Nice finds at Lowe's markdowns, my Lowe's has had some pretty sad plants on the markdown lately, bromes are all still full price and getting way too much watering.

Cinta, the yellow Bromeliad is probably 'Annie' Vriesea, I've had that one in my garden for years, the blooms start in Jan. and last until July.

By the way here is my little green anole that came with my A. orlandiana, finally caught a camera shot of the little shy guy.

plantladylin said:Lovely gift ... it reminds me of Painted Fingernail Bromeliad (Neoregelia spectabilis)

Thanks for all the information. Painted Fingernail is certainly an apt description, even if it isn't that exact one! I found a good site about Bromeliads in Houston and have read about Neoregelias. I have a pretty good idea about its care now. I guess I need to start collecting rainwater, because the site said that Houston has hard water and that it is not good for them.

I do water my broms in spring and fall (when rain is scarce here) with my (very hard) well water and it doesn't seem to affect them too much. Their major growing season here is summer when we get lots of rain so they seem to do fine as long as they get rain water sometimes.

The important thing to remember about broms is that the roots really don't do much for the plant except anchor it. The major intake of water and nutrients is through the leaves, so for instance fertilizer applied on the ground around a brom doesn't do much for it. I fertilize mine with my soluble orchid fertilizer sprayed on the leaves in the summer and not at all through the cool weather.

Our municipal water is excellent here in Starkville and water the vast majority of my plants, even my carnivores, with tap water year 'round. Of course, since all my plants are outside April-October, they do get rained on.

Like you, Elaine, I fertilize my bromeliads with diluted orchid fertilizer when I am fertilizing all my other plants. I might not add quite as much to their "urns" and leaves during the fall and winter months, but they still get a bit of fertilizer even then.

Right, I think your broms are kept a little warmer through the winter than mine are, Ken. We've had a couple of nights dip below 50deg. already this fall so mine - all out in the garden - may slow down more than yours. My garden will be chillin again on Friday when our high in Sarasota is predicted to be below 70, and the low in the 40's again.

We are supposed to go to 38 just before daybreak on Saturday. It will only be for an hour or so but that is scary cold for some plants. I will probably throw a blanket over my neoregelias to keep any water in the urns a bit warmer. Most of my billbergias can handle the cold easily.

sunkissed said:Nice finds at Lowe's markdowns, my Lowe's has had some pretty sad plants on the markdown lately, bromes are all still full price and getting way too much watering.

Cinta, the yellow Bromeliad is probably 'Annie' Vriesea, I've had that one in my garden for years, the blooms start in Jan. and last until July.

By the way here is my little green anole that came with my A. orlandiana, finally caught a camera shot of the little shy guy.

That is too cute. I have read the critters help to fertilize the bromelaids along with leaf litter. I have learned to stalk Lowes. When I see a plant I like I just stalk the plant until they put it on the sale rack. They are never over 5.00 and look good when they mark them down.

Thank you for the possible ID. I am not usually concerned with names because I do not sale or do much trading unless someone just wants a plant for beauty and not to have a name. I garden and play with my plants for enjoyment as long as it is pretty and I know how to care for the plant I am fine and happy.

Elaine, it's supposed to get that cool over your way? You are farther south than me and on the gulf side of the state, where it's usually warmer so it may be even colder than that over here but the latest weather reports for Sebastian say that Friday is supposed to be our coolest day with temps of 67ºday/59ºnight and it's supposed to be cloudy all day and quite windy too. I don't plan on covering any plants so hopefully all the tree cover will be enough protection if temp's drop into the 40's.

Yes, the Gulf water has cooled off really early this year since we had a cool and windy October. That's what determines how cool we get in winter. Last year the Gulf never cooled below 70 until February, but it is already in the high 60's now.

I really hope it stays warmer than 50, and to be honest our very protected back yard where most of my tender plants grow is always warmer than the predicted low. So I'm not worried there will be damage, but I have tomatoes on the vine and the plants are loaded with flowers that may or may not blast if it gets too chilly. My orchids are inside the pool cage and the pool was over 80deg. before we left so that keeps the temp up in there too. I've never had any problems with my broms out in the garden, they are protected by the oak tree canopy.

If it makes you feel any better, the west coast is chilling a bit early this year too. In my area, we rarely get even light frost, so nothing but orchids ever go indoors, and the big ones just stay under the protection of trees/ roof overhangs. My few Broms, will stay out under the lemon tree.

I have proof they can survive 30 for a week. I had a life change and did not have time to bring them inside. I covered them with a blanket and plastic over the blanket because we had rain then snow. When I removed the blanket and plastic there was a coating of ice and snow on the plastic.

We were 40s daytime 30s night time. One night or two nights it was 29.

Most tropicals can take far more cold than one would expect, but it all depends on how long those freezing temperatures last and whether frost is present. When those temperatures reach the mid-20's, the plants better be inside.

Ifs getting to be that time of year as the Billbergia are preparing to flower.

Mine are finally at that same stage. I hope the cold tomorrow morning does not harm the buds.

Yes, mine are blooming too. Such a shame the flowers are not more long-lasting.

Yep, that's a shame for sure. Though my Marbled Rainbow has gorgeous flowers, they are only at their best for a week or two.

Here is a cool one from Lisa Vinzant's "blueberry series".




'

Neoregelia 'Blueberry Muffin' (H 7" x W 8")

Scott, that really is a pretty one! Does it get any larger than the 7"x8"???

I don't see any pictures of that one in the database yet: Neoregelia 'Blueberry Muffin'

That's a nice one, Scott.

Lin, Thanks for the reminder! I posted the photos to the database just now. That is the aprox size that this one should obtain. I would think in a more shaded location it may become a little larger. I grow mine in the screened pool area and it gets sun thru the screen almost all day.