Thorns, Spines, Prickles & Hairs (Scales, too!)

Striking inflorescence of Bromelia balansae

It just dawned on me that I hadn’t made a blog post lately.  I am sorry about that!   Life sure has a funny way of getting in the way of my best made plans….a whole BUNCH of LIFE going down!   *sigh*

Besides all that–My plants have been entertaining me regularly with unexpected blooms, offshoots/pups emerging & the odd stress-color change happening here and there.  I had been taking pictures, all the while, with both my Nikon camera and my phone.  Still, I didn’t think to transfer any onto my computer.  Maybe because every time I sit down at my computer, I get stuck doing tedious revisions to work projects, answering lengthy e-mails to friends & family, or getting stuck on an always ill-timed Skype call.  Modern life & Technology really ticks me off most days!  Can you tell?

I do recall I promised to share more pics of my fave Bromeliad, Bromelia balansae, as it progressed through its blooming cycle.  I am glad I took pics at the time, because TODAY, it is looking pretty damn sad. 😦  It is at the point where the flowers have all bloomed out, dried up and dropped off.  All it’s scarlet color is gone and it is back to plain ol’ green, and the leaf tips are all drying up.  Soon, the berries will form and color up to a golden-yellow (see Intro page of this blog to see a picture of the fruiting habit of B. balansae).  Well, that is just how it goes.  I’ve got plenty more in the backyard to replace it with, though I will probably just allow the pups to overtake the gradually dying mother plant (as it is a terminal blooming species).

Bromelia balansae in bloom.

I’ve still been having trouble finding local or online sources for other Bromelia species.  When I contact by e-mail or call many nurseries, they think I am asking about BROMELIADS and are like, “Oh YES!  We have many different Bromeliads.”  I am glad at that point they can’t see me make my “Close my eyes, furrow my brow, lift my glasses up on my forehead & rub the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger” gesture!  Usually, this is when I hear the SAME QUESTION asked by over 30 different “Bromeliad Specialty” Nurseries: “Have you tried growing Androlepis, Dyckias, Deuterocohnias, Hechtias, or Puyas?  They are usually much easier to find and MUCH easier to HANDLE—Bromelia species have VERY vicious barbs and because of this, aren’t found very often in cultivation!”  Yeah, Got that—Don’t care.  Please carry more Bromelia species before I go INSANE!!  I MUST HAVE MOOOOOOOORE!  Despite the difficulty in finding them, I was able to obtain a few more species.  Bromelia flemingii (a VERY SMALL offset).  B. macedoi (also on the small side) & B. sp. French Guiana Holst (large offset, but it suffered some shipping stress–I hope it snaps out of it!) These two last plants I was able to buy from Tropiflora Nursery in Sarasota, FL.  I think I actually bought the last 2 offsets they had available.  I’ll take more pix when they have had a chance to grow a bit and settle in.

Clockwise from top to bottom (7 o’clock spot): Neoglaziova variegata & Neoglaziova burle-marxii (temporarily both in same pot) Bromelia sp. Fr. Guiana Holst, Agave bracteosa var. “Monterey Frost”, Bromelia flemingii pup, & xEnchotia “Ruby”

Detail of Neoglaziova variegata (white horizontal banding) & Neoglaziova burle-marxii. Purchased from Liz Butler.

Neoglaziova are an odd and small genus of Terrestrial Bromeliad.  I believe there are only 3 identified species of Neoglaziova:  N. variegata, N. concolor & N. burle-marxii.  All have very attractive forms, but are armed with backward facing barbs to help protect them in their native habitat from being eaten by ravenous grazing animals. They are an important part of localized markets in South America where the plants tough leaf fibers are woven into fabrics, used to manufacture fishing nets and rope, as well as coarse woven goods.  These species can be found in various arid regions in north-eastern Brazil.  They form large clumps and at maturity, tall scarlet inflorescences with red petals rise from the center of the tall strap-like olive-drab leaves.

Acanthostachys is another small genus of Terrestrial Broms–Only 2 species!  (Acanthostachys pitcairnioides & Acanthostachys stobilacea).  See now. THESE are the types of plants I want to hear about!  I bought a pup of each and before I knew it, BAM!  I’ve got thriving colonies (or clumps) of the entire genera of Acanthostachys.  🙂  lol   Most Bromeliad genera have HUNDREDS of different species, and a hundred more cultivars and hybrids.  As an addicted collector, it becomes a very unrealistic goal to think I’ll ever have them all in my possession.   Then again–if I win the lottery….  OK, Back to THESE plants:  The leaves are slender & long, dull green to reddish-brown depending on light intensity and are whip-like in appearance, with serrated edges.  These plants are very easy to handle and repot, as the serrated points don’t hurt–unless you slide your hand along its edge…So, don’t do that!  An attractive long-lasting inflorescence develops at maturity (halfway up the leaf-stem in A. strobilacea.  Between the leaf bases in A. pitcairnioides).  These resemble tiny pineapples with orange-red bracts and yellow petals.  The species are self-fertile and when ripe the berries that develop after blooming can be planted for propagation.  Because of its form, Acanthostachys strobilacea is very attractive for hanging pot/basket culture, grown in bright, filtered light.

