very nice! how long did it take to bloom?

Its only for a few days. Billbergia are all very short bloomers- their downside.

Lovely foliage on that one. I'm surprised you say all billbergias are very short bloomers. The blooms on my orange-flowering and nutans cultivars last for weeks. And one, which I think is the common B. pyramidalis, blooms about 6 times per year! It is probably more in bloom, than not. But I've read that climate matters concerning blooming, and it is possible that I'm lucky to live where this one repeats frequently.

Never had them bloom more than once a year. After a few days,its wait until next year again. I have B.pyramidis variegated and it's an old,old,clump. Once a year bloom.

Great pic, thanks.

tj

My variegated B.pyramidalis also bloomed only once per year; I tossed it a year or so ago (garden space is at a premium, so sometimes the cull shuffle takes place). The regular B. pyramidalis are two plant baskets; they tend to stagger their blooms, maybe due to slightly differing conditions between the front and back yards. I should note their bloom periods to see how they differ, but I'm not generally that garden note attentive. ;-)

Beautiful foliage on your B. 'Fantasia Junior', petrushka!

i'm intrigued, gyr_falcon:

>>The blooms on my orange-flowering and nutans cultivars last for weeks. And one, which I think is the common B. pyramidalis, blooms about 6 times per year!

what are yr growing conditions for it to bloom 6 times a year! r u sub-tropical?

Yes,I never heard of any Billbergia that could do that. Where's Splinter?

Here's a closeup when it was in its prime. Faded already.

Here too mine are once a year shortly after bringing them in for winter. Perhaps the cool fall temps followed by warmth inside is a trigger? This one is blooming now.

Bill. (amoena x horrida) x 'Hallelujah'

tj

petrushka, I live in South Orange County. It is mild here, but there are some minor temp dips, followed by warmer periods. This triggers some plants, such as jacarandas, to bloom multiple times per year. I don't know if these bromeliads bloom using day length or temps. The other billbergias only bloom once per year.

These particular ones were a share from a friend, who got it from another friend, and specific identification was not available. They are just casual growers.

I divided and cleaned up the front yard plant not long ago, so it may take a while for it to reestablish and begin blooming again.

very interesting about temps! thanks. i divided mine last yr and will bring the smaller one to So FL: the winters have been ultra mild for the past years. i can keep it on the balcony and we'll see if it blooms more often.