove. Added to this it requires some warmth and protection through the winter in Auckland - hence it is not common in many collections. Also in the competition were Canistropsis ‘Citron’; Neoregelia ‘Fosperior Perfection’ and ‘Sand Flea’; Wittrockia superba - looks lovely growing in full sun; Guzmam'a ‘Cherry’, wittmackii and ‘Grand Prix’ with it’s scarlet red spike. Open Foliage: Jocelyn Coyle was first with aNeoregelia ‘Milagro’ — this beautiful plant and ‘Pemiento’ its sister were the only two plants kept from the entire grex that Skotak made, and second was Peter Coyle with Vriesea ‘Tasman Hybrid’. In the competition were Aechmea fosteriana; Guzmania zahm'i (variegated); Neoregeliajohannis and a wrongly named concentrica with red leaves that was probably ‘Morris Henry Hobbs’ - other cvs. from this last grex are ‘Fosperior’ & ‘Dexters Pride’; xNeophytum ‘Burgundy Hill’; Vriesea ‘Afterglow’ and ‘Tasman Ferris Wheel’. Tillandsia: David Cowie was first with Tillandsia ‘Creation’ and second with Tillandsia ehlersiana was Win Shorrock. There were also on the table Tillandsia confertiflora, fasciculata var fasciculata, latifolia var divaricata, mallemontii, parryi, standleyi and stricta. Named Plant (Neoregelia species): First was David Goss’ Competition Winners: 1. Guz ‘Peacockii’ - B. Chudleigh, 2. Neo ‘Big Pinkie’ ~ D. Shaw, 3. Vr ‘Poelmannii’ select Tillandsia Competition: 1. Till. capitata — B. Chudleigh, 2. Till. leiboldiana — B. Schollum, 2. 3. Till. stricta — J. Elder Next Meeting: 12.30pm on June 8‘“. Guest speaker: David Anderson ‘Aspects of Tillandsia’ Note: Garden visits are suspended. The Far North Bromeliad Group - Pauline Sutherland About 40 gathered at the home of Isobel Rigden in Hobson Ave. It was interesting to see the growth in both bromeliads and palms in the 2 years since we had seen her garden. It was suggested we form a committee. Our group is growing fast and we are spending too much time on trivial matters and not talking enough about bromeliads! Leo our Past President and now Treasurer, disagreed and resigned. Several members spoke in favour and the resulting vote was 26 for and 10 against. Arlene has taken on the position of Treasurer. Our club had purchased 95 tillandsias from Anwyl Bromeliads in Wellington and these were quickly purchased by members. Our President, Laurie, showed us some tillandsias he had mounted on aged native timber. Several of the Far North ladies joined the Whangarei bus trip to visit a few gardens in West Auckland, and what a wonderful time we all had. As usual the bus was full to overflowing with fantastic plants. It is these trips that bond us together. Competition Plant was won by Maureen Green with an Aechmea ‘Flavo Rosea’ Next Meeting: June 12‘“ at Howard Plank’s amazing garden in Kerikeri. Wellington Tillandsia Study Group - Phyllis Purdie Eight members met at the home of Ginny Rastall in Paraparaumu in April. We discussed that tests in Australia showed that pink shade cloth was best for plants, white was next. Tillandsias need cooler temperatures to flower and as our nights have been higher this year many have not flowered. Sometimes changing their position alone will bring on flowers. T plagiotropica is a cool growing plant. T tenuifolia (blue) had pale lavender/blue flowers. T tenuifolia (amethyst) had white flowers. T guatemalensis was in spike but very pale - probably in too high a 1ight.Two plants of T mallemontii, bearing blue scented flowers. T crocata, two plants, - from the warm shade and in flower — and from outside and not in bud yet. T didisticha, grown outside, had flowered for a long time. T humilis was slow growing.- Five seedlings were mounted on a stick and flowering for the first time at 14 years. T rectifolia, (ionanthe x schiedeana), grown cool,had yellow flowers. T paleacea ssp apurimacensis had flowers similar to mallemontii but with thicker leaves. Another slow grower, T tricholepsis was had flowered for the first time after 10 years. The smallest tillandsia there, T bryoides, was 15 mm fully grown. It cont'd p.22 21 20 Next meeting: 8“1 May at Betty Gaukrodger’s, 211 Tony Ave, Thames. South Auckland Bromeliad Group - Roy Morton On Sunday of Anzac weekend we filled a 53 seater coach and went north to see Avon Ryan at Whangarei. Our driver, Don, (an Elvis impersonator) told us that our coach had the longest wheelbase of any coach in New Zealand. At Avon’s we had our lunch and drooled over of some of his beautiful hybrids. We snapped up