Tag Archives: Bromeliads

Bromeliads according to their type of flower

Bromeliads Canarius | Monday June 13th, 2016 |

Bromeliaceae or Bromeliads are a family of monocot plants consisting of shrubs or perennial, terrestrial or epiphytic grasses.

Bromeliads have rosette leaves, flowers and colourful and showy bracts, as well as the typically twisted stigmas. A typology that differentiates, precisely, due to the type of flower that’s born and its particular shape. In this case we will talk about the Billbergia, Aechmea and Neoregelia genera.

Billbergia

Billbergia

The genus Billbergia, belongs to the large family of Bromeliads and particularly includes many epiphytic species, growing over any other plant without parasitising it. Although there are also some terrestrial species.

The Billbergia bromeliad is known for its intense green, elongated, strong leaves, bearing numerous very small thorns, placed along its margins.

The leaves are arranged forming a central cup, collecting rain water used by the plant as a water reserve and where flora and, often abundant, fauna will accumulate: plant and animal remains that are partly digested with decomposition.

The flowers are held on long rigid or twisted stems, protected by bracts of various colours depending on the species and variety, commonly attached in hanging clusters. Even without a long life they’re splendid.

Aechmea 

Aechmea

The genus Aechmea, also belongs to the Bromeliad family. However, this species has a reduced root system, absorbing the water needed for its development through the foliage.

The particularity of its leaves is arranged so that the water is channeled inside a central cup caused by widening of the leaves in which rainwater is collected in nature.

Spike inflorescence emerges from the central part of the cup, where there are numerous flowers surrounded diffusely by rigid coloured bracts (pink, yellow, red or orange) and long lasting.

Neoregelia

Neoregelia

In reference to the bromeliad family, we also find the so-called genus Neoregelia. It’s a species that doesn’t reach considerable size, as it doesn’t exceed 30-40 cm in height; the leaves can reach a width of 60 cm and a length of 40 cm.

The particularity of the Neoregelia is the rosette arrangement of the extending leaves in the central part forming a type of cup in which rainwater is collected in nature. A cavity in which there is a water reserve, where flora and fauna accumulate, often abundant.

Also, inflorescense emerges from the centre of the rosette, typical for its coloured bracts, from which usually white or blue flowers sprout, attached in rounded inflorescences which develop in the centre of the cup.

New Species in the Shop – December 2010. Palms and Bromeliads

Canarius | Monday December 6th, 2010 |

Canarius has just been updated, with new additions of 15 PALMS and 7 BROMELIADS.

Let’s start with…

PALMS

New frost hardy species such as Brahea sarukhanii and Brahea sp. Nuri

We have spectacular plants of Allagoptera caudescens with leaves that are white underneath.

New species of Parajubaea: Parajubaea sunkha and Parajubaea cocoides. Now you can buy all the existing species of Parajubaea in Canarius.com

New larger sizes of previously offered palms, such as Kentiopsis, Rhopalostylis and Nannorhops, now in larger 20 cm pots.

New, Nannorrhops palms in 20 cm pots with large sized leaves

New, Nannorrhops palms in 20 cm pots with large sized leaves

New rare species of Pritchardia: P.minor and P.munroi. Pritchardia minor is a sought-after high-elevation species which stands more frost than others and keeps a small size.

Young Pritchardia minor in the Palmetum of Santa Cruz

Young Pritchardia minor in the Palmetum of Santa Cruz

We ship young potted plants like these:

Young pritchardia palm in 12 cm pot, ready for shipping.

Young pritchardia palm in 12 cm pot, ready for shipping.

and then…

BROMELIADS

The bromeliad nursery is growing larger. Each year we have more species to offer. This time we added new tough-leaved neoregelias, like Neoregelia concentrica Neoregelia farinosa.

Neoregelias are cold-sensitive bromeliads but N. concentrica is one of the most sought-after, cold-hardy neoregelias and can take some frost and snow.

Purple colours on Neoregelia concentrica

Purple colours on Neoregelia concentrica

Also Neoregelia camorimiana is back, and N. burlemarxii.

Neoregelia camorimiana becomes very red and shiny

Neoregelia camorimiana becomes very red and shiny

There is also a new Billbergia distachya var. rubra, a great wild type with bright, wide bracts.

We ship large-sized pups of bromeliads like these:

Pups of Neoregelia burlemarxii, ready for shipping. They can bloom in one year.

Pups of Neoregelia burlemarxii, ready for shipping. They can bloom in one year.

