Bilbergia

Bilbergia (Billbergia) - a genus of plants established by Thunberg, from the Bromeliad family, origin mainly from Brazil, tropical America. The roots of some plants are used instead of yellow paint, the fibers of the leaves of other species go to the fabric manufacture.

Appearance

These stemless plants with linear leaves in nature often grow on old tree trunks. Wide belt-like leaves form an outlet that can accumulate water.

Bilbergia flowers in the form of an ear or panicles have a bright perianth, 6 stamens and 3 pistils; the fruit is a berry.

Location

Bilbergine is the most unpretentious plant. They do not need high humidity, they are not afraid of drafts, so they can be located in any convenient place.

Care

It is recommended to water the outlet when the air temperature exceeds 20 ° C; at lower temperatures it is necessary to moisten the soil in the vases. For irrigation, it is desirable to use separated water at room temperature.

Top dressing

Undemanding bilbergia is fed only once (liquid fertilizer containing guano) and only after flowering.

Reproduction.

Bilbergia is propagated by lateral shoots that are disconnected from the maternal outlet. Detachable shoots should be half the size of the maternal outlet and have as many of their own roots as possible. For the first time bilbergia blooms in the third year. The rosette dies off after flowering, and a new one that blooms next season grows from the stem or rhizome. Strong plants have many funnel-shaped sockets, which often bloom simultaneously. Old outlets are removed after flowering.

Pests and diseases

Bilberg can cause mealybugs and root beetle problems, as well as excessive waterlogging - root rot.

Varieties.

In the genus can be counted about 60 species. The most common ones are:

• Bilbergia is gorgeous (Billbergia speciosa), the second name is "beautiful."

It blooms in summer, it grows mainly in the woods. The flowers are in loose inflorescence, with a lowered axis. Leaves are few, long, up to 70 cm, collected in a tubular socket, straight.

• Bilbergia pyramid (Billbergia pyramidalis)

It grows high above sea level. Flowers have a strong, straight peduncle, white-colored. The leaves on the peduncle erect, pink, twisted at the base. The inflorescence is direct, pyramidal, cylindrical, dense white color. Bracts are very small. The flowers are on short legs, the tongues are lingual, carmine-red in color, slightly longer than the stamens. It blooms in March and July.

• Bilbergia drooping (Billbergia nutans), the second name, "Queen's tears" for pink, drooping inflorescences, in which not the flowers themselves are beautiful, but the bracts leaves, reaching half a meter in length.

The leaves are without spots and stripes, light green. In the developmental phase, a sharp pink cone rises from the socket. In a flowerpot, the bilbergia which hangs quickly forms a dense bush consisting of a set of rosettes. Every year the plant is transplanted simultaneously with the division of the bush. Flowers unattractive, greenish, hanging down, decorated with pink bracts.