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POLLINATING BROMELIADS
Hybridising Vriesea 'Plantation Pride'
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Nearly all Bromeliads (there are a number of exceptions) follow the same life cycle. As with most plants, this usually starts with a seed, developing from a pollinated flower. In South America, the most common pollinators are humming birds, bats, butterflies and moths. However, in many countries, the natural pollinators of Bromeliads do not exist, so natural pollination is rare.
For this reason, at Exotica, we hand pollinate all our flowers to get seed. This also allows us to hybridise different species.
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The white tags you see on some of our plants are crosses that we are hoping will produce a new hybrid in years to come. Even with hand pollination, we often do not get success, this is due to a variety of reasons, including:
- The plant is self sterile ie. The pollen off the plant can't be used to pollinate itself.
- The plants are cross sterile, ie. The pollen off one species canât be used to pollinate another species.
- The flowers do not open properly under New Zealand conditions. For example our humidity is too low, or the temperature is too low.
- The flower is not receptive to the pollen, usually due to humidity or temperature being too low.
For further information see our book:
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BROMELIADS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY GARDEN
AVAILABLE NOW
This sumptuous book has been written for all gardeners who love gardening with Bromeliads. Masses of information on landscaping with Bromeliads, in shady or sunny gardens, as epiphytes on trees or rocks, as greenhouse plants or in pots. Glorious photos of garden scenes complement the text.
More book information HERE
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