What to Do - Growing Bromeliads in Melbourne
Presenter: Melissa King
Episode: #15 28/07/07
When we are talking about plants in the Bromeliad family, it includes some 3000 different species and who knows how many hybrids so it makes sense that different varieties requires different amounts of light, water and humidity. The good news is that there is a great selection of varieties that can be grown very successfully in Victoria.
For exceptional displays in Melbourne, look to Neoregelias with their brightly coloured leaves, the Billbergias (Billbergia, Hybrid Cultivar), which are mainly from Brazil and feature brilliantly coloured flowers and foliage, or the easy to grow Vrieseas (Vriesea, Hybrid Cultivar) with long lasting floral displays.
The key is to protect them from the harsh mid-day sun and frosts. Tropical plants like the guzmanias, are less tolerant of low temperatures. They are not big fans of high temperatures either, so are trickier to grow in Victoria.
Most bromeliads are native to the Americas. In the wild they can grow as epiphytes in trees or in the ground, others survive on rocks and cliff faces. In other words most are very tough and tailor-made to cope with neglect.
They need a reasonable amount of light but not direct sun and well drained soil. Having said that the billbergias will cope with a bit more sun. The ideal scenario for most is to plant them on mass with a tree above to guard them from the full brunt of frost. Many also make great indoor plants.
Nature provided Bromeliads with their own little cup to capture water. It is through that cup that the flower forms. Most Bromeliads like their roots to be moist but not wet. So when the soil is dry to touch water plants until the cup overflows and runs into the pot. Then you can just top up the water in the centre of the plant – do not forget to flush the water out every so often and refill it – so the water does not become stagnant.
If you wanted to grow a Bromeliad in a container, Collectors Corner owner, Chris Larson recommends not to put the bromeliad into a pot that is too big, otherwise there is a large chance that the pot will blow over in the wind.
For more inspiration get your hands on a copy of the latest Garden Gurus newspaper or join the Garden Gurus on-line club for all the latest tips and advice on what to do in the garden right now. Don’t forget if you join this month you are in with a chance to win one of ten fantastic Delish Books.
How would you like the gurus to spruce up your garden? Well we have just launched a brand new garden advisory, design, construction and maintenance service. So for more information follow the links from our homepage.
Episode: #15 28/07/07
When we are talking about plants in the Bromeliad family, it includes some 3000 different species and who knows how many hybrids so it makes sense that different varieties requires different amounts of light, water and humidity. The good news is that there is a great selection of varieties that can be grown very successfully in Victoria.
For exceptional displays in Melbourne, look to Neoregelias with their brightly coloured leaves, the Billbergias (Billbergia, Hybrid Cultivar), which are mainly from Brazil and feature brilliantly coloured flowers and foliage, or the easy to grow Vrieseas (Vriesea, Hybrid Cultivar) with long lasting floral displays.
The key is to protect them from the harsh mid-day sun and frosts. Tropical plants like the guzmanias, are less tolerant of low temperatures. They are not big fans of high temperatures either, so are trickier to grow in Victoria.
Most bromeliads are native to the Americas. In the wild they can grow as epiphytes in trees or in the ground, others survive on rocks and cliff faces. In other words most are very tough and tailor-made to cope with neglect.
They need a reasonable amount of light but not direct sun and well drained soil. Having said that the billbergias will cope with a bit more sun. The ideal scenario for most is to plant them on mass with a tree above to guard them from the full brunt of frost. Many also make great indoor plants.
Nature provided Bromeliads with their own little cup to capture water. It is through that cup that the flower forms. Most Bromeliads like their roots to be moist but not wet. So when the soil is dry to touch water plants until the cup overflows and runs into the pot. Then you can just top up the water in the centre of the plant – do not forget to flush the water out every so often and refill it – so the water does not become stagnant.
If you wanted to grow a Bromeliad in a container, Collectors Corner owner, Chris Larson recommends not to put the bromeliad into a pot that is too big, otherwise there is a large chance that the pot will blow over in the wind.
For more inspiration get your hands on a copy of the latest Garden Gurus newspaper or join the Garden Gurus on-line club for all the latest tips and advice on what to do in the garden right now. Don’t forget if you join this month you are in with a chance to win one of ten fantastic Delish Books.
How would you like the gurus to spruce up your garden? Well we have just launched a brand new garden advisory, design, construction and maintenance service. So for more information follow the links from our homepage.
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