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What's Happened and What's Happening
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Contents of Newsletter
Report of the September Meeting

  • Plant of The Month: Billbergias with Greg Aizelwood.
  • Guest Speaker: Neville Ryan talking on My Collection of Tillandsias.
  • Results of September Popular Vote.
  • Upcoming Events.
  • 2019 Meeting Information.

Editor: Maxim Wilson.
maxim.wilson@internode.on.net.

Report of the September meeting


Reminder: The date for the October meeting is now 10th October. This has changed due to the Golden Broms Conference.

The Society is participating in the Local Matters program by Grill’d Healthy Burgers at Emporium for the month of September.

Congratulations to Ross Smith, the winner of the Spring Show Country Member Draw who has won accommodation and a $100 voucher to spend at the Spring Show.

Library: A catalogue of all library books is now available and members are invited to order a book to be supplied at the next meeting.

Golden Broms is nearly on us. Single day registrations are available for $120 and gives you full access to competition plants, lunch and sales. Four day registrations are still available. Plant sales for the general public are open only on Saturday and Sunday, 9 am - 12 noon with no door charge.

Information Session: Companion Plants - Orchids with Barry Kable and Rhipsalis with Bruce Dunstan


Orchids often  grow in rainforest, and are found with bromeliads that thrive in that climate.

Dendrobiums love to grow in trees, and are generally easy to grow, needing fertiliser in spring and early summer. Some tolerate full sun.

Cattleyas live on orchid mix, rather than in the mix.

Vandas grow well in trees, sending shoots and roots down, and thrive when a bowl of water is positioned directly below. This creates humidity.
Cattleya specimen shared by Barry Kable.
Rhipsalis is a genus of epiphytic cacti from central and South America, and are found alongside bromeliads in these locations. Like bromeliads, there is a species that appears to occur naturally in Africa and Sri Lanka. Similar theories try to explain this occurrence in Africa of a single species of bromeliad and Rhipsalis outside South America. Brazil is the centre of speciation. They are cacti that have evolved to live up trees.

They comprise modified stems which bear flowers, and which produce berries when fertilised. The berries are brightly coloured to attract birds, and the taste is sweet.

Cultivation: Bruce ‘treats them mean’ for best results. ie., no fertiliser. They store water in their stems, and require less water indoors.

Light: they happily grow in the sun, but tolerate shade well.

Propagation is from cuttings, and from seed.
Rhipsalis monocarpa hangs down 2-3 m and produces thousands of flowers.


Guest Speaker: Neville Ryan on His Collection of Tillandsias.


Nev started in 1980 with a Tillandsia ionantha, his very first Till. He illustrated his talk with a series of fine photos.
Neville Ryan.
Neville's Bush House.
A wall of his Tillandsia tectorums.
Tillandsia tectorum.
Tillandsia tectorum bloom.
Tillandsia ionantha bloom.
A wall of Tillandsia sprengliana.
Tillandsia kautskyi.
Tillandsia xerographica.
T. jalisco-monticola x xerographica.
Tillandsia crocata has endearing aroma.
Tillandsia brachycaulos.
There were many more excellent photos of beautiful Tillandsias, and we thank Nev for his excellent presentation.
 

Plant of the Month: Billbergias with Greg Aizelwood.


Greg’s interest in Billbergias was aroused by Len Butt, and he sought advice from Grace Goode.

Origin: they’re found inland from Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil. A few species are found in Mexico and Bolivia.

Habitat: mostly dry. The original habitat has been mostly cleared for farming, and only isolated pockets remain.

Light: morning light is best, and seems to promote seed germination. Their favoured habitat is usually shady in the afternoon.

Pollination issues: Billbergia hybrids are very difficult to pollinate, probably due to an inhibitor, but it can be done with special techniques.

Greg succeeded in selfing two F1 hybrids of Bill ‘Hallelujah’ x  alfonsi-joannis by bypassing the inhibitor. This produced F2 hybrids.

Notable hybridisers in the USA are Don Beadle and Jim Irvine, while Clyde Wasley produced some novel hybrids in Australia.

Greg brought several Billbergias to illustrate his talk. Bill ‘Domingos Martins’ is a cultivar of Bill vittata, probably by mutation. It's genetic material has proved dominant when crossed with other Billbergias.

Cultivation: Greg grows then ‘hard’. That is, a teaspoon of slow release fertiliser when first potted, some fish emulsion or Seasol, but no more.

Water: just keep the tank full, nothing more.
Results of Popular Vote Competition
Novice
1st Tillandsia streptophylla x ehlersiana by Tom Isaac.
2nd Tillandsia seleriana giant form by Steve Molnar.
3rd Dyckia ‘Milvex Bunts Passion’ by Gilda Trudu.

Intermediate
1st Tillandsia rhodocephala by John Olsen.
Equal 2nd Vriesea ‘Vogue’ by Livia Doidge.
Equal 2nd Tillandsia ehlersiana by Livia Doidge.

Advanced
1st Tillandsia chlorophylla by Bruce Dunstan.
Equal 2nd Tillandsia complanata by Peter Paroz.
Equal 2nd Tillandsia tequendamae by Bruce Dunstan.

Decorative Section,
1st Subteres-trial by Gilda Trudu.
2nd I Am Scared by Alfonso Trudu.
Tillandsia complanata by Peter Paroz.
Tillandsia tequendamae by Bruce Duncan.
Tillandsia chlorophylla by Bruce Dunstan.
Vriesea 'Vogue' by Livia Doidge.
Tillandsia rhodocephala by
John Olsen.
Tillandsia streptophylla x ehlersiana
by Tom Isaac.
Dyckia 'Milvek Bunts Passion' by Gilda Trudu.
I Am Scared' by Alfonso Trudu.
SubTerrestrial by Alfonso Trudu.