Acanthostachys strobilicea inflorescence & flower

I am now realizing—if I try to write a paragraph or two for each plant I want to share in this post, I will be up till AT LEAST 3:30AM—it is now 10:30PM!!).  I think what I will do is go ahead & post the photos with captions then add info on them later as I have more time.  See what happens when I wait too long between posts?  Shame on me!!  (More info to come  😉  )

Tillandsia pruniosa in bloom

Tillandsias are really cool plants—what they don’t have in spines they make up for with their “scales” or trichomes.  Some species are so jam-packed with these tiny scales that they appear to be coated with X-mas time “snow spray”.  Many other bromeliads species have this visible scurf, as well.  Whether growing on rocks, tree hosts, or in the soil, a large majority of bromeliad species live in habitats characterized by at least one, but more commonly by a combination of physical restraints—sunlight is frequently excessive, whereas water and nutrients are in short supply for at least part of the year.  Trichomes are a characteristic universal to all bromeliads equipping them to deal effectively with one or more physical restraints.  Many are just too small on some species to be viewed with the naked eye.  These scales are epidermal appendages, usually hairlike in other plant families, common to many plants, but here on bromeliads are a modified, strange kind of shield-like trichome observed on all bromeliads that despite the differences found among various genera, they can be considered closely enough related to be placed into a single family.

The function of the trichome on the Tillandsias leaf shoots has become more modified as compared to more primitive members of the Bromeliad family with more specialized ones.  In terrestrial bromeliads, water and nutrients are taken into the plants via their root system, so their trichome structures are simple and are mainly located on the underside of leaves around the leaf pores as a protective device against water loss.  In bromelioids (or tank-type water catching tillandsioids) trichomes have become more complex in structural arrangement and they can now absorb water and nutrients.  Atmospheric Tillandsias are even further advanced, or evolved, as to absorb water and nutrients from the air and water vapor such as fog, rainfall and dew.

My Tillandsia pruniosa bloomed for me and I was very excited to have the chance to snap some pics indoors (where he lives) and “posed” outside in a Queen Palm.  T. pruniosa is an epiphyte that grows on trees at elevations from near sea-level to 1,200 meters in Florida, southern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands & in South America from Ecuador into Brazil making it a VERY widely distributed species.  It has come to be known as an “ant plant”, or pseudobulbous myrmecophyte.  Its leaf-sheathes grow curved in such a way as to give the plant an outward appearance of a root-bulb, like a turnip.  It isn’t solid or heavy—and its many-compartmented structure is very attractive to tiny ants as it gives them a ready-made shelter in which to move into!  Ant Condos 😉

Close-up detail of T. pruniosa flower

New Hechtia addition to my collection: Obtained from Andy Siekkinen, it is a “hybrid from the bees”–a botanical garden seedling labelled Hechtia “Q”

Lophophora Williamsii ssp Williamsii in bloom

Lophophora williamsii (aka: Peyote), has been called The Divine Cactus, Tracks of the Little Deer and Medicine of God by indigenous peoples of the Americas (and called “Dry whiskey” & “Devil’s root” by angry religious leaders.)  It is a small, spineless, dome-shaped cactus with clusters of soft wooly hair that has been used by tribes for thousands of years in curing wide varieties of ailments, as well as ceremoniously celebrated and revered as a sacred herb.  Many have reported that using this cactus lets you hear colors and see sounds.  For many Native Americans, it brings an ability to reach out of their physical lives , to communicate with the Spirits, and to “become complete”.  Lophophora williamsii ssp williamsii is the most potent of all mescaline containing cacti, containing upwards of sixty different alkaloids.  Largely because of its special ability to alter the human state of consciousness, its use was demonized by the Roman Catholic Church when the Inquisition was introduced into Mexico in 1571, and by 1620 it was officially declared that the use of Peyote was the work of the devil (The Spaniards perceived that miraculous powers and communication with God as coming only from the observance of the Mass and from the miracles performed by the saints).  So it became a major goal of Spanish religious leaders to stamp out the use of this “satanic gift”.

Hmm…..its no wonder I believe in Creationism.  It just makes makes more sense.  I do believe in God—I just don’t think that He/She is as much of a buzz-kill as organized religion would have you believe… 

Lophophora Williamsii var. caespitosa in bloom

Origin: From South Texas, USA to San Luis Potosi, Saltillo, Huizahe, Coahuila and Tamaulipas, MX.

L. williamsii has many variations in growth pattern and flower color, most likely due to the extreme range in altitude and is further divided typically into two different forms—northern and southern.  The “Southern form” is found from Entronque – Huizache, MX, and L. williamsii “Northern type”, is centered around Saltillo, Coahuila, MX.

They are quite easy to keep growing healthy here in the Desert.  I was advised by my LW source to place them where they will get direct AM sunlight for at least a few hours, then bright indirect light for the remainder of the day.  I was also advised to keep them elevated well above the ground since garden slugs find Peyote irresistible—What is the telltale evidence that they have feasted on the “buttons”?  Fat, passed out slugs on the ground, surrounding your plant!!!   One issue that will kill these arid-loving cacti is overwatering.  I only water them every 15 days. They MUST be protected from rainfall and sprinkler over-spray.  When cooler temps arrive (November, here), Peyote will enter a semi-dormant state, so they need to be wintered indoors near a bright window or be outfitted with overhead florescent bulbs on a timer so they get 6 to 8 hours of light.  By April (here in CA Desert) they can be moved back outside, where they will soon bloom again, announcing that they are “back amongst the living!!”.

