Seriously though I want to know of any frost hardy or reasonably hardy Bromeliads that can be grown out of decorative log on a wall - except Fascicularia bicolor/pitcairnifolia which ain't by cup of tea to be honest.
Also where can I buy Strobilanthes dyerianus (aka Persian shield)
I've had Puya Chillensis for a few years and recently acquired a Puya Alpestris. Probably more tender is a unnamed Dyckia with very silver leaves. I'd very much like to permanently plant these out and I think they would probably start to offset more given a free rootrun. Is it worth trying to protect them in situe? Sorry to bring the theme of winter up again!
Mike, there was a silver coloured Bromeliad growing off one of the ferns at Ness Gardens, it was quite small but looked attractive. That Bromeliad (or some Epiphyte), survived the winter no problem.
Joel, I wouldnt do it this year until you know we havent had a cold winter. If we have a cold winter this year then next years winter is more likely to be cold.
Dykia 'Silver moon' or 'Silver lining' are two of the sivery ones..They might work if not too wet.. and have lot's of room to grow their root's. Some Tillandsia's that come from high altitudes can withstand freezing temp's.. eg: T. erubescens, T.matuadae, But these are mini's..
I bought Strobilanthes dyerianus from B&Q well over a month ago and they only had a few then. I promptly chopped it up and now have several, which will be overwintered and chopped up again for bedding out in shade next summer.
Stephen, I've been very impressed with the cold tolerance of Tillandsia bergeri this past winter. My cluster of plants was blow of its perch at some stage in the winter and I didn't re-discover it until spring where it was lying in muddy soil, looking superficially in a bad way. I hosed it off, cut away rotted rosettes and a few broken leaves. It now looks as good as ever and flowered a month ago. The flower spikes remain colourful for several weeks and are shrimp pink. The short-lived flowers (2-3days duration at most) are lilac and sufficiently showy to be very welcome when they appear.
All you need to do with this species is to glue it or staple it to a bit of wood and drench every day or so in hot weather. It may or may not produce roots (mine never has) and subsists purely on atmospheric moisture and rain. It time it develops into a network of branching rhizomes carrying pleasing, small, grey-green rosettes each about 10 - 12cms across. I've had mine for quite a few years and it seems to go on and on with remarkably little attention apart from watering in dry weather. If you want a bromeliad to mount onto wood, you could do a lot worse than to start with this.
Thanks I'll take this into account, it seems Tillandsia is a good one and also Dyckia perhaps.
I'm sure Gary who was in the NGS had a Tillandsia or something growing out of a Cyathea medullaris, I seem to recall it had pink flowers, I'll have to find out. Dave, I'll have a look at Tillandsia bergii in more detail.
Stephen,this is our clump of t.bergerii,mh will probably remember me grabbing it at gary wattons last august.it has filled out a lot since being hung up,only water it gets is from the roof running on to it.a guy specialising in these said the best way to water was to dunk in a tub of rainwater then hang out to dry but just leaving them to get on with it seems to work too. i also learned from Tony King and his experience with them that they are quite tough come winter,ours took at least -5 in the un-heated conservatory with no damage
£9.50 each + £6.95p&p.Now that is something I will get.