Very nice, Nev. Thank you for taking the time. 'Aleena' and 'Apricot Nectar'

both caught my eye. All are not just nice plants, but nicely grown as well.

tj

Thanks for the compliment tsugajunkie

All the best, Nev.

Absolutely gorgeous... thanks for your dedication and taking the time to share.

Here's a similar one I got last month:

I think it is Neoregelia Skotak's Tiger, but I am guessing about the tiger part. I also have ones that look like your Amazing Morn, Aleena, and Aurora. I want to get more of the Neoregelia, but I have to pace myself. I have not tried growing from seeds.

Are you in Australia?

Not sure what this one is:

Hi everyone.

Lars - I don't think your first plant is 'Skotak's Tiger', the colour doesn't look right and besides it looks to be a small plant whereas 'Skotak's Tiger' is large; mine's about two feet across. See some pictures of it at http://registry.bsi.org/?genus=NEOREGELIA&id=7492#7492

I can't help you with a name for you second one except to say it's a Neoregelia.

Yes I do live in Australia; and here on the south east coast, the climate if favourable and allows me to grow bromeliad seed without the need of expensive hot houses and other specialised equipment. I just use a plastic Take-Away food container with a lid and a bit of damp Coco Peat.

I fill the container to 2/3 with the Coco Peat; sow the seed on top, fit the lid and put in a warm place out of direct sun and await results, (usually up to three weeks). Below are some examples of Billbergia seed that was sown at various times.

I find growing from seed a very interesting and rewarding pastime as it's a bit of a lottery and you never know what you will get. It's quite exciting when you grow a worthwhile plant because you know it's unique and you are the only person with it.

All the best, Nev.

I think this one looks like your Aleena:

I've noticed that the spots change, depending on how much sun it gets, and I've not yet found the optimal place for it.

Same thing for this one - it used to have larger white spots:

I think maybe they both need a bit more sun and that I do not need to keep them in such a shady spot. Plus, I'm running out of shady spots, but I have plenty of sunny spots.

I think I should try growing from seed at some point. Do you hybridize your own seeds?

Hi everyone.

Lars - Aleena is only a small plant (about 5" across) and judging by the size of the inflorescence on the Vriesea in front of your plant, it seems much larger.

I have found out since growing bromeliads that good light = good colour. If the light is too low, the colour disappears and many plant's colour will change to various shades of green, indeed many spotted plants lose their spots also.

Quite apart from the colour, the leaves will also grow thinner and longer, this is their way of telling you they are reaching out for better light whereas a plant grown in very strong light will be more compact with wider and shorter leaves. However, don't confuse strong light with direct sun; in many cases here where I live direct sun will burn brom's, but I have found that a covering of 75% beige shade cloth gives me the best colour.

As for growing brom's from seed, I started out by just using the seeds that were the result of pollination by insects. Although they grow OK, you have no control or way of knowing who the parents were. If you pollinate the plants yourself (as I do now) you can select the parents and be guided by the types and quality of plants they have bred in the past. This improves your chances of breeding something worthwhile.

Like all plants, you may be lucky enough to breed one or two good quality plants, but you will also breed a lot of rubbish as well, and this is why it's important to cull, cull, cull; otherwise your whole yard will be taken over by poorly grown and over crowded plants. I know because I made the mistake of not culling when I should have.

Below are 6 pic's of plants from my own crossings; no show winners, but I think they're nice enough to keep just the same.

All the best, Nev.

Definitely keepers. Thanks again.

tj