I’ve grown quite fond of these curious little plants and because I found a fantastic honest & dependable source for them, I felt compelled to start a mini-collection.  Due to the prohibitive cost of these cacti and legal issues surrounding these guys (which I don’t want to start ranting about!), I will most likely not be purchasing more–at least, not for awhile.  I just wanted to share their images with other plant-loving individuals, so you may see how interesting, beautiful (and rare) they are.

My collection of Lophophora Williamsii plants (also called: Peyote)

In my last blog entry, I posted some pictures & a bit of writing on Cereus Peruvianus (an ornamental NON-mescaline containing night-blooming Cactus).  The two plants pictured below are “The Real Thing”, so to speak.  These are 2 of 3 different Trichocereus species that I am currently growing.  Trichocereus pachanoi (San Pedro) is a very hardy species. It is grows to a height of 5m and will branch at the base froming a small tree, it has up to four small yellow to brown spines on each areole.  Trichocereus peruvianus (Peruvian Torch) has a similar range and habitat to T. pachanoi, although it is also cultivated on the coast of Peru. Unlike T. pachanoi, it has massive vicious brown spines, up to 10cm in length.

San Pedro is commonly used as an ornamental cactus which is still widely available for landscaping from local nurseries, particularly in desert states.  Known to the natives as the sacred Cactus of the four winds. This plant is native to the western slopes of the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador were it can grow to over 5 meters.  An extremely hardy cactus, it does well in colder climates as it grows in the wild at altitudes of up to 3000 meters.  The alkaloids present, including the majority of mescaline, reside in the first 1 cm of skin. The green chlorophyl containing tissue under the skin appears to be where the majority of the alkaloids accumulate. Old specimens can have beautiful night-blooming flowers to 22 cm across that have a lovely smell, said to smell of ” beach-nut gum “.  This Cactus grows best in mineral rich, well-drained soil containing some organic matter. Enjoys bright, but not full Sun and can tolerate abundant watering, does well indoors in pots. Natural habitat is in soil rich in humus and minerals, adequate rainfall, and maximal exposure to sun and wind. This species is also popular as grafting stock for smaller, slower growing cacti, such as Lophophora williamsii.  I will have to give this a try down the road!

Used traditionally in divination, diagnosis of disease, finding lost or stolen property, and to possess another persons soul.  A form of the original San Pedro religion still survives to this day, around Huacananda, Peru.

Trichocerei are not illegal to grow for horticultral purposes in any state in the US.   However, laws regarding Peyote cactus are VERY confusing and I’ve already stated I’m not going to “go there” in this posting!!  I am growing mine strictly for horticultural purposes, though I am a member of the NAC and am a card-carrying local tribal member—-Just Sayin’…

Note:  THESE plants I DO NOT have growing by the street where Stoners might easily steal them…. 

BE LIKE THE SUN!

Mammillaria Cactus blooming

So the last cold snap that came through this area a couple of weeks ago, is now a distant memory.  At least for those of us here in the So Cal Desert.  Unfortunately, much of the East Coast and Northern Mid-west is still dealing with frigid winter weather—My heart goes out to you folks.  Spring has sprung here in Desert Hot Springs.  The sun has lifted my spirits and gotten me out of my funk & out in the yard to enjoy the warmer temps and see blooms popping out on just about everything!  My Partner has built planter boxes and put in new irrigation and planted vegetables, herbs, watermelon & strawberries.  He also bought a bunch of colorful flowers and put them in terra cotta bowls and big pots lining the stairs in the backyard.  We also got all the dead overgrowth under palms and shrubs pulled out and put out new gravel to clean up the overall look of the yard.  I hope we will at least have a few weeks of these ideal temperatures before we are hit will full-force Desert Summer heat!!!  As much as I love the high & dry heat here, it is nice to have an “ease-in” period before the swamp cooler has to be run all day and night and the sidewalk sizzles like a greasy-spoon diner griddle.  This warmer weather has also signaled the return of house-guests that want to come out here to visit us from Los Angeles (The temps in LA are right around 62-70° right now, while it is around 86° here).  I sent our last guest home with an Agave and an Aloe vera.  Last time he was here I gave him an Agave bracteosa, a variegated Century plant as well as a Albo-marginated Agave.  We have SO MANY to spare, it is kind of ridiculous.  I am glad I can share my plant-passion with some of my friends.  This time of year brings me out of my shell and encourages me to be social, generous and more loving.  It always amuses me come Springtime how grumpy and “Scroogy” I was at Christmas-time for all the parties and gatherings going on—That all happens AT THE WRONG TIME OF YEAR!!!  Who wants to drive 3 hours in the pouring rain, fog or sit miserable overnight in some crowded, dank Air Terminal when your flight to Grandmas house is cancelled??!!  I guess that is why I always enjoyed Christmas much more when I lived in Hawaii.  Nothing is better than hanging lights on your palm trees when it is 85° out and you are waiting for Santa to show up on his 11 foot Long-board!!!

Warm, nurturing and shining bright!  That is how I feel this afternoon.  It is 87° right now with Humidity at 6%—I wish the same for all of you!  🙂

Aloe hybrids in bloom

Inflorescence of Hechtia lyman-smithii

Aechmea that my BF brought home for me from Home Depot!

