Stitz,I think what you want to find out is what most of us want to know too,but are cautious of placing our Vrieseas in direct sun.You don't know when a plant is being left too long in sunshine,and the results of sunburn are not fixable. I have a number of vrieseas,two like yours,and have had mixed results regarding light,color and growth.Ive noticed that leaf width and length will change with the amount of change in the growing conditions.Strappy in poor light,wide,shorter,and compact in good light,and if you can't control the lighting conditions (winter/summer),it makes for an odd looking plant,alternately narrow and wide leaved. When outdoors,I've always shaded them with 60% green shadecloth,except a few that receive only morning and evening sunlight.Some color up better in bright light rather than direct sunshine.None have been sunburned,as I don't trust putting them into direct sunshine. I suppose it can gradually be done with some species,but maybe not others. But which ones? Perhaps someone out there in GW can give us some answers to those questions. How about you,Lisa,in that sunshine mecca,Hawaii? And you've shown us photos of some real vriesea beauties here on the GW.
Bob

It's hard for me to answer questions regarding light intensity and climate conditions in other parts of the country, Bob, so I was hoping you or someone closer to Stitz' zone would have some experience with it.

I don't grow any Vrieseas out in full sun. Alcantareas, yes. The foliage-type Vrieseas like fosteriana and hieroglyphica can take more sun than the softer-leaved flowering types though. I usually keep all the Vrieseas and Guzmanias under @ 60-70% shade, but some of the foliage types are doing well under 40% shade. The colors are stronger there and the growth more compact, but they also yellow out more quickly, which is the flip side of the equation.

I would never give them any less than 40% coverage, but the sun intensity is much higher here than on the Mainland so my 40% may equal somebody else's full sun, who knows? If I had to carry them in and out all the time, though, I think I'd shoot myself! ;-)

Bob & Lisa,

Thank You, for your support! I'm aware of the potential for uneven seasonal growth. I provide a SE facing window during the coldest months with a large E facing window to the side. During cooler months for those two species, it's outdoors 'til 45°F, unless wind is a problem.

Yes, it's impossible to extrapolate someone else's light conditions because as Lisa wrote, my full sun is only a fraction of her sunlight potential. I'm looking forward to getting the Vr fosteriana var seideliana into full sunlight through the summer months. I'm sure that the leaf colors will sharpen.

Good Growing to all,

°Stitz°

The Vr fosteriana var seideliana initiated a flower spike! I'm stunned. Goodness gracious, did I cause this by shocking the plant with FULL sunlight? OR, was it going to happen anyway?

I have been cultivating this individual plant for only three years.

Hard to know. Does it look mature? I've had a number of the foliage types in bloom or in bud this time of year, so it doesn't seem that unusual to me.

Shock or abrupt change can sometimes do it too. Several years ago I picked up some Vrieseas from John Arden while in So Cal for Christmas. As soon as I got them back to Hawaii most of them bloomed. I guess the warmer weather made them think it was spring, even though it was only January.

Lisa, thank you for your input. It is an absolutely gorgeous plant! I was thinking that it was approaching the time of life when it would be in all of its spectacular glory for many moons. I guess that the plant had other ideas! As you indicated and I suggested earlier, perhaps the abrupt change gave it the stimulus for flowering. --Stitz--