Parajubaea sunkha
Parajubaea cocoides

Hardy Bromeliads for Outdoor Conditions

Canarius | Tuesday October 19th, 2010 |

Bromeliads, or Bromeliaceae, are highly appreciated plants because of their incredible colours and inflorescences, and their ease of growth in pots.

  • Garden Centers througout the world sell floppy-leaved hybrids with green leaves.
  • Canarius on the internet offers tough-leaved species with colourful leaves, grown in the Canary Islands.

Neoregelia chlorosticta blooming with yellow and red leaves

Floppy leaved, green bromeliads

  • Taxonomy: These plants often belong to the genera Guzmania and Vriesea
  • Conditions: They come from humid forest environments. They grow well in low light, sheltered conditions. They are sensitive to wind, drought, sunlight and temperature shocks. They are good for the terrarium.
  • Where: in the greenhouse, terrarium, sheltered patio.

Tough-leaved, colourful bromeliads

  • Taxonomy: Most of them belong to the genera Aechmea, Billbergia and Neoregelia.
  • Conditions: They grow well in non-tropical climates. They like temperature changes and can better stand outdoors conditions in general. They seldom burn in the hottest sun, they stand wind very well. Many of the tough-leaved Bromeliaceae are resistant to occasional frosts, without any damage. They will always tolerate drought for days or even weeks. Most of our species will thrive outdoors in mediterranean climates, with minimal protection.
  • Where: In the garden, sunny patio, balcony or terrace, being Subtropical and Mediterranean to Warm Temperate. They can be kept in your home during the colder months.

Aechmea lueddemanniana is a stiff-leaved bromeliaceae with long lasting flowes and fruits.

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Our Shop

Please visit the Bromeliad Section of our Shop and check back often, because we offerent different bromeliads at different times of the year. We ship bromeliads to anywhere in Europe. Our bromeliads are already growing in many European countries, such as Spain, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Germany. All bromeliads in catalogue are sold as bare-rooted “pups”, which are the robust basal suckers produced after blooming. Our pups are very easy to root – some will already show some roots when you open the box.

Aechmea triangularis with dark leaf tips before blooming

All bromeliads in catalogue are sold as bare-rooted “pups”, which are the robust basal suckers produced after blooming. Our pups are very easy to root – some will already show some roots when you open the box.

Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe – How to grow the large bromeliad of Modern Tropical Gardening.

Canarius | Monday September 20th, 2010 |

Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe.

The inflorescence of Aechmea blanchetiana can reach 1,80 m in height.

The inflorescence of Aechmea blanchetiana can reach 1,80 m in height.

Aechmea blanchetiana is the ultimate large bromeliad for landscaping outdoors, reaching intense orange-yellow colour in full sun. Aechmea blanchetiana is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil, where it grows both terrestrially, in coastal sand, or epiphytically, on the branches of tall forest trees.

Clumping large rosettes of wide and shiny leaves, producing a spectacular floral display which lasts for months. The heavily branched inflorescence appears in July and grows to 1,7 m (5 ft) tall, in red and yellow.

You can buy this spectacular plant at www.canarius.com, in the Bromeliad Section of our shop.

How to grow Aechmea blanchetiana?

  • It likes full sun and waterings every 2-4 days.
  • It needs very little root space and can grow in small pots or rockeries.
  • It takes frosts of about -3 to -4 C with little damage
  • It takes coastal conditions with some salt
  • It takes hard drought with little damage.
  • It adapts to semi-shade but leaves turn green, larger and floppier.
  • Keep fertilizer low. High nutrients will make the leaves turn green.

TIP: Larger plants become much more resistant to cold or drought. Leave the pups on the mother plants and you will get a large clump in 3-4 years.

Can I grow Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe?

Yes, this large bromeliad can be planted outdoors in coastal Mediterranean Climates. Adult plants are fully hardy to about -3 C (26 F). You will need to provide minimal protection during colder winters.
If you get harder frost or heavy hail, you can bring the plants indoors during the colder months. You can grow huge blanchetianas in very small pots because these bromeliads need very little root space. They will become green in lower light. Put them outdoors in full sun when the warm weather is back and wait until they turn golden again.

This large bromeliad is often used outdoors in full sun.

This large bromeliad is often used outdoors in full sun.

Why is Aechmea blanchetiana important in Modern Tropical Garden?

It was popularized by the famous German-Brazilian architect Roberto-Burle Marx, in Brazil, in the 60′s. He used large mass-plantings in his projects. After a while it jumped to the garden landscapes of Miami and California and then to the rest of the world.

How are the blanchetianas offered by from Canarius?