Everything outdoors is blooming, the birds are singing and everything is just lovely.  Then my Partner had a sit-down discussion with me about how my plant collecting is bordering on madness.  I reluctantly agreed to slow way down on buying new plants online.  Then, what does he go & do?  He brings home some more plants for me that he saw at Home Depot!  Hmmmm…..How EXACTLY does this help my Plant-problem any?  It doesn’t, frankly, but I don’t care because I LOVES ME SOME BROMELIADS!    The Aechmea hybrid ‘Del Mar’ is a plant that I have admired for quite some time.  It is a patented hybrid by Bullis Bromeliads.  It is supposed to be a dwarf variant of their much larger Aechmea hybrid, “Blue Tango”.  Now, I have seen ‘Del Mar’s before and they are supposed to be small plants.  This is NOT a small plant!  This is quite large for an indoor houseplant, so after it blooms out I will be moving it outdoors under the Queen palms with my other tank-type Broms to produce hopefully a few pups.  The other plant he got for me was a little Vriesea hybrid that he was tripping out on since he had only seen paddle-type inflorescences coming out of Tillandsias (such as Tillandsia cyanea).  So he brought it home to show me.  I had one of these a few years back.  The paddle is so bright and glabrous that it looks artificial or lacquered.  After it blooms out, though, it is a really plain little plant.  I will endeavor to keep it alive with my other houseplants, though!

Vriesea hybrid from Home Depot

I took many pictures this week and I want to get some of them posted here in a few more posts.  I don’t like to go too long between posting here to my Blog because then I tend to over think and second guess myself as far as topics, titles and subjects.  Bottom line is:  I like to share my plants with folks!   More to come….   😉

A variegated & spineless cultivar of Ananas comosus called ‘Ivory Coast’ (Ornamental Pineapple plant)

Tillandsia prodigiosa

Tillandsia parryi & mini-Neoregelias

Neoregelia x’Hannibal Lector’

WINTER KILLS

Hummingbird resting on Aloe Dichtoma (Quiver Tree)

OK, Yes, the blog title is a Yazoo reference (I’m a huge Vince Clark/Alison Moyet fan!)  I kept thinking about this song because of the crazy cold winter we are having (NOTHING compared to the rest of the country, but yet & still, cold for US).  It has been awhile since I last made an entry.  For the most part this is because I was doing damage control after freezing temps jacked up some of my fave Broms.  I’ve been removing them from their planting media and pots, washing them well. letting them dry out a bit, then treating with SuperThrive & repotting them.  A few seem to be perking up.  Sadly, I lost 5 plants to the cores freezing and rotting out.  An Aechmea ‘Greg’ was among them.  I’m bummed!  A. Greg is a Aechmea chantinii hybrid that has amazing leaf coloring & the inflorescence when blooming is one of the most showy of the Aechmea hybrids, in my opinion.  I guess it is the yellow & salmon emerging from the purple/burgundy & olive green that really does it for me…

Aechmea ‘Greg’ mother plant of my offset that perished

If I had more suitable plant-space in the house, I would have brought all the plants indoors.  I did put most of the frost sensitive plants under our back covered patio for protection.  The cold wind was something I didn’t factor into the equation.  Everything just got chill-blasted from what seemed like every direction!  I was afraid some of the “Tank-Broms” were going to have problems in the winter months—One reason I haven’t obtained more of these species.  They are so attractive and that makes me want to buy them, but when I lose even one of them, it fills me with sadness & regret.  The way our house was designed and constructed for energy efficiency here in the Desert, there aren’t many windows to provide bright sunlight for these sun-loving Bromeliads.  What few windows we have, are already home to species I keep inside year-round.  (The next house we get, I am going to insist on a conservatory or a sunroom!<LOL>)  The climate in our house is much more hospitable to tropical Bromeliads, unfortunately, space is limited.

Ananas comosus ‘Variegatus’ in its spot by my living-room French doors

In my last post (My Birthday in the Rainforest)  I stated I would post pictures of the plants I purchased at RFI.  Here are photos of them below…

T. straminea sitting on a piece of driftwood I found in the garage

Tillandsia straminea in his spot in my bathroom among his cousins

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Vriesea philippo-coburgii

Example of Vriesea philippo-coburgii bloom-stalk

V. philippo-coburgii and Neoregelia in front window

Tillandsia x’Creation’: hybrid of T. Cyanea & T. platyrhachis

Maroon foliage detail of Tillandsia ‘Creation’

T. ‘Creation’ in bloom

As sad as it is to lose plants to bad weather….Life does go on—and so I keep collecting plants like a Mad Man!  As much grief as my Partner gives me about being a plant hoarder,  He hasn’t really helped my addiction any.  Here’s a plant that he picked up for me at a garden center for me for Valentines Day!!  I tried to identify it with a name (could not)—Best as I can tell, it is some form of spineless Neoregelia hybrid.  It sure it pretty though!

Neoregelia hybrid that my Partner gave me for Valentines Day!

