Re: Billgergia nutans

Hi Maria,

This is certainly one of the easiest to grow
bromeliads, and it is very hardy as long as it isn't
treated like a mediterranean climate plant!  They want
some moisture year round, and is probably easiest to
grow in bright or dappled shade.  In cooler coastal
areas such as my Berkeley, Calif. garden, it is also
easy to grow in full sun.  It is hardy down to -6/7C
without problems, although the bloom spikes might be
damaged at much below -2/3C.

In full sun, the leaves can take on a rosy background
color, but will burn if subjected to full sun after
being grown in shade.  The best time to transition
almost any bromeliad from shade to more sun is during
the late fall, they then adapt better without burning
foliage.  B. nutans doesn't really demand very much of
the gardener, tolerating only monthly watering if
grown
in shade and out of the wind.  I'd advise separating
the plant before planting out, it multiplies so
quickly, and looks less crowded if divided about every
2~3 years. 

Some other Billbergias are well worth seeking out, and
do just as well in the garden.  B. sanderiana, B.
amoena, B. pyramidalis 'Kyoto' and the especially
beautiful flowering B. 'Diana', with coppery orange
foliage and orange flowers similar in character to B.
nutans is particularly nice.



--- marianoo@wanadoo.es wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I have a young plant (on covered terrace for winter)
> which has just finished flowering and I was hoping
> to plant it out in the garden.  I guess it prefers
> shade, will the leaves scorch under the hot sun? 
> How much water does it need in Summer - does it need
> misting or would it be easier to keep in a pot?  Any
> info please.
> 
> Most info on the web seems to deal with indoor
> cultivation.
> 
> Maria
> Costa Blanca
> Long hot dry summers and mildish (rarely below 32F)
> winters with occasional heavy rainfall
> 
> 


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