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Hohenbergia corriae-araujei |
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Hohenbergia corriae-araujei |
This hybrid species is a cross between the genus Neoregelia, which are mostly epiphytic plants, and Orthophytum, a genus that is terrestrial or saxicolous.
Neoregelia is a genus of bromeliad with brightly coloured foliage, and rightly known as the most popular group in the family. They usually have their leaves arranged in a low, broad, open rosette. In addition, the colours of the foliage can be an attractive green, spotted or striped, which turn into brilliant, glossy red, purple, and yellow hues as flowering time approaches. Sometimes the tips of the leaves change colour, other times the complete centre of the plant. Whatever the colour changes too, it lasts for many months, until the new pup’s takeover the old rosette. As with most bromeliads, the flowers appear at the rosettes maturity. Of coarse, this can be anytime of the year. The actual flowers are hidden low in the plant, and are usually blue or white, and compared with the leaves they become insignificant. Months later, as the fruit sets, the rosette starts to die.
After taking the pups from the old rosette, place the original plant in an out-of-the-way place, and check it occasionally, they often send out a few extra pups just to show they still have some life left. Epiphytic Neoregelia species will survive if grown on a horizontal branch, or in the crotch of a tree without soil, if the centre of the rosette has water remaining in it. When fastening the plant to the tree, secure it firmly with strips of pantyhose as it will take from one to two years to root onto the branch. Take caution, some species of Neoregelia are terrestrial only, such as the common Neoregelia carolinae, and its varieties. For indoor culture the epiphytic types can be grown in a pot with an open soil mixture that drains quickly. They will grow indoors in moderate light, but develop compact foliage, and colour best in bright light, even some direct sun. Beware of the noonday full sun in summer as this can burn the leaves dramatically.
It is a very attractive plant that goes very dark in strong light. Soon forming offsets, and growing into tight clumps.
‘Black Beauty’ is a cultivar with small, tubular rosettes, similar in size to its type variety. The leaf colour is dark green with bronze-red mottling, and striping, giving a marbled effect on both sides of the leaf.
They develop into very attractive plants that go almost black in strong light. Soon forming offsets, and growing into tight clumps like the species.
This plant grows as a terrestrial or as an epiphyte. They can be found near ground level on trees in temperate southern Brazil.
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Neoregelia chlorostricta ‘Beef Steak’ |
A warm, moist atmosphere is important to keep this plant healthy.
In its natural habitat it grows mainly on rocks, but occasionally growing low down on trees in the subtropical cloud forests of Brazil. They can be found from sea level to 820-metres (2,700-feet).
‘Alvin Purple’ is a darker coloured cultivar. Nevertheless, it is just as easy to grow.
Neoregelia cruenta is a terrestrial plant only.
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Neoregelia farinosa ‘Electric Red’ |
The plants most nurseries sell under this name are hybrids between Neoregelia marmorata, and Neoregelia spectabilis.
We can find this epiphyte growing on the subtropical coast line of Brazil. It grows between Rio de Janeiro, and southwards to Santos in the state of So Paulo.
Although this plant is easy to grow, its foliage is improved if it is grown in a moist atmosphere with good light. Nevertheless, the leaves of this plant can burn if placed in strong sunlight.
'Mon Petite' is a cultivar that has leaves with many fine, light green, vertical lines, also horizontal blotchy lines.
‘Striata’ is a glossy green cultivar with cream striping. Also, it has red on the tips, and it has this red smudged over the surface in irregular patches. Its rosette reaches 20-centimetres (8-inches) high, and 35-centimetres (14-inches) wide.
When we grow this plant in bright light, the leaves are tinged with purple. The inner leaves do not change colour when the plant produces flowers.
In its natural home, it is found growing on trees, and on rocks in the subtropical state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 90 to 370-metres (300 to 1,200-feet) above sea level.
If this plant is grown in strong light, the rosette takes on a bronze hue. This is a strong growing plant that soon forms large clumps on trees or on an epi-log. When grown as an epiphyte, It is usually a smaller, and neater plant.
We can find this plant growing on trees, on rocks, and in the ground. It is indigenous to coastal areas near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Although good light enriches the red colouration, full sun can burn blistery white patches on the leaves.
This Brazilian plant grows on rocks, and trees in it natural habitats.
Most hybridists created their hybrids with the view of enhancing the leaf colour at flowering time. Although, when grown in good light, some hybrids have leaves that are very dark throughout their natural life span.
