mrhappyrotter
Grand Chupacabra
I don't have a lot of slippers or orchids in general in bloom this time of year. But the bromeliads are stepping up their game, which again reaffirms my belief that they're great orchid companions.
The other broms aren't quite as far along in terms of spiking as this T. cyanea. In truth, this plant isn't quite in bloom yet, as the first flower hasn't emerged from between the pink bracts.
The flowers are giants in the Tillandsia world. This is basically the Tilly equivalent of P. kovachii. Flower color is sometimes described as blue, but in truth they are deep, vivid purple. The fragrance, while variable in strength between clones can be quite intense, smelling of clove. This plant is quite fragrant, and it's lovely.
The foliage is nice and grassy, and mostly lacking the bright, silvery-grey scales that adorn the leaves of many other bromeliads. The dark green leaves develop a deep, luxurious red blush at the base that ends in bright red stripes when I grow it bright enough. The color in the leaves remains year round, so it's not just the blushing at flower time that occurs in other bromeliad species.
I had been expecting the largest growth to spike up for awhile, but I'm surprised its two smaller siblings are also sending out spikes. So, it should be a good prolonged show this year. Exciting!
The other broms aren't quite as far along in terms of spiking as this T. cyanea. In truth, this plant isn't quite in bloom yet, as the first flower hasn't emerged from between the pink bracts.
The flowers are giants in the Tillandsia world. This is basically the Tilly equivalent of P. kovachii. Flower color is sometimes described as blue, but in truth they are deep, vivid purple. The fragrance, while variable in strength between clones can be quite intense, smelling of clove. This plant is quite fragrant, and it's lovely.
The foliage is nice and grassy, and mostly lacking the bright, silvery-grey scales that adorn the leaves of many other bromeliads. The dark green leaves develop a deep, luxurious red blush at the base that ends in bright red stripes when I grow it bright enough. The color in the leaves remains year round, so it's not just the blushing at flower time that occurs in other bromeliad species.
I had been expecting the largest growth to spike up for awhile, but I'm surprised its two smaller siblings are also sending out spikes. So, it should be a good prolonged show this year. Exciting!