Starting a new chat for 2023 Winter months. I have lots of billbergia blooms going on, despite our cold weather.
Billbergia 'Delicioso'




This is B. Casa Blanca that I've had for a good many years, never has bloomed, this is the first time.


billbergia nutans windii

Aechmea recurvata 'Big Mama', actually been in bloom since the beginning of Dec.

My broms are starting to put up some blooms, too. Sadly this Aechmea mexicana had a bloom coming along before the cold snap in December, and the flowers seem to have been toasted. Several more plants getting very nice purple foliage right now, though.

I had that happen to some of my Aechmea blooms too, the plants okay, but blooms took a hit on the freezing nights.

I think I'm going to restart collecting Tillandsia. I love the stacking ones (the viny ones) and the lumpy clumpy ones.

Not sure what we have coming along here, my garden helper has been bringing me brom divisions from another client's garden. Open soon.

Meanwhile, another new flower spike on the Aechmea Mexicana that didn't get zapped by the cold last weekend, thankfully. It's a bit more protected under the tree canopy. Even in warm weather these take forever to open, and last a very long time, so I'll have to keep an eye on it, and grab a picture when it finally does it's thing. Loving the purple foliage.

And a pretty bloom on Billbergia 'Celebration' with a photo bomb by the Matchsticks gamosepala.

Eliane, glad you have a second A. Mexicana bloom.
Seeing a lot of Billbergias and Aechmeas putting out some blooms, I almost miss some because of the big turkey oak leaves on them...kind of leaving them on until these last low forty degree nights, then I'll clean them out. Frost protection from mom nature.

Warm weather for a few days now, they're coming along. This one with the pink calyx is really intriguing, looks like the flowers will be yellow. Hope you guys will tolerate my 'progress reports'. I can't walk by these plants without taking pictures)
any IDeas?

A. Mexicana

Elaine maybe Aechmea maculata, I have that one, but seems I have another the bloom looks like that also. I have lots of blooming Aechmea right now, and Billbergia, am enjoying each day walking around the garden and seeing their progress.
Pic's to follow...no time today.

Some Billbergia blooms around the garden
B. 'Flamenco'

B. Simpatico

B. Tarantella

Aechmea "White Knight' This is one of the Orlandiana species. Two blooms at once.

Dang, my Tarantella is not blooming and it never looks as good as your anyway.

I got mine quite a few years ago from Bird Rock tropicals in Calif. there a few plants in there now, a further out shot for you to see the whole plant. Doesn't get as red as yours does Alice, but it gets only morning and late afternoon sun.

Sincoregelia 'Galactic Warrior' loves the cooler weather.

Alice that is Spectacular! one of my favorites.

I believe these are Neoregelia 'Donna' sporting some bright pink centers.


This is one of my favorites Billbergia 'Flamenco' started out as one plant and stays red all year, but really red with the colder weather. Reliable bloomer. From BirdRock Tropicals.

Thanks Sherri.
The color on Flamenco is stunning. How big does that one get?

Wow, yes I love the color on your Flamenco. Those dark reds are my favorite amongst the bromeliads for sure.

I still have Aechmea 'Perez' from Alice but won't show a picture until I have it re-potted and displayed nicely. It was in the hoop house, and got shoved under something else so it's looking a big scrappy right now. It's a beautiful deep, shiny red all the time and looks gorgeous in a hanging basket so the red flowers hang down over the edges.

Somebody on the other forum posted this one, so I now know it is Aechmea maculata. Loving how the cute yellow flowers turn into black pods, even prettier than when it's blooming, I think.

And A. mexicana still going with the big pink bract, but I can't get out there early enough to see the flowers open. Oh well, the dusky purple foliage is worth the price of admission on this one anyway.

Flamenco is about three foot tall, still in a six inch clay pot, but have it in a cinder block to keep from falling over.
Aechmea maculata blooms are really neat, they last a long time.

Alice did your 'Galactic Warrior' ever bloom yet? I've had mine for a good 4-5 years and still no bloom, no offsets. I did almost kill it once, too much sun and no watering.

This one looks a lot the same, it has given me two more offsets, but also hasn't bloomed. xNeophytum 'Cosmic Blast' bought it from Eloise Beach at the Leu Gardens plant sale many years ago.

No, no blooming or pups here either. I think I like the plant as is, it would probably look raggedy after blooming.

I think the flower bud on my B. Wendii aborted. It has been there for months but has never opened. I believe the plant got too dry over the winter, the irrigation system was turned off and I was down with a bulging disc and never hand watered anything.