If the hybridist's aim was to create dark leaves, he succeeded with this plant if it is given the correct amount of light. Again, like the wild plants, it grows better in a warm, moist atmosphere.
Care is needed in placing this plant as it enjoys good light but scorches easily in direct sunlight.
To create this new plant, the hybridist has cross-pollinated two other hybrids bringing many different natural plant genes together.
Like the previous plant, at the time of writing, this new hybrid was also still unnamed. Because of its colour, shape, and ease of propagation, it should soon be available to most growers.
Seemingly, this gives the plant an inner glow. It grows 30-centimetres (12-inches) high, and 50-centimetres (20-inches) across. Moreover, this plant could be a future winner for many collectors.
Neoregelia ‘Dark Daughter’ Producing a wide-open rosette, this plant grows to 46-centimetres (18-inches) across at flowering, yet only 18-centimetres (7-inches) high. The whole plant consisting of very dark green, and red mottled leaves, blending to dark red in the centre. The mauve flowers are produced deep in the centre of the plant.
In bright light, this plant goes very dark red-bronze. Also, this plant produces pups regularly from the base, forming a very compact plant.
It is true that, this is a plant of easy culture that needs no special care other than to be treated like any other Neoregelia.
The name Nidularium came from the Latin nidulus meaning little nest, a name that is appropriate for the plants that grow as epiphytes. Nevertheless, most plants in the genus Nidularium often resemble those of the genus Neoregelia, both genera have an open rosette, and a bright coloured centre. However, in the genus Neoregelia, it is the base of the leaves in the centre of the rosette that change colour. In species of Nidularium the leaves in the centre are usually much smaller, and when flowering commences, these modified leaves change colour all over, and spill over onto the base of the larger leaves.
Usually they need moderate indoor light to stay healthy, but demand very bright light to colour strongly. If grown in a container, the potting mixture should be fast draining. We should water this genus when the soil surface is dry. Nevertheless, they will grow successfully on a branch if the centre of the rosette always has water in it. Moisten the leaves regularly in windy or dry weather. This damping helps to keep up the humidity around the plant.
Only forty-six species have been recorded. These species are indigenous to the rainforest areas of eastern Brazil. In this domain, they are found growing in the ground, and on the bases of trees in shaded areas.
Variety citrinum is similar to the type species but has clear yellow bracts.
A well-drained potting mixture is essential to keep the roots healthy. Also, a moist atmosphere is necessary for good growth of this plant.
They grow on the ground in limestone areas of rainforests, and on trees in dense areas along water courses. These plants can be found in the frost-free, warm temperate part, in the south of Eastern Brazil.
This is an epiphyte that grows high up on trees in warm-temperate, southern Brazil. They can be found growing at altitudes from 360 to 1,000-metres (1,200 to 3,300-feet) above sea level.
Keep this species protected from the full effect of the sun’s rays. Also, grow in a warm, dry atmosphere. The potting mixture should be kept on the dry side of moist.
This bromeliad grows either as a terrestrial plant in deep leaf litter, or as an epiphyte in shady places. It can be found growing on bushes, and the low parts of trees, in the tropical cloud forests of Eastern Brazil. We normally see them around 300-metres (1,000-feet) above sea level.
Syns. Neoregelia amazonicum, Ikaratas innocentii, and Regelia innocentii.
Variety lineatum carries the common name of Striped Birdsnest. It is a variety with broad, white leaves that have undulating edges, and many fine, pale to deep green vertical stripes. The leaves in the centre of the rosette have a burned orange edge as the white flowers start to appear. Grows best in a warm, moist greenhouse, or moist shade house in warm climates.
Variety nana has the common name of Miniature Birdsnest. It is a variety with a small rosette of dark green, almost black, thin, and leathery leaves. The undersides of the leaves are glossy purple. Also, down the edge are fine teeth. Furthermore, this rosette turns orange-red in the centre at flowering time. The flowers are white.
Keep this variety evenly moist, with filtered sun.
Variety paxianum has a large, white stripe down the centre of each green leaf.
Variety striatum develops green leaves marked with vertical white lines.
Variety wittmackianum looks like the type species but the leaves are plane green.
Variety viridis exhibits leaves that are dark green, with some light green mottling. When flowering, the centre of the rosette has carmine red tips.
These hybrids are created by only using Nidularium species or their hybrids in cross pollination. Many beautiful hybrids have been created. Below are just a few of the many plants that can be collected.
We should keep the centres of the plants filled with water always, also keeping the atmosphere moist, and frost free.