He also brought home an Orchid which is really beautiful.  I cautioned him that HE is to be responsible for it as I have a ‘black thumb’ when it comes to growing Orchids (which is really unfortunate, because I meet so many Orchid collectors who want to trade plants with me!  There is usually zero humidity here in the Desert which makes it oh-so-difficult for me to successfully keep them happy.  Excuses, excuses…I know, because SOME HOW folks manage to grow them in Palm Springs quite well!  *sigh*….)

Of course, I’ve got some new editions out in the backyard as well.  Most are Hechtias with the odd Dyckia & Puya here and there.  I have (just) A FEW more en route as I am writing this.  I will endeavor to show them after they have arrived—along with the others I haven’t posted in this thread.  Some that I bought from an online retailer look a bit stressed from their shipping journey.  I wanted to treat them with Superthrive and see if they pretty up.  This isn’t growth season for Bromeliads and I hesitate to fertilize ANY Terrestrial Brom in February for fear of burning.  Perhaps, some of these guys just need some time to acclimate.

The majority of the new spiny fellows pictured below I have obtained from Andy Siekkinen (Seller sda128 on ebay) & Liz Butler (Seller redfinkelstein on ebay).  They are both located in the San Diego area & the growing climate there is milder in summer as well as winter than here in the Desert.  Plants I buy from both sellers always arrive healthy and in great shape after shipping.  I can’t say enough good things about either and highly recommend them both as terrific sources for Terrestrial Bromeliads.  I know Andy was President of The San Diego Bromeliad Society for quite a few terms and is owner of Eagle Eye Adventures: Botanically themed tours & Botanical education & exploration (www.eagle-eye-adventures.com).  Liz Butler is proprietor of Cycad Mania and has been collecting for quite some time.  If you are interested in finding out more detailed information about the Terrestrial Bromeliads pictured below, I recommend checking out XericWorld.com.  It’s a forum site dedicated to growers, collectors, enthusiasts and admirers alike of Succulents, Cacti, Agave, Aloe as well as Bromeliads.  I checked out threads there long before actually becoming a member.  I’ve been finding some really useful information there as well as meeting cool like-minded gardeners.  I would like to become more knowledgeable about other succulent plant species, Cacti, palms & Cycads.  Xeric World Forums is a GREAT place to start learning & interacting!! 😉

Hechtia ‘X1’ Andy Siekkinen hybrid (H. texensis x H. stenopetala)

Hechtia argentea

Hechtia ‘Bakers Beauty’

Hechtia glomerata RA clone

Hechtia scariosa (left) and Hechtia sp. collected by Dorothy Byer (aka: “H. NOT-argentea”)

Hechtia marnier-lapostollei

Hechtia lyman-smithii starting to bloom

Puya collected in north Huaraz, Peru by Kelly Griffin

Orthophytum sp. purchased from redfinkelstein

My Birthday in the Rainforest (Well…actually RFI in Torrance, CA!)

Bromeliads for sale in RFI’s greenhouse

So, I had a choice of going anywhere I wanted for my birthday (which was this last Wednesday). “What would you like to do/Where would you like to go to celebrate your B-Day?”, my Partner asked.  A few years ago I probably would have said Magic Mountain or Disneyland.  This year, all I wanted was to visit Rainforest Flora Inc. Nursery in Torrance, CA.  Last summer I purchased a book, Tillandsia II by Paul T. Isley III (the founder of RFI).  Paul served on the Board of Directors for the Bromeliad Society International for seven years and formed Rainforest Flora Inc. in 1976.  He really knows his Tillandsias and the passion he has for these plants is evident in the detailed descriptions and wonderful plant portraits in his book.  I had visited the nursery  around 11 years ago and was very excited to go back, see how much had changed, pick out a few plants to buy as birthday gifts & to ask Paul to sign my copy of Tillandsia II (which he was kind enough to do!).  🙂   Another thing that was really nice:  We called ahead to see if we could bring along our little dog, Sweetie (a Chi-Spaniel mix).  They said, “No problem!”  She enjoyed looking at the fish…

Super-sized Koi in the greenhouse water feature

Rainforest Flora Inc.’s pond in parking area

Besides being the largest grower and distributor of Tillandsia, RFI is also the only nursery of any size that produces 100% of its inventory.  This is a good practice because so many natural habitats of these plants are being wiped out by Collectors and Retailers alike.  Of course, many Tillandsia in the wild are threatened by deforestation, encroachment of farming, road construction as well as ritual religious practices in Mexico, Central America and South America.  Many mature plants are ripped out of trees and off of cliff faces just to have their colorful inflorescences removed to be woven into elaborate decorative offerings in Nativities as well as arches placed in front of churches and shrines.  These unfortunate stripped plants are then simply thrown away or burned as trash, given no chance to further propagate themselves.  Some species are so threatened it is nearly impossible to find them in areas where they had thrived for centuries.  It’s just a shame!  Anyways.…I’ll get off my soap-box now!  Besides Tillandsias, RFI also sells other Bromeliad genera, Staghorn ferns, Palms & Cycads and Aloes of all kinds.  They have also introduced many beautiful Tillandsia hybrids to the marketplace.

Pond area inside Rainforest Flora Inc.’s greenhouse

Huge Tree Aloe in RFI parking area

WOW! Gotta love these COLORS!

Alcantera imperialis in bloom

Retail area of RFI greenhouse 

Tillandsia colonies overhead in greenhouse

“Mega-Cycad”!!!

I wish I could LIVE HERE!

