Xela's Garden
Houseplant: Queen's Tears
Species: Bilbergia nutans.
Grown on Vistabile lobby windowsill
Bought ? at ? for ?
Billbergia nutans or Queen's-Tears, a native of Brazil, is one of the most common Bromeliads grown. The tall (12 inch) plant is dark green on the outside with light green with cream-colored spots on the interior of the vase. They are a durable plant for the home -- often withstanding periods of neglect.
Blooming Time: Pendulous flower clusters on long pink stems at any time of the year.
Culture: Billbergia nutans need partial shade to bright indirect light with moderate temperatures. In the greenhouse, we use a soil mix consisting of 3 parts peat moss to 2 parts sand to 1 part loam. The mix should be neutral to slightly acidic. The vase should be kept filled with water and the soil should be allowed to dry between waterings. Fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. The bromeliad will flower when it reaches maturity. They can be forced to bloom at any time by enclosing the plant (with its cup empty to prevent excessive humidity buildup) in a plastic bag with a ripe apple. The apple gives off ethylene gas, which stimulates flowering in Bromeliads. Leave the plant and apple in the plastic bag for 7-10 days; the plant will flower in 1-2 months.
Propagation: Billbergia nutans are propagated by the removal of offsets after flowering.
[Source: www.plantoftheweek.org/week149.shtml]
The Plant: A bromeliad, forming a tight rosette of pale green, strap-like leaves, from which arises a slender spike bearing deep pink/red bracts issuing a cascade of small green and purple flowers.
Its needs: Billbergia enjoys strong light with free air circulation. Pot in a sandy mix, where possible adding bark chips or charcoal to increase drainage.
Care: In hot dry conditions the leaves may turn brown, mist spray leaves to reduce this. Avoid any sudden drop in temperature. The rosette of leaves forms a central reservoir, which should constantly contain water. Feed every 10-14 days following with a good soaking.
As the plant grows, it will produce new plantlets growing at base of main plant. These can be cut away and potted up in a coarse sandy mix.
Susceptible to Scale pest on underside of leaves. Treat with insecticide.
[Source: www.gardenseeker.com/indoor-plants/billbergia-nutans.htm]
