wow that's really cool. Like making your own tree.
Your garden is very beautiful and I wish I could sit in it next to your "broms". Are they really called pups?

I'm wondering about a use for northern USA gardens.
Kathy

That planter is really neat. I can see using one for hen and chicks. I usually grown them in strawberry pots but a tall planter would be neat too.

Can you elaborate, it looks like you cut the pipe in half where did you stuff the potting soil?

I have a lot of tislandia's and have them in baskets, man they grow like crazy.

vertical gardening...love it.
I used to drool over the way gardens and buildings had beautiful vertical gardens in place.
google images are abundant with such ideas, even for an entire building, over 4 stories high.
and you're very lucky to be able to grow that type of plant outside.
the only way I could have that type of plant, would be to shop the isles at Michaels....

very, very nice

How very clever! I LOVE it! I am always looking for ways to add height to my gardens and this is a super idea! It looks great, though I would ALSO have a difficult time growing bromelaids outside except for summertime. Your variety of color is very pretty!

I think this could also look good with something viney growing out of the holes, too...even something simple like creeping charley or trailing geraniums or petunias.

You've got me thinking about attempting one with plants towards the top using the pipe as the "trunk" and the plants spreading out from the upper portion like a palm tree has all it's leaves out the top.

Great way to display Broms.....such a good idea. And nice suggestion grannytoo to use hens and chicks.....

Marleneann! that's cool!! I actually have a couple lengths of PVC pipe under the deck that I had plans for - I was going to cut a couple holes like you did and mosiac the rest of the pipe and put one on either end of the patio. I had intended to do seashells, go with an 'oceany' theme, but living in landlocked OH, sea shells in the quantity I would need became a bit cost prohibitive :). I do have all this crash glass now, tho, hmmmm I may have a new project :) thanks for reminding me!!!

kelly check the dollar stores, sometimes they have those packages of mixed shell within a big shell.

What a great idea Marlene! Bromeliads are such cool plants anyway...it's wonderful that you can grow them outdoors where you are!

socalliegal...no I didn't gut the pipe in half. I feed the potting mix (orchid bark mix...) in from the top of the pipe and did one plant at a time. It didn't fall out the bottom because I attached a lid with drainage holes.
When the bark (mix) came up to the hole I inserted the brom and stuffed the coconut fibre around it so the plant was secure and the mix would not fall out ...then filled the pipe a bit more to the next hole...then keep going until all holes had plants. Then fill pipe to the top with mix.
Hope this helps

What an awesome idea! Like others have said, it would probably work with other plants ... I'm thinking succulents because they don't need a lot of water and have shallow roots. Thanks for the wonderful idea!

how do you water it?

Socalliegal...
I haven't got a cap on the top of the pipe so you can put the hose in the top and water will run through. The lid on the bottom with the drainage holes allows it to drain.

Great idea! Looks very "tropical" in your gardens! TFS! Jeanne s.