all the bromeliads available to us, and would have bought more - given half a chance. On our way back home we went shopping at Andrew Steen’s nursery in Matakana, Exotica, where many of us succumbed to temptation and bought more plants. We had a good turnout for our May meeting, which was held at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens. Gerry Stansfleld was our guest speaker and he gave a very interesting insight into the shady world of nidulariums. He bought some of his own collection for us to see including one that is quite rare in New Zealand. The raffle prizes went to Brian Kitcher and Marion Morton. Next meeting: June 5'“ at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens in Manurewa. Our guest speaker will be David Brewer from Kerikeri. He will give us his ideas on hybridizing, and his talk will cover seed raising and growing on to seedlings. Bay of Plenty Bromeliad Group - Gay Bambery Our April meeting attracted 43 members and 3 visitors. Being the celebration of the 10‘“ anniversary of the group it was a special occasion marked with a birthday cake and a catered afternoon tea. Gwen McCallum and Lynley Roy gave a brief summary of the first meetings of the 12 members. Nine of these founding members are still active in our group and were given nametags to recognise this. Founding members showed examples of the plants that first . captured their interest. Jo Elder — 7711. stricta, Audrey Hewson — Till. velutina in 1985, Lynley Roy - Till. punctulata ex Anne Connolly, Anne Connolly — absent, Anne Stacey — Nidularium family heirloom of 60+ years, Aec. ‘Aztec Gold’ ex Bea Hanson Jill Forsyth — Neo ex Elva Edmonds (founding member deceased), Elizabeth Bailey — Till. crocata 20+ years ex Cor Schipper, Gladys Fisher — Neo. carolinae, Lorna Grey — Aechmea of 40+ years ex her mother Brian Chudleigh gave a very enlightening talk on guzmanias. He mentioned that there were approx 180 species, mostly epiphytic and mostly from Mexico to E. Brazil. Humidity is preferred by these plants with heat and sun disliked. A well drained potting mix, lots of water in the growing season and fertiliser then produced good results. Primarily they are cold sensitive. Offsets can be difficult to remove owing to developing higher up the parent plant and are best removed in October. One or two don’t develop tall heads of bracts eg. sanguinea. Our library book edition of “Blooming Bromeliads” by Baensch & Baensch is now a reference book only. A Spanish edition with translation is available for loan. cont ’0' p.21 Neoregelia pascoaliana. Judy Graham was second with Neoregelia pauczflora. In the competition were Neoregelia cathcartii, cruenta, marmorata, seideliana and zonata. Novice Flowering: First was Luis Lachica with anAechmeaflavorosea and second with Orthophytum gurkenii was John Mitchell. Novice Foliage: First was Paddy Escott with Vrieseafosteriana and second was Esther Irving with Aechmea ‘Lucky Stripes’. The Plant of the Month went to Jocelyn Coyle with Neoregelia ‘Milagro’. Congratulations to all the winners. NEXT MEEHNG: Tuesday 24"' May. I Eden Gardens update. Next working bee...June 26‘“. The next working bee at Eden Gardens will be on Sunday June 26‘“, again at 11.00am. The focus will be on the neoregelia area - designated as the area to the left of the stairway. A morning tea will be prepared for volunteers! If you can, please help us by sparing a couple of hours. If any members have neoregelias to donate please get in contact with Alan Thomson on 620 6959. We are also looking for tillandsias to “wire” onto the rock faces. EXOTICA Huge Autumn sale now on. Come and see us at Exotica, or order online at www.bromeliads.co.nz Thousands of bromeliads at low prices! mmmmmm m1nvsrm-mrnmeus1n4 www.bromeliads.co.nz email: info@bromeliads.co.nz 11llandsla cultlvatlon T he tillandsia, with its 700 different species, is the largest genus in the bromeliad family. Often referred to as air plants, many of the species grow naturally as epiphytes or terrestrially in rain forests, are soft leaved and should be cultivated as pot plants in a warm, semi-shaded area where they will take frequent watering in warm weather. Others require very high light and dry feet to do well, will tolerate high temperatures and infrequent watering and still look ' good. Size variation is incredible, from giants like T. australis which looks more like a huge alcantarea and reaches a metre in diameter to the minute T. bryoides that reaches