 

5th October: New Grower's Session
(last saturday)
For members, learn the basics of growing bromeliads with Pam Butler.
Subject: Problem plants and Question and Answer on growing any Genera.
Date: Saturday 5 October
Time: 9am to 11am
Location: 14 Sunset Grove, Samford Valley, QLD 4520.
RSVP: An email has been sent to members.

17-20 October: Golden Broms
The Australasian Bromeliad Conference will be held at the Gold Coast on 17 - 20 October 2019.
http://goldenbroms.com
 

2-3 November: Bromeliad & Tropicals Show & Sales - Spring Show 2019
Dates and Times:
Saturday 2 November, 8 am to 4 pm
Sunday 3 November, 9 am to 1pm
Location: Belmont Shooting Complex,
1485 Old Cleveland Road, Belmont QLD 4153.
Entry: $4.

5 December: Christmas Party
Join in the Society's end of year celebrations. Food will be alternate drop for all courses. Open bar tab (up to a limit) and in the same venue as last year. There will be a Monster Raffle with over $2,000 worth of plants.
Date: Thursday 5 December
Location: Easts Leagues Club, 40 Main Avenue,
Coorparoo QLD 4151
Cost: $35 per person for members. 

22 February 2020: Tillandsia Day 
Full day seminar including tillandsia sales. More details will be provided closer to the date.

18-19 April 2020: Bromeliad & Tropicals Show & Sales - Autumn Show
Save the date for the Autumn show.
Dates and Times: Saturday 18 April, 8 am to 4 pm
Sunday 19 April, 9 am to 1pm
Location: Genesis Christian College, Bray Park
Entry: $4.


See other Bromeliad Events in Queensland

2019 Meeting Information


Meeting Show Schedule

March - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

April - MINI SHOW

Class 1 – Bromelioideae not listed elsewhere in Schedule, species & Hybrids
(Acanthostachys, Ananas, Androlepis, Araeococcus, Bromelia, Canistropsis, Canistrum,
Edmundoa, Fascicularia, Hohenbergia, Hohenbergiopsis, Neoglaziovia, Nidularium,
Ochagavia, Orthophytum, Portea, Quesnelia, Ursulaea, Wittrockia)
Class 2 – Guzmania species and hybrids
Class 3 – Pitcairnia species and hybrids
Class 4 – any other flowering bromeliad species and hybrids
Class 5 – species

May - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

June - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

July - MINI SHOW

Class 1 – Billbergia
Class 2 – Tillandsioideae not listed elsewhere in Schedule, species & hybrids
(Alcantarea, Catopsis, Mezobromelia, Racinaea, Werauhia)
Class 3 – Neoregelia up to 200mm diameter when mature, species & hybrids
Class 4 – any other flowering bromeliad species and hybrids
Class 5 – species

August - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

September - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

October - MINI SHOW

Class 1 – Neoregelia over 200mm diameter when mature, species & hybrids
Class 2 – Tillandsia species & hybrids
Class 3 – Pitcairnioideae not listed elsewhere in Schedule, species & hybrids
(Brocchinioideae, Lindmanioideae, Hechtioideae (= Hechtia), Puyoideae (= Puya), Navioideae, Pitcairnioideae (= Deuterocohnia, Encholirium, Fosterella)
Class 4 – any other flowering bromeliad species & hybrids
Class 5 – species

November - POPULAR VOTE

– any genus species and hybrids + novelty bromeliad display

Plant of the Month Schedule
Month Plant
January Aechmea
February Tillandsia
March Problem bromeliads
April Dyckia/Orthophytum/Puya
May Hybrids
June Bring your favourite bromeliad
July Foliage Vrieseas
August Spring-flowering Tillandsias
September Billbergias
October Guzmanias
November Neoregelia & Nidularium

Meeting Dates 2019
Month Date
January 17th
February 21st
March 21st – AGM
April 18th
May 16th
June 20th
July 18th
August 15th
September 19th
October 10th change of date
November 21st
December 5th – Christmas Party
Meeting 10th October new date
Information Session: QandA with Barry Kable, John Olsen and Tom Isaac. Bring in Your Questions and Problem Plants.
Plant of the month: 
Guzmanias with
Pat Barlow & Graeme Stay.
Main Program:
Everyone bring in Your Favourite Bromeliad to Share.
Plant Competition: Mini Show, see below for details.
Plant Commentary.
Meeting: 21st November 
 Practical Class: 
John Olsen on Tillandsias.
Plant of the month: 
Neoregelias and Nidularia with Pam Butler and Barry Kable.
Guest Speaker: 
Peter Ball on the Paul Isley III Garden Center and the Fire That Destroyed It.
Plant Competition: 
Popular Vote, see schedule below. 

Disclaimer: Any information given is intended to provide general information only. This information has been prepared without taking into account your personal environment and needs.

The Bromeliad Society of Queensland strives to provide you with useful, accurate, and timely information. Accordingly, the Society has attempted to provide accurate information and materials but assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of that information or materials. 

The Society may change the content of any information or materials available at any time without notice. However, makes no commitment to update the information which, as a result, may be out of date.

Information and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Society. Neither the Bromeliad Society of Queensland, nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, distributors, or affiliates are responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted on the Society's channels.
Copyright © 2019 The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc, All rights reserved.


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