Monday, March 14, 2011

My Adopted Greenhouse Bromeliad Puts on a Magnificent Display!

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844
 While our daughter was still a student at university and living in a little off-campus flat of her own, we gave her this bromeliad (her first 'houseplant')

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At that time, it was a single plant with a single, small pink flower cone.  It looked arty and was unusual and seemed a wise buy for her, as it appeared to require minimal attention.
She loved it, watered it once or twice a week and it survived quite happily.  The pink cone flower lasted for absolutely ages and remained exactly the same size as it was when we'd bought it.
Once she'd graduated and moved out of her flat, the plant found its way back here.  I subsequently housed it in my greenhouse, and basically ignored it.  It grew well, doubling its size and produced a 'pup', which has also grown well.
Occasionally, I gave it some organic fertilizer, but as it's planted in a narrow-necked, shallow pot, I wasn't sure it would really benefit (I have subsequently heard some bromeliads are epiphytes, so I'm guessing that's what this one is, as it appears to be growing in very little soil).
Anyway, earlier this year, it started to produce two pink cones and I was both delighted and impressed and repeatedly told it what a clever plant I thought it was!
It seemed to like this and I noticed the pink cones were getting bigger and bigger.
 When they were really impressive, I praised it lavishly, thinking that was IT!  Little did I know or suspect that this bromeliad was going to put on an even more spectacular performance.
  A little over a fortnight ago, I'd popped into the greenhouse to do a quick check and was absolutely astounded to see that one of the bromeliad cones had produced a single glorious purple-hued, three petalled flower (growing from the thin, outer edge of the cone!).
 I had never seen anything like it before and couldn't keep my eyes off this vision of sheer beauty.  It hardly seemed real and I felt it might disappear before my eyes!
Since that first surprise, this magnificent little spiky-leaved plant has produced two of these flowers per cone at a time and each appears to only last a day.
One of the pink cones prior to the emergence of the exquisite three petalled purple flowers.
They occur opposite each other, roughly midline on the cones's outer-edges and each day, the new paired flowers are 'one stage higher', in other words, the older flowers are at the bottom and the newer ones are borne upwards of those.


I realise, of course, that anyone familiar with bromeliads will know all of this already, but this is a brand new revelation to me, and I'm absolutely thrilled! 

Since posting this, Wanda, author of the absolutely stunning blog, Moments of Mine, has very kindly given me the name of this beautiful bromeliad.  It is a Tillandsia cyanea, an epiphyte (airplant), native to Ecuador.  There are some exquisite photographs on Google images plus plenty of information on how to care for it.  Thank you very much, Wanda!!!


18 comments:

  1. It is brand new to me too. What an amazing plant.

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  2. Hi Desiree, What an unusual plant! It obviously leaves nothing to chance by attracting insects with this succession of colorful flowers. Most interesting is that the two parts of the flower seem almost unrelated in color and shape.
    P.S. I enjoyed reading through the last of the trip posts and seeing all the animals and birds.

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  3. Such a beautiful and unique flower, loved the different views of it, that second photo would make a lovely poster.

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  4. The photos are absolutely lovely.

    I wonder if the purple flower is an orchid of some kind? I know orchids are parasitic, living off the stalk and nutrients of other plants...

    Thanks for sharing. It's still quite cold here in chicago. All I've got to show for the promise of spring is some barely green mossy stuff on the soil near the house and the very tips of crocuses. (sp?)

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  5. Hi Shen!

    It doesn't appear to be an entirely different plant - as the flowers are very definitely attached right inside each of the tight 'ridges' of the original cone. I will, however, do some research on the matter...and let you know what I find out ;)

    Hugs,

    Des xo

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  6. Not for me...i have seen this before...that is how a Bromelia blooms darling !! only normal the purple flowers are very little that one of your are huge !! bigggg!! and beautiful.....i like your plants ...nice that you have it still....have a nice week...love love Ria....xxx...

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  7. Ria:

    Thank you for shedding light on this :)

    Hugs,

    Des xo

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  8. What a beautiful flower! I've never known this about bromeliads either. It's so cool that you managed to get it to bloom. Such bright colors!

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  9. Desiree...I have never seen anything like it and it's lovely! I am going to bring it to the attention of Christer in Sweden...he loves this sort of thing and owned his own nursury.

    Thanks for showing us this...amazing! It's no wonder you are so thrilled!
    Hugs,
    Mona

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  10. I found your same lovely flower on Google, Desiree:

    Google...Tillandsia Cyanea...to see images.

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  11. Wanda:

    Thank you so much for this!!! I appreciate it very much indeed :)

    Hugs,

    Des xo

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  12. Desiree, what a beautiful flower. I've never seen anything like that. I love that as you continued to lavish it with praise that it continued to surprise you. :-)

    Thank you for sharing such beauty!

    Ronda

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  13. What a joy to see the beautiful flowers bromelia gave you!!! I think I will look for one thanks to you Desiree!!!
    hugs

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  14. VERY beautiful! I just LOVE the colors. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  15. Wonderful colourings in this beautiful flower.

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  16. Thanks Des! Your visit to the new blog was much appreciated!
    michaelhanne.ca

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  17. I managed to go on holiday and miss the past few posts. Now I'm here to catch up on the "novelties".

    Lately, visiting your blog meant seeing pictures of places, animals and plants I had never seen or heard about before. And this time is no disappointment. This plant is gorgeous and definitely full of surprises.

    I've also had a plant in my room at all times. It's like a little corner of nature and the closest thing to a pet I used to be allowed to keep.

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  18. Bromeliads are amazing plants! each is so unique! i have a few different kinds...but NONE as gorgeous as that one you have there!! wow!! what bright vivid colors!!

    no reason to look for more on google...i'll just stare at yours all day... :] laura

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