just 4-5mm in diameter and looks more like a moss than a bromeliad. Providing the Right Home Many tillandsias are reasonably hardy and can be grown outside in frost free areas, while others, notably the silver leafed species, need high light levels and grow and look far better when given overhead shelter from winter rains. In fact most tillandsias grow quicker and floWer better under some sort of greenhouse conditions. They need free air movement and a fully enclosed greenhouse with stagnant humid air is not ideal. We grow some in a greenhouse with shade cloth, covered walls and clear Twinwall roof. We hang shade cloth under the roof when summer temperatures become extreme; tillandsias near the roof, bum without it. I tack frost cloth over the walls in - Brian Chudleigh winter. This material breathes so the air is never stagnant. In winter watering is reduced so the plants are never left with wet foliage overnight. The rest of the collection is housed in an all plastic greenhouse over which I have hung shade cloth. Maximum temperatures are around 37°C in there in summer. On cold nights I put a small electric fan heater set on low in this greenhouse which has kept minimum temperature to about 3-4°C, enough to prevent damage. How to Have Healthy Plants Forget the term air plant if you want to have good looking, healthy plants which flower well. For best performance you need to treat them as you would other bromeliads, giving them optimum environmental conditions, regular watering and feeding. With greenhouse temperatures reaching 30°C or more from spring to autumn we find the plants will take a good soaking at least twice a week. When very hot we spray every second morning (always water in the morning so the foliage dries out before sunset). I feed our plants every week or 10 days in warm weather with half strength Phostrogen, alternating with another that is low on nitrogen, also mixed at low strength. Showing Off . The hard leafed, epiphytic species are best glued to small pieces of wood — driftwood looks better than sawn wood - using Selleys Liquid Nails high strength. Silicone glues do not do the com '61 R9 NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Eastern Bay of Plenty Bromeliad and Orchid Group - Christine Borlase We did not hold a meeting in April, instead about 40 of us travelled to the Western Bay of Plenty to visit gardens in the Tauranga area. The first garden, up a winding road high in the Papamoa Hills with a panoramic view of the coast, was a feast of succulents, the home of Kerry Cossey and family. The diversity of shape and form inspired us. Kerry is a succulent enthusiast, and business partner in El Jakedo nursery with Donna O’Toole, a member of the Bay of Plenty Bromeliad Group, whose garden was the second we toured - with some very choice broms. On to Greerton, on the way passing Aztec Nursery, with broms, palms and succulents, and where boots became even fuller, and bank balances lower, but who could resist? We visited two gardens in Greerton, firstly that of Elizabeth Bailey, who revived us with tea and biscuits, for which we were very grateful, and where we were impressed with the health of her plants, fed on a tea made from Comfrey leaves and sheep pellets. Then it was round the corner to Bertha and Kevin Schollum who have an amazing collection of broms on a fairly small section. We would like to say a very big thank you to the Tauranga members for their hospitality, we had a marvellous day. Next meetings: May 15‘h at Alison Jarrett’s June 19‘h at Ohiwa gardens (Barbara Rogers) Thames Valley — Coromandel Bromeliad Group - Kay Steen This time we traveled to Whangamata and the home of Fay Cox. 26 of us admired her garden, both outside and inside the small glasshouse attached to the back of the house. The perimeter was made up of a stone garden with bromeliads and succulents. We listened to a talk by Dianna Litton regarding her friendship with Bea Hanson. Dianna had known Bea since 1994 when she asked her friend, Doreen Priestley, what she could do to remove a large tree stump at the bottom of her garden and was advised not to dig it out but to plant it with broms. Bea being a friend of Doreen’s came to help and also brought some broms as well. Each year Bea came over to Dianna’s property to see how the broms were doing and to look at the babies and also brought more to be planted. We visited and admired Fay Clark’s garden and also looked at her paintings and her husband’s taxidermy. A talented couple! Next, we visited the garden of Cleone Cooper. She had an area under her terrace that was full of broms. Colleen said she thought there were only 30 and after counting them there were 118! On the way home we saw the garden of Dianna Litton. She had uprooted her broms from Howick when the move was made and placed them in the beautiful site they have at Onemana overlooking Mayor Island. 