OK, I went to the Anna Maria Garden Club bromeliad chat led by Dennis (owner of Tropiflora nursery and acclaimed bromeliad expert) and Skylark, you win the big prize...it's a Neo johannis! Well done!!!
It was a beginners demo....I knew it was when he opened with "Did you know Spanish moss and pineapples are bromeliads?" And everyone gasped and Oooh'ed and ahh'ed.....
However, when I cornered poor Dennis after the talk with all my questions, I did learn that Tropiflora propagates their Tillandsia utriculata (the only monocarpic tilly) by simply sewing the seeds on a fine mesh window screen, keeping them moist and airy and algae free. He said they stay really small for about 2 years and then grow exponentially. Simple enough!
I bought a cool accidental genetic variation of T. ionatha that was bright orange, called 'Druid' for $5 at the demo. I had to stuff it in my purse to run to a doc appointment afterwards....and it fell out when I pulled out my wallet and scared the receptionist!