Tillandsia straminea GALORE!!!

It took what seemed like forever to drive to Torrance from Desert Hot Springs. But, for me, it was TOTALLY worth it!  I bought 4 plants I have been wanting for a really long time: Tillandsia ‘Creation’ (a fantastic hybrid of T. cyanea & T. platyrhachis), Tillandsia duratii, Tillandsia straminea, and Vriesea philippo-coburgii. I’ll post some pics of the plants I got here in a later post.

I see that my pictures don’t do this place justice.  It is just so mind-boggling looking up at the various clump colonies of Tillandsia and the huge Staghorn Ferns on the walls. I have no idea how old some of these plants must be.  So Cool…   I wish there was a place like RFI closer to the Palm Springs area. It is my dream to someday have a nursery of my own out here that specializes in Terrestrial Bromeliads and possibly the drought-tolerant arid species of Tillandsia and Landscape size tank Broms.  There are Succulent and Cacti nurseries, but no one is doing the Broms.  My Partner and I are currently looking into purchasing at least a 5 acre plot in the Sky Valley area.  Gotta start somewhere, right?!

Well, it was a GREAT BIRTHDAY and I hope you readers enjoy the post.  PEACE!

A very unusual Cycad

I could have stayed here all day…..*sigh*

Wrap them all up–I’LL TAKE ‘EM!!!

Deuterocohnias: Another Obsession

First off: HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I meant to post a blog entry sooner, but I have actually been down with some-kind-of-sickness FOR DAYS–weeks, really!  I got a Flu-shot my doctor’s office on November 2nd…That is what started it off, I think.  I was sick most of November, was OK for a couple of weeks–then sick again a week or so before X-Mas, fine for X-Mas, then SICK AS A DYING DOG the day after. Needless to say, New Year’s Eve was spent bundled up in bed coughing and sneezing. Barely feeling better today—My birthday is tomorrow (YAY!) Not really, yay—No merry-making for me! I can’t afford to get sick again!!! 😦

I was browsing through plant-forums today and read some very saddening news.  Dutch Vandervort passed away in December.  He was a very nice man and a major Plant Aficinado.  I bought many Terrestrial Bromeliads from him when he had his Greenhouses near Ventura, Ca.  I had just gotten an e-mail from him November 7th about a plant I bought from him many years ago that I was trying to I.D.  We had last spoken about trading some pups from our plants with each other…. What a bummer!  He was always so helpful and would help anyone he could especially with questions about Bromeliads.  At least I have many beautiful plant colonies from him that continue to amaze me everyday with their unique characteristics and wicked allure.  Rest In Peace, Dutch! You will be greatly missed…

Well, this great “Plant Guru”, Dutch, introduced me to Deuterocohnia.  Currently recognized in the subfamily Pitcairnioideae. Named in honor of German botanist and bacteriologist Ferdinand Julius Cohn (1828-1898). There was already a genus Cohnia, so the Greek prefix deuterios, second, was placed in front to form a new generic name.

I don’t have many of these beauties, mostly because they are rather hard to find (& hard to find AFFORDABLY!)  If I remember correctly, there are just 18 species of Deuterocohnia and just a few recognized hybrid Cultivars.  I try to pick them up whenever I find one online that I don’t have.  If they are priced very well—I’ll even purchase doubles. They grow fairly slowly and since I would like to have plants available to trade with other collectors in the future, it doesn’t hurt to have many healthy clones.  I would like to eventually have all the different species of Deuterocohnia.  Heck, by THAT time there will probably be a whole slew of newly discovered species.  Like I mentioned before: Trying to get them all gives me a reason to get up in the morning!<LOL>

My favorite Deuterocohnia that I own is Deuterocohnia meziana.  A medium-sized rosette plant but has a very tall yellow, orange or red inflorescence when blooming.  One unique and unusual characteristic of this plant, is the lofty inflorescence keeps flowering from the same stem for a period of 5-7 YEARS!!! (That is a welcomed trait considering so many Bromeliads die off after they bloom and one has to re-pot the mother-plants pups to continue to propagate the plant).  Deuterocohnia meziana is native to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, where it grows in the deserts, steep talus, crevices, barren lands or over huge rocks, heated by the torrid tropical sun.

Another Deuterocohnia that looks very similar to D. meziana is, Deuterocohnia longipetala.  This plant widely distributed from Peru, Chile and Argentina.  It is also a drought-resistant plant, growing in the lonely deserts on bluff escarpments, in rocky briery spots or barren lands.  It’s blooming period is of “long duration” but not nearly as extreme as D. meziana!   Another stunning desert Bromeliad is Deuterocohnia chrysantha. This plant is native to northern Chile, where it grows in extremely dry areas and in some places obtains much of its water from coastal fog.  It forms clusters of rosettes usually among rocks. The leave margins are heavily armed and can turn a bright pinkish red when stressed.