19 18 Sharlng a garden hile many Aucklanders rush off to the Takapuna markets on a Sunday there are those who make a regular pilgrimage to Browns Bay. There, one might expect to find Lou and his fresh vegetables from Coatesville, Walter with his china and German bread, Daphne and her hand knitted baby clothes and many more. But what really draws me to the market are the bromeliad sellers. Three of these folk belong to the Society and from time to time the occasional ‘outsider’ turns up. To guess what one might be tempted with on a Sunday is all part of the chase. These sellers have become friends with their clients over the past months. Their patience in dealing with ignorant gardeners is immense and many a convert would have been made. Four of us, two sellers and two clients, arranged to visit two Torbay gardens after the market. The first, near Waiake beach, is a large garden by modern standards, 1250 sq m. Mature palms shelter banks of bromeliads that have been left to clump. There is a mixture of potted bromeliads, and plantings made directly into the ground. Four potted Vriesea philippo-coburgii look stunning as a group. - Jacquie Storm This gardener is also no mean painter, and later we were treated to seeing bromeliad paintings and several of tigers and horses. A light lunch was followed by a trip up the hill to a cliff top property. This was also art orientated - a apotter’s home complete with a showroom. It’s another big property but not fully landscaped. One wanders past natives and ferns to the nidularium garden. Here hostas and ferns live alongside the bromeliads with polka dot plants used as accents. Turning east reveals a stunning sea view but first one has to pass a circular garden which is eclectic in its presentation. Tall iresine filters various shades of brilliant reds. (Iresine is a slightly wrinkly, showy leafed plant up to a metre high, with spectacular colour). There are bromeliads of varying reds and many of the old faithful Neoregelia ‘Sharlock’ sit lower with tiny pansies resting their heads amongst their rougher neighbours. Mint also flourishes for this harbours herbs as well. This is a hot garden and shade is being created with yuccas and a golden philodendron, l Til landsia fzmckiana Tillandsia tectorum Tillandsia If" chiapensis Tillcmdsia erubescens fillandsia multicaulis cliffs at Chiapas. This small variety has distinct stems with the same flowers and no scape. var. stricta with fine leaves that are red throughout its life. This variety has a special clone known as forma fastigiata. Very small with tight leaves, and commonly known as ‘Peanut’. ‘Druid’ a cultivar of var. ionantha that turns an unusual yellow colour with flowers that have white petals when it blooms. There are a number of other cultivars that are seen in many collections in NZ, namely: ‘Huamelula’ , ‘Hand Grenade’ and ‘Cone Head’ which are large cultivars 75-100mm high. Tillandsia ionantha ‘Rubra’ (photo from Brian Chudleigh) ‘Peach’ whose leaves turn peach coloured when the plant blooms. ‘F uego’ that is similar to var. stricta but with stiffer leaves. ‘Rubra’ a cultivar from Guatemala that turns a light pink-rose when in bloom. The plants growing in Guatemala and Mexico can be compared thus: The Guatemalan plants are fuzzier and larger being 80-100mm in height and width whereas the Mexican plants are 50-60mm in height and width. Although it is a reasonably robust plant it should be given shelter through the winter months, as the plant does not thrive in the cooler, wetter conditions of the Auckland climate. You will find it a most rewarding plant to grow forming clumps that are always admired. I 17 16 Tillandsla Ionantha' a doughq mlnlature From Dave Anderson ’s talk at the Society ’s monthly meeting in April e word ionantha means violet- flowered which refers to the intense violet colour of the flowers. Growing as an epiphyte in the Central American countries from Mexico to Costa Rica at an elevation of 450 to 1700 metres, it forms dense masses growing both in the moist forests as well as in exposed deciduous