I dunno, I guess you'll just have to move to the tropics, Gonzer. I've never had any trouble with Ae. zebrina. Love that plant!

I lost my first one..it was in a pot...the second one is mounted and pupping like crazy

Gonzer, I live in Zone 9 as well, albeit a different country, and I cannot grow A. zebrina well in my garden. I have trouble with many of the chantinii cultivars as well. I tried growing them in trees, but they never looked any good, and eventually succumbed. They would grow better in a hot house in our climate. And until I get my hot house, I've given up on zebrina, as much as I also love it.

The tropics do look nice............

Cheers,
Kerry

I also have trouble with the chantinii cultivars Kerry. They seem to start losing it at the tiniest sign of cold. How do you grow yours HD? BTW Lisa, Bill. 'Alakai' came today. WOW!

Mine are grown mounted...I move them in during the cold to the greenhouse...these are some of the picky Aechmea's I spoke about in another post....they melt in the slightest cold and I keep them on the dry side in winter or rot sets in fast...since winter is almost over here tey will return to their places outdoors in a few weeks

Glad you like the Bill, Gonz!

I grow zebrina in pots, although it does well on a tree branch too. Pups continuously, blooms easily and doesn't rot, even if it's really wet. Must just be a temperature thing.

I was given a small pup shortly after I was married 26 years ago. I have never had any problems with zebrina. I grow them in pots in a mixture of potting soil and pearlite. Eventully the plant pups, and flowers, and I keep one pup and give the others away. I recently got an e-mail from the friend that gave me the original pup, and he was amazed that I still had the plant. He gave it to Ginny and I as a Wedding gift, and I will be giving him a pup when I have one again. This is the only Bromeliad I have ever kept for more than a few years.