Deuterocohnia chrysantha

Deuterocohnia lorentziana

Deuterocohnia lorentziana is from Cuesta de la Chilca, Catamarca, Argentina.  It’s been called Abromeitiella for years but is actually a dwarf Deuterocohnia with short spikey armed leaves that forms tall trunks as it grows.  I’ve had this little guy for quite a few years and it blooms tiny single greenish-yellow flowers.  Another dwarf Deuterocohnia that I have is Deuterocohnia lotteae.  This one is from Southern Bolivia. it grows into little mound-like colonies that look not unlike large green pin-cushions.  This one has dark-orange red flowers with lime green petal tips.  This plant was hard to find and I was lucky enough to acquire it from Andy Siekkinen (President of the Bromeliad Society San Diego).  He listed several plants on eBay and I may have also bought one or two—ALL RIGHT, MORE THAN A COUPLE, OKAY!!!   I know, I know…I have a PROBLEM!! 😦

Deuterocohnia lotteae

The last plant I wanted to add here is a Bigeneric hybrid of seed parent: Dyckia macedoi and pollen parent: Deuterocohnia meziana.  The registered name of the plant is xDyckcohnia ‘Conrad Morton’.  Hybridized by Paul Hutchinson.  One of the cool things about this plant is that it has the blooming characteristic of Deuterocohnia meziana, in that once the plant enters its bloom cycle, it continues to grow new inflorescence bracts off the side of the first dried bract on the same bloom stalk!!  I have heard this going on for 3-5 cycles.  Amazing!  As someone who loves when my Dyckia and Aloes bloom, but all-to-soon am disappointed when the bloom cycle is over—the anticipation of seeing this guy bloom for months on end is just WAY too exciting an idea. Especially since we have so many varieties of Hummingbirds here in the Desert!  What a treat—I’ll try to get some pics of them feeding from it when it starts blooming!  😉

Tillandsias in bloom

Tillandsia recurvifolia is an attractive small plant suited to sunny, semi-dry locations with short stout silvery grey leaves forming a compact rosette, well covered with silver scales.  It is native to Bolivia and Brazil.  I was very happy to see it start blooming this last weekend and decided to snap a few pics of it today.  I guess it likes its bright spot in my master bathroom window!

Tillandsia are members of the subfamily Tillandsioideae and of the entire bromeliad family comprise the largest number of species and cover the widest range of territory.  Identified species presently number in excess of 650 and new varieties are being discovered each year.  They are found throughout South America from Argentina to Venezuela and Columbia & in Central America from Panama to Mexico and the West Indies.

I am currently building up my collection of Tillandsias very gradually here in the Desert.  When I lived in Los Angeles (before 2003) I had been given many unusual species from a Brom collector who was the housemate of a person I was dating.  When I first saw his collection of Bromeliads, I nearly lost my mind!!  Rows and rows containing many species and large growing varieties of Aechmea, Portea, Billbergia and Neoregelia—just MAGNIFICENT!!  Hanging proudly above them all under shade-cloth canopies were a massive amount of bizarre looking colonies of Tillandsias.

The humidity in L.A. is great for most Tillandsias and I never had a problem growing them there.  Here in D.H.S. I have had to research which plants will adapt to life with very little humidity in the air.  Tillandsias are probably the most fascinating group in the entire plant kingdom.  Commonly known as ‘air plants’, they take in moisture and nutrients through their leaves.  They have relatively small root systems, just enough to secure them to their support, such as tree branches or rocks.  I have been trying to stick with “Tillys” from hot, dry regions which usually have greyish, green or reddish foliage, and are covered with a silvery scale that are called tricomes.  Though, sometimes I cannot resist the allure of the soft, green leafed varieties that are usually found in the natural habitat, high in the tree tops of humid wet rain-forests.  Luckily, Tillandsias are very adaptive to their surroundings and with regular weekly soakings (submerging plants completely for several hours during the day) followed by a thorough drying out period before putting them back in the bright growing locations, mine have been doing very well.

Tillandsia x”Eric Knobloch” in bloom

Detail of T. recurvifolias bright salmon-pink bracts and white flowers

Billbergia ‘Casablanca’

Billbergia ‘Casablanca’ is a cross of Billbergia ‘Caramba’ & B. ‘Afterglow’. It was bred by Bob Spivey.  I have just a few Billbergia in my collection, but this particular plant has the most noteworthy foliage of them all.  It has olive-green strap-like leaves which grow in narrow upright vase form covered in white spots (mottling) with overall pink cast.  This plant has just started blooming and honestly shocked me when I saw the brilliant colors of the flowers and bracts.  I thought the leaves of Casablanca were spectacular—so the bloom is just gravy as far as I’m concerned!  Hardy to zone 10, I’ve been growing this plant in my back yard under a large Queen palm and tucked together with a few other Broms and a large Aloe.  I know Billbergia prefer bright light of filtered sun–full sun in some humid climates.  This plant seems to be handling the colder Desert nights quite well.  Our cold nights here was one concern I had for buying too many Billbergia and other tropical Broms right off the bat.  As long it is protected from frost I have the feeling it will make it through the winter just fine (it is Dec 10 today).

Billbergias are native to eastern Brazil, Mexico and Central America for the most part, but have also been found in Peru and Argentina.  They are epiphytes and in their natural habitat and found usually in large clumps growing in good light.  Some plants do fall from their high perches and grow very well in the ground, adapting to a terrestrial habit without any difficulty.

One thing about Billbergias I have noted is that their blooms don’t often last as long as other Bromeliads such as Aechmeas, Dyckias or Hechtias.  The color combos are often very remarkable, though!  Since the flowers are only around for a short while–Don’t forget to snap some pics before they are gone! 😉

I bought this plant as a clump from shirleygk a Bromeliad Seller on eBay.  Her store’s name is “The Nature Collection”.  Shirley has many gorgeous healthy plants for sale year round and many are hard to find exotic species.