trees where it is well adapted to the xeric conditions. In cultivation the plant should be allowed to dry out after becoming wet. It is one of the most delightful miniatures with 20-40 succulent leaves that are rarely more than 50mm long growing in vertical rows. The different varieties of ionantha BUY & SWAP Wanted: Tillandsia parryi. Tillandsia australis,Tillandsia carlos-hankii,Tillandsia cauligera.Tillandsia peiranoi. Ph : Barry 520 0246 Email: bulweima@ihug.co.nz Wanted, Neo: ‘Red Alert’; ‘Hawaiian Splash; ‘Hnwaiian Princess’; concentrica var. albomarginata; ‘Prince Kuhio‘; ‘Grace‘ X ‘Pas— sion' Vriesea: ‘Hawaiian Beauty’; ‘Mauna Kea’; hieroglyphica X ‘Red Chestnut‘ Alcantarea: imperialis (Green Form). Ph Sam (09) 4765994 (7pm to 9pm), mob 021 960 000. Wanted. Neoregelia ‘Royal Hawaiian‘ and Vriesea ‘Vista’. Ph Helen 09-420 9155. We will publish Buy or Swap notices from members of the society. Maximum 30 words. email: mathieson.marketing@xtra,co.nz or post to: 14 Matunui St, Northcole. North Shore City form plants 40- 1 00mm in height and their lettuce green coloured leaves are covered with silvery/grey trichomes that are sometimes tinged crimson. Approaching flowering the entire plant turns rosy red. The narrow tubular flowers emerge from deep in the centre of the plant topping the leaves by 30-40mm. The flowers are vivid purple as mentioned above. It is a durable species with the recognised varieties that are seen in many collections in NZ being: var. ionantha the most common variety being a stemless plant with no scape. var. van-hyningii; a true dwarf growing in colonies on the vertical limestone PANDORA BROMELIADS 32 Pandora Place, Pakuranga Large range of tillandsias now available including: iommtha (Guatamela) ionantha v. stricta ionantha ‘Peanut’ and many more! Bev and Lester Ching (09) 576 4595 cont ’dfi'om P. 6 job properly. I remove a few leaves from the back of the plant where it attaches to the wood to give a firm bond. Old leaves eventually die and will detach from the plant allowing it to fall away from the wood base. Propagation of most species is from offsets which are mostly produced after flowering has finished. A few species, such as T viridiflora produce ‘grass’offsets around the base which can be difficult to root after removal. An effective and reliable method my wife has tried is to take the offsets and put them in the tank of large bromeliads which hold water in their centre. The offset can be potted up in a normal mix once a decent root system is established. It might be slow, but it is an effective method. Some epiphytic tillandsias produce few roots and I have seen huge clusters of very healthy specimens with not a single root to be seen. These feed through their leaves; the roots merely serve as attachment devices. There are also numerous tillandsia hybrids and a huge variety can be seen here in specialist collections. Here are just a few of the nicest varieties of tillandsias. The cutest tillandsia must be I ionantha. It comes in various forms, many of them taming brilliant red at flowering. Flowers are mostly shades of pink to purple but they can be ahnost black and there is a form, ‘Druid’ which cont ’0' P. I 0 turns yellow or amber with white flowers. Most of them cluster freely but take up little room. I edithiae is another stunner when in flower - compact silver-grey to about 10cm diam. and 15cm or so long. The brilliant red flowers are produced in a tight cluster. T. funckiana is another brilliant red flowering species. The flowers are long and tubular, from a fine-leafed plant which looks spectacular as a clump. T fasiculata is hard-leafed reaching around 40cm diam. The flower spike is spear-shaped, red stemmed with yellow or greenish blade or blades as the flower stem is often branched. The tubular flowers are purple. T. erubescens, sometimes seen as T benthamiana, is variable, 10-25cm in diam. The flower head is a showy pink spike on the end of a long, thin and drooping stem. The flowers are green. Another form produces a bright red flower head on a short stern. T x correalei is a stunner. It is a natural hybrid between T fasciculata and T hondurensis, the size of the former but with thicker, more silvery leaves and flower head like the latter, although much larger and with more flowers. Len Trotman imported some but it is not yet widely available. T. stricta is a small growing species, around 15cm in diam. and very variable in form as it can be hard or sofi leafed. Next >