We offer large sized 30-40 cm (12-16 “) “pups” of Aechmea blanchetiana produced outdoors in the Canary Islands. Visit our shop at www.canarius.com we offer the right yellow-orange type. Some people call it Aechmea blanchetiana var. rubra but this name is not valid. This type is the true, typical Aechmea blanchetiana with intense orange-yellow colour in full sun.

You can also buy other large bromeliad species, like Aechmea callichroma, or Aechmea aquilega which are similar in size, shape and resistance with a different, pink or orange colour.

Crop of pups of Aechmea blanchettiana, ready for shipping.

Crop of pups of Aechmea blanchettiana, ready for shipping.

Bromeliad Shop – From the Canary Islands to your home

Canarius | Friday June 11th, 2010 |

Bromeliads, or Bromeliaceae, are highly appreciated plants because of their incredible colours and inflorescences, and their ease of growth in pots. Canarius.com  offers on the internet tough-leaved species with colourful leaves, grown in the Canary Islands. Our bromeliad nursery was expanded in 2012 so our offer is continuously growing with new products. We ship worldwide !

Neoregelia chlorosticta

Neoregelia chlorosticta is a colourful bromeliad


Our Selection of Bromeliads

Billbergia elegans

Delicate flowers of Billbergia

Our shop offers a fine selection of tough-leaved bromeliads that are never available through garden centres.

Most of them belong to the genera Aechmea, Billbergia and Neoregelia. In the Bromeliad Section of our Shop you can buy the most unusual bromeliads with the thickest and most colourful leaves, better adapted to hot and cold conditions of outdoor life. We also offer a selection of “classic” hybrids that have succeeded throughout the years.  Our species grow well in non-tropical climates. Here they are grown outdoors because they like temperature changes and stand outdoors conditions in general. Our bromeliads will better tolerate:

  • Hot direct sun
  • Wind
  • Occasional frosts
  • Drought for weeks

Different light intensities will give plants with different growth and different colours. We grow our plants outdoors, with little or no shade, in order to achieve robust growth and bright colours.

We ship bare rooted plants and “pups”

Aechmea nudicaulis - Bare-root pups

Bare-root pups of Aechmea nudicaulis, ready to be packed.

All bromeliads in catalogue are sold as large pups, which are the robust basal suckers produced after blooming. This type of cutting is the safest way to reproduce bromeliads, because all pups are identical to the mother plant with no unwanted crossings. Futhermore, pups are much stronger than seedlings.

We pre-root the pups for weeks so most of our “pups” will already show some roots when you open the box. Most of these plants are more than pups will reach flowering size in about one year.

In some cases, especially for larger species, pups will be collected shortly after you place the order. They will show few or no roots. Bromeliads can resist for weeks and months without any root because they rely on the water they keep in the leaves. They will quickly set new roots when put in a draining soil at warm temperatures.

Aechmea pectinata pups

Aechmea pectinata pups produced in the Canary Island

  • Large species give large pups: We select and ship to your home cuttings of 35-50 cm for large species such as  Aechmea blanchetiana, A. callichroma and Neoregelia joannis. Their weight is 300-600 grams. Pups of large species will often lack roots. The largest species are can take 2 – 3 years to reach maturity.
  • Small species give small pups. Plants like Neoregelia maculata, Aechmea gamosepala and Billbergia elegans can measure 18-30 cm and weight just 150-250 grams. Pups of small species will often have roots. They will probably bloom in one year or less.

If you want to see more pictures of the plants we sell, then visit THIS LINK and see our plants on the packing desk and learn more about what we ship.

Neoregelia burlemarxii

Neoregelia burlemarxii becomes purple during the blooming months

Our Shop

Please visit the Bromeliad Section of our Shop and check back often, because we offer different bromeliads at different times of the year. We ship plants to anywhere in Europe and soon to the rest of the world. Our bromeliads are already growing in most European countries. In 2013 we start shipping worldwide our products !

Aechmea blanchetiana grows

Aechmea blanchetiana grows in full sun and takes light frosts

BACK TO THE BROMELIAD SHOP

In the garden, sunny patio, balcony or terrace, being Subtropical and Mediterranean to Warm

What to do when you get the box?

Canarius | Tuesday January 5th, 2010 |

You bought some unique plants from Canarius. The box took some days to reach you and all plants now need attention. Some are potted, some are bare rooted.

Here is a list of tips you might want to follow when you get your package, in order to give them the right care.

1) Unpack the box

Plants should be unpacked as soon as possible. Carefully unfold all wrappings. Some are potted, some are bare-root and different species can be differently