Re: Bromeliad....Guzmania

Hmm, I may just leave it on the potting bench then and not move it to
the front porch.  It seems happy there so far and is in nice cool
shade w/ good air circulation at the NW corner of the house.  Humidity
is higher in the back yard too, more beds, more watering going on,
more trees, etc.  And I'll give it some Maxicrop every so often too. 
Haven't found a plant that doesn't like that stuff yet.  Thanks
Noreen, this is very helpful as I'm a newbie to this type of plant!


On 5/17/05, TeichFlora@aol.com <TeichFlora@aol.com> wrote:
> This could be what you have too, Pam.  Guzmanias are the type of  bromeliad
> most seen in florists, and other retailers.  These, in many  people's opinion,
> are one of the harder for a beginner to grow....however don't  be discouraged.
> It is a high altitude plant, probably why most  of us have problems...but
> this makes it a good indoor  plant tolerating less light than most Bromeliads.
> In  nature it grows in wetter, shadier, cooler mountainous areas of the
> tropics.
> 
> Leaves are usually upward growing shiny, smooth, green (sometimes  variegated
> or such) without spines, forming a tank in the center.  The  inflourescence
> (bloom) will emerge from the center of this cup and be either a  rounded head
> or a spray of colored foliage like a fountain.
> The inflourescence lasts a long time, several weeks, to even  months....which
> is why it is used by florists a lot in their flower  arrangements.  Let the
> bloom die (dry)  totally back before  cutting.  Cool thing too, a lot of folks
> will keep this dried  inflourescense and spray paint it and use it in dried
> arrangements.  The  drawback of having the bloom last so long is that once you
> cut off it off,  the Guzmania really isn't that attractive for some time.  This
> is  when most people discard the plant, thinking it is dead.  Just keep it
> though, and it will produce more plants.  SOme Guzmanias grow  them out of the
> inside of the original plant....different than other  bromeliads that will
> shoot out new pups from the sides.  Just cut off the  dead leaves as they die
> back totally....eventually you'll be left with a nice  clump, each new plant will
> eventually bloom and produce more pups.
> 
> All bromeliads need good air circulation.  Care of this type  of the Guzmania
> depends on whom you talk to, I have found.  Some  say you definitely do not
> put water in the tank.  Others say, put  both, in pot and tank....and others
> say pot only.  Hm...what I've found is  that you definitely do not water any
> part that is colored.....the bloom.   If you water the tank, put water in the
> areas of the leaves, not the very  center of the plant.  The excess water will
> then run down into the soil.  This keeps me from overwatering, I found....and it
> always keeps the plant  hydrated by having some water reserved in the leaves.
> I rot mine if I  water the soil.....so I guess you will just have to see
> what works for  you.  Don't let the soil stay wet, but don't let it dry out too
> much inbetween...so as long as there is moisture in the leaf, I  guess.   Some
> people say do not use city water, hard water on  Bromeliads of any kind.  I
> use rain or whatever I have.  I suppose it  depends on your type of water...if
> it is extreme one way or the other...use  distilled or rain water. ( I've
> personally never used distilled water on  anything.)  One easy way to judge if
> your plants are getting enough  water......if the leaves are firm, they are well
> hydrated...if they are curling  at the ends and don't feel firm, they are not.
> Just don't over water  either.  I'm sorry...sounds difficult, but just keep
> water in the leaf part  and it should be fine.  One thing that people tend to
> agree with is that  Guzmanias need more fertilizer than any other
> Bromeliad......once a month or  every second month with a balanced diluted fert. (some say
> reduced  phosphorus, center number like 20-10-20).  I don't fertilize mine,
> but that  is just because I'm lazy and don't think about it.
> 
> Hope this helps...
> Noreen
> zone 9
> Texas Gulf Coast
> 
> In a message dated 5/16/2005 11:02:20 PM Central Standard Time,
> gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:
> 
> I just  purchased a bromeliad..   Guzmanias...    How long are  they in
> Bloom??   There  is  a baby already!  I  will print out this information also!
> 
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-- 
Pam Evans
Kemp TX
zone 8A

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