Well, sorry I haven't replied back, been busy. Anyway, like the plant doesn't have little spiny things on the leaves or anything like that. I did talk to a guy that owns a pretty cool nursery in town and he explained to me how to take care of them. I was surprised to find this nursery which was hidden-away in a forgotten part of town, he had a big greenhouses where he was raising all kinds of tropical plants, including lots of bromeliads and I saw some in the process of making babies and stuff. He even had pineapples, and he told me it was easy to grow them here in Oklahoma (provided they are put in a pot). I'm planning on going back this weekend and buying some plants...i'm plant addicted, my roommates just roll their eyes now. Thanks for everyone's replies

You've never seen this around in southern California? I kind of assumed it might by an old un-named Hummel hybrid or something. I must have gotten it from a fellow member at a SF Bromeliad Society plant raffle table some 20 years ago now. In any case, I use a lot of the various Aechmea ortgiesii tribe members in my landscape designs, because they are so prolific, dependable, and colorful; even if they are a bit mundane compared to what you can grow in southern California. I try to stay away from bromeliads that require special care or protection against rains and winter cold for clients' gardens; no time to go around to them all and move plants or cover them... Also, the raccoons have never bothered an Aechmea recurvata type, but they can demolish Neoregelias, Vrieseas, and Billbergias.

Hi everyone - Here where I live on the South Coast of New South Wales Australia, I find that to get good colour in any brom, especially Bill's, you need good light. All of my Billbergias are grown beneath 75% beige shade cloth and where space will allow I hang as many as possible high up near the roof. Larger plants are on benches covered with galvanized âÂÂMini-Orbâ (corrugated iron with small corrugations). I find the reflective quality of the galvanized finish increases available light by reflection. The only time I feed is when plants are repotted and at this time I add Osmocote High âÂÂKâ at the rate of 1gm per 1â of pot.; e.g. a 4â pot would get 4gm an 8â pot 8gm and so on. This will be supplemented three times per year with a feed of liquid Potash in the form of CondyâÂÂs Crystals (Potassium permanganate) dissolved in water at the rate of 1.5gm per 100 L of water. I find this gives my BillâÂÂs good colour, however I still keep looking for better ways of improving the colour even more. All the best, Nev. Some of my plants on the "Mini Orb" covered bench.

I hate to interject this, on the feeling that I might get flamed, but I have a tough skin so.... Bromeliads are tropical plants for the most part. There are exceptions, but most of the plants that are mass marketed are tropical in origin. They require a certain care to bloom. They are not the ordinary houseplants people think they are. Ae. fasciata is a relatively easy bloomer. It likes strong light but no direct burning sun. Unlike bromeliads that are grown for their color, like neoregelias and most guzmanias, you can fertilize many aecmheas (and billbergias, and Vreiseas, and Dyckias, etc etc) very lightly with okay results. They like a uniform warmth (they have been trialed outdoors in several differnet climates, and universally, it was found that specifically Ae Fasciata will usually die or suffer great damage at 32F and lower). The cut apple thing is based on the principle that ethylene gas prompts a bloom response in bromeliads. I have found that, like orchids, bromeliads bloom when they feel like it. Because I live in a basically warm, light filled climate, mine bloom readily and easily, no matter what the species. We plant Ae fasciata in the yard here under a canopy of trees and they winter fine and bloom yearly. In your climate, it may be more of a challenge. If they aren't blooming, its because some basic need is not being met...light, heat, humidity, food...usually the culprit for non-blooming broms is light (like orchids)