I do grow from seed, though not those species, and know others that do. Some reasons for growing from seed include the possibility of finding variants, such as variegated plants or ones with stronger coloration. While it takes several years to grow from seed, you can end up with a hundred seedlings rather than the 5 or 6 you would get from division. And of course if you are trying to hybridize the only way to go is growing from seed!

I'll second that - am growing 2 Bromeliads from seed collected in Dominican Republic in '99 or '00 - just ID'd the plant now - hasn't bloomed yet. Not difficult - I start seeds of most things in a clear plastic "take-out food" container where I've made holes on bottom and top with a hot tong or skewer. Can leave seeds there until they sprout and then grow to small plants.

Ellen

Thanks for the info, I guess I should try to start some from seed myself... It really does sound fairly easy. do you both grow them on in a greenhouse setting, or outdoors? I have found that small seedling bromeliads have not fared as well under my benign neglect as larger plants that often seem almost indestructible. The seedlings seemed to require brighter light and more regular watering to keep them going, and I mostly rotted them out. This may require setting up some sort of greenhouse and misting system to succede.

It *is* easy, except for Tillandsias, Vrieseas and Guzmanias. Those genera, and their close relatives like Catopsis, have seeds like dandelions and unless you have a greenhouse are hard to keep alive; they also are viable only a short time. For the others, I use long fiber sphagnum moss, such as is sold as "Orchid Moss". I thoroughly wet it, place it in a clear plastic cup in which I have made drainage holes, and place the seed on the moss. I then put the cup in a clear plastic bag. When the seedlings are an inch high or so, I replant them into soil but still keep them in a bag until they are obviously robust. The BSI and FCBS webistes have articles on growing broms from seed.