NEO.PRINCESS DI.
PHOTO Semi Mature PLANT..***VISIT FCBS FOR FULL ADULT

Coming soon to eBay.
BROOKREFLECTIONS BROMELIADS + EXOTICS

NEO.RAINBOW.YOUNG SEMI-MATURE plants,STARTING TO COLOR-COLOR BECOMES MORE INTENSE WITH AGE. Will add photo of full grown plant soon. More photos of these in previous posts...difficult to photograph this color as blue tones tends not to come up well in photos and tend to show as too pink, none the less this plant is a true beauty for those that love purple blue colors. It is a good strong large grower with lots of lush leaves.

 Golden Plants...make a harmonious display
These plants & more available from time to time in my eBay listings, visit; Brookreflections Bromeliads & Exotics

Black Plants have a special attraction in the plant world unfortunately not often readily available these lovely larger growing hybrids. Next year [09] should see supplies of these beauties improve.

Good light is essential for Neoregelias to bring out those wonderful colors they are so well renown for.
Though many Bromeliads are originally children of the tropics and sub-tropics, they are very adaptable given the basic requirements.Adaptability to temperature and light vary from species to species and genus to genus. Whilst there is no easy rule of thumb it is simply too diverse, many Bromeliads are easy care and other have special needs.
The intensity of light can totally change the appearance of a plant. Though temperature is important it is not as crucial as light. Many Bromeliads can tolerate temps. of 5-10 for several days but frost for more than a couple of hours can be fatal to many species. For those who wish to grow Bromeliads in these temps careful choices of plants is required.[refer to my post June 21.07+ cold tolerant plants] As mentioned there is no rule of thumb various aspects must be taken into consideration like wind, relative humidity etc...
The physical state of plant and nutritional status plays a major roll in cold resistance and adaptability as well as the plants past exposure to correct lighting. Young foliage being generally more susceptible than older foliage. Neoregelias that have soft green leggy foliage resulting from over fertilization and, or, grown in insufficient light suffer a great deal more cold stress. The cells in these leaves have weak walls leaving them weak with lack of resistance to adverse conditions. These plants require extra care to bring them back to their ideal conditions. Needless to say.....
Prevention is better than cure,
The ideal solution is to have all your plants in good physical state prior to the onset of the colder weather. High nitrogen levels in plants drastically reduce plant resistance. Potassium [potash] and calcium dramatically increase plants cold resistance. The latter having the effect of strengthening cell walls, producing good strong leaf growth and color. May it be added that all 3 elements are of important to growth in a correct balance, in moderation and high nitrogen fertilizers should be avoided by all Neoregelia growers.
Timing is important. Fertilizers are best applied to young fully rooted plants in spring. This gives the plant time to produce lush new growth for summer and harden off sufficiently before the cold sets in.one application is usually sufficient depending on the health status of the plant. A lot of Bromeliads are beautifully grown in New Zealand and good reference for those in cooler areas is in a book put out by Andrew Steens author of 'Bromeliads for the contemporary garden'.
Having said this...there is a Bromeliad for every situation and many are easy to grow and bring rewarding easy care beauty to every garden.
***Photo shows comparison of the same plant grown in good light and pup.The green plant has been subject to adverse conditions...lack of light,Full sun during our winter months is ideal, with protection from the really hot mid summer western sun.

Hows the resident frog. Perfect match....Living in a young Neo.
More photos of broms in listings coming soon.
More eBay listings for next Sunday coming over the next few days.

The wonderful intense coloration and luxuriant appearance Neoregelias are so well known for ,is all determined by exposing them to an optimal level of sunlight.
Although many people ideally grow their Neos under 50% shade cloth in a shade house the alternates for using Neos as landscaping subjects are endless.
Many Neos [other than full sun varieties] require some morning sun to be at their best. This is why many growers prefer to keep their plants in pots - so plants can be moved to gain the maximum benefit of the suns movement during the changing seasons.Pots can be easily hidden with mulch, pebbles or even partially buried if the existing soil has good drainage. The pots can then be placed in a position where the plants will receive plenty of morning sun and where trees or shrubs block out the hot midday and western sun.
Trees that provide dappled but bright light are ideal. Keep in mind also that plants can be exposed to more light in colder weather due to the lower UV levels.
Nutrition is also an important factor for optimal coloring in Neos. Most Neos only really require feeding once when they are young - to get them going. Over feeding particularly, in larger established plants can result in loss of color and can also reduce your plants resistance to the cold. This is particularly the case with use of excess nitrogen as nitrogen disrupts the uptake of potassium and calcium which is all too important for good strong leaves and rich color. This is why timing of fertilizer is important. When fertilizing is necessary, it is best to feed plants in spring so any fresh new growth has time to harden off before the cooler months.

Although these plants are quite hardy and great in water-wise gardens- requiring the minimum of fuss... these little additives help to bring out the best in these wonderful plants.
More soon

Another that fascinates,

Aechmea Fasciata 'primera
Fasciata, I always think of fascinating, which this flower really is.
It never ceases to amaze me, as its wonderful flower emerges and develops intriguing stars of blue and red just to add to its glorious pink.
The great blue/grey foliage and silver bands an added bonus making this Aechmea a welcome addition even when not in flower.

Bromeliads are great designer plants and excellent container subjects. Whether flaunted in courtyards or entrances as specimens or nestled amongst ground covers to hide the pots, they prove movable feasts for the eyes, easily shifted to prominence as they flower and color. Alternately they can be grown in exuberant drifts, as seen in tropical resorts and parks around the world. Adaptable plants, Bromeliads do require very efficient drainage with an open porous medium. Most require filtered light, although bright indirect light levels will ensure optimum leaf coloration in the Neoregelias in particular. Many Neos. even require some morning sun to produce the beautiful intense coloring they deserve.