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This and that from Indiana

hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)

2 months ago

I know spring is still far away. We just got about 4 inches of snow Friday and Saturday, but the weather forecast is looking good for the rest of the week. Our seedlings are almost all planted and are coming up. We planted fewer this year than we have in many years. So far, it looks like germination will not be very good. Maybe last year's drought has something to do with that.

Tom Adams opened its first flower in the greenhouse today. It's a little lighter in color than it usually is. The scape has only 4 buds. We put pollen on it (from our stores of frozen pollen) but we aren't sure that the pollen is good. The pollen would have thaw during the 75 hours our power was off last summer.

Bob has other flowers blooming in the greenhouse. The first one is Hibiscus schizopetalus.

This bromeliad is Aechmea 'Little Harve Variegata. It is not a little plant though.

This is a small Neoregelia called 'Donger'. The cat is Gus Gus. He loves going into the greenhouse with Bob. His sister Jackie is afraid of the greenhouse and won't go in.

This is Nidularium 'Rojo'.

This is Tillandsia 'Antonio'.

Here is Gus Gus enjoying lying in the Gator.

Nancy

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Comments (6)

mantis__oh
2 months ago
I join Gus Gus in admiring Donger. What striking foliage on Rojo! We had a biting wind today, so even with sun, not pleasant. Coming week will be a bit above normal. It's better not to have a repeat of last year, when we had a very warm February followed by a cold March.
sherrygirl zone5 N il
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I enjoy seeing your bromeliads in the green house. I just bought a small bromeliad to try as a house plant, it has a bloom. I just read the blooms can last a few weeks or months….wonder how long mine will last.

Gus Gus is cute, too bad his sister wont join in the fun .

Sherry
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Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
2 months ago
I thought I read somewhere that when a Bromeliad blooms the mother plant will die (but hopefully not before leaving babies around the mother plant to pot up). Is that right? Little Harve is beautiful as are all the rest. I always enjoy your winter shots of tropical plants.....As for Gus Gus, you know he's stolen my heart. Appears to be a youngster and will be so much fun for everyone............Maryl
shive
2 months ago
Gus Gus looks like a sweet little garden cat. How nice to have things blooming in your greenhouse. My earliest daffodils have just started opening. My seeds are slow to germinate this year also. I'm only starting three cups this year.

Debra
hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)
Original Author
2 months ago
Bromeliads are all over the place in how long the bloom will be colorful. Aechmea and Vriesia inflorescences can stay colorful for months. The color on Billbergia inflorescences is fleeting.

The mother plant does die after flowering, but it isn't immediate. It gradually wastes away while it is produces offsets, called pups. Most will produce many pups. That's why we throw away a bunch every fall--just not enough space in the greenhouse. The Neoregelia 'Donger' group started from one plant.

Gus Gus was probably born late April in 2023 so he's not yet a year old. He is a lot bigger than he was in the photo.

Nancy
Brad KY 6b
2 months ago
Such pretty blooms! So nice that you have a greenhouse!

Brad

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