Re: Billgergia nutans

My experience with Aechmea fasciata is that it's a
rather easy outdoor grower in the cool maritime
climate of San Francisco, but I don't know if it will
tolerate any frost. Once in a while one of mine has
rotted from too much cold rain, but that's rare. Quite
tough, really. I imagine in Spain it would do fine in
shade with adequate water, for I've also seen it
thrive in hotter climates such as Los Angeles's.
-Jason Dewees
San Francisco, California

--- marianoo@wanadoo.es wrote:
> David,
> Many thanks for your comprehensive reply.
> 
> I may try planting it on the trunk of a largish
> mature Washingtonia - I
> haven't attempted this before but it may prove to
> require much more
> watering with such small soil pockets.
> 
> I will look out for the other Billbergias that you
> mention.  If they are
> as easy as B. nutans and have such pretty flowers,
> they are certainly
> worth having.  I have some Aechmea fasciatas which I
> grow indoors for
> Winter and bring out to the covered terrace for the
> Summer.  Have you
> tried growing these outside all year?  Is it the
> cold, rain or wind or a
> combination that causes the most problems for more
> tender plants.
> 
> Cheers
> Maria.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "david feix" <davidfeix@yahoo.com>
> To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Sent: 27 March 2002 22:18
> Subject: 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.
> >
> >
> 


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