I will be buying many more plants from her in the future!

Orthphytums I picked up…

I was looking through my plants and realized I had NO Orthophytum Bromeliads in my collection! Oh, the HORROR!!!  This was not at all acceptable, because there are MANY of these that I want and have wanted for a really long time.  Of course, one can NEVER find any of these beauties in nurseries around here in the Palm Springs area…

Understanding that “Orthos” can often command steep prices (such as many Dyckia species), I wasn’t  sure I’d be able to buy more than one at a time.  Luckily, I did a search on eBay and managed to find a couple at a decent price–provided a bunch of other collectors didn’t start competing with me for these plants!  The vendor was “bromlady” at “Bromeliads R US”.  I was very pleased at the condition of the plants on arrival as well as the fact that they sent me a bonus plant (a pup of Orthophytum ‘Pewter’).

All orthophytums are native to areas of Mina Gerais, Espirito Santo, Bahia and Paraiba in cenrtal to northern-eastern Brazil.  They usually all have white flowers.  These attractive and curious plants are found growing in rock crevices and high on granite cliff faces above streams, frequently at high altitudes, with constant water seepage often providing dampness to their roots.  In their natural habitat, cool to medium temperatures of 10° C to 24° C are experienced all year and although they will tolerate higher or lower temperature conditions, they will NOT tolerate low light.

Orthophytum Iron Ore

Close-up of Iron Ore

These first 2 photos above, are of Orthophytum ‘Iron Ore’.  Iron Ore is a hybrid of O. magalhaesii x O. saxicola var. aloifolium.  The hybridizer was Jim Irvin.  These are really cool looking plants.  I have heard that Orthos are fairly slow growing.  Perhaps this is why I haven’t ordered any before.  I hate to admit it, but I kind of like “instant gratification” of a fast growing Brom!  Of course, no plant will grow inches and inches over-night, or instantly throw out pups—but, I think I have matured to the point where I can wait awhile to see a slow-grower come into its own!

Orthophytum ‘Brown Turkey’

Unfortunately, I don’t know anything more about this plant pictured above, Orthophytum ‘Brown Turkey’.  If I find any more info on it, I will update this post with additional information.  I just thought it was attractive, was a good price and was offered by the same seller.  The next pic is of the bonus plant sent—Orthophytum ‘Pewter’.  It is a very young pup, but already has a good root system.  I hope he will grow up to be a fine strong plant!

Orthophytum ‘Pewter’

Orthophytum ‘Pewter’ is actually the Silver variety of O. saxicola.

I am looking forward to picking up a few more Orthos for my collection–such as:  O. navioides, O. vagans and Orthophytum gurkenii.  *Sigh*  Slowly but surely I’ll have a decent collection.

I can’t expect to EVER have all the plants I would like to, but trying to gives me good reason to get up every morning!  😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My “Mystery Bromeliad” Clump (Update–Got an ID: Hechtia sp. from Tehuacan, Oaxaca)

Every so often I get a species that stumps me! (No Longer!  It is Hechtia sp. from Tehuacan, Oaxaca MX)

Hechtia sp. from Tehuacan, Oaxaca MX

I just purchased a clone of Hechtia sp. Tehuacan, Oaxaca from redfinklestein on ebay–Matches my clump 100%!

Now I just have to wait for my 2 clones to bloom–Maybe I will luck out & will have both sexes!

BIG BOY TILLY: Tillandsia Secunda

 

 

 

 

T. secunda anchored in pot w/ Orchid bark, charcoal, perlite & gravel (my cat’s in the background)

 

Tillandsia secunda is a large growing species native to Ecuador.  This plant was a MUST HAVE for me.  As someone who likes not only to collect all types of Bromeliads to grow as container plants, but also to use for landscaping where at all possible.  Secunda is capable of growing very large (usually, when grown as an bare-rooted Air plant or epiphyte–it tends to dwarf it somewhat. To grow faster and larger, grow as a potted plant in a fast draining potting mix).  It will eventually throw up a tall, colorful, jaw-dropping & long-lasting inflorescence AND WILL GROW BUNCHES OF NEW PLANTS on the bloomed out flower stalk!  A perfect opportunity to test out growing some of your newly grown brood in trees or mounted to patio beams. 😉  Also, when you have baby secundas to spare, you can give them to your plant-friendly friends and help introduce them to Bromeliads they wouldn’t normally encounter at your local home & garden center!   I purchased this plant from Scott McKenzie at Scotts Airplant Paradise on eBay.

Here in the So. Cal Desert, I keep my T. secunda under my covered back patio where it is shielded by the scorching afternoon sun by other plants.  It gets bright light though, the suns refection from the glass of the French doors bounce filtered light all over it in the late afternoon.  Normally, I would keep my Tillandsias outdoors under a 50 to 65% shade-cloth to keep them from burning.  But we get very high winds from time to time and this can dry out Tillys very quickly–Not to mention, rip apart a shade-cloth  and launch it many blocks away!  I keep most of them growing indoors, safe in my bathroom window.  The secunda needs more room to grow, and seems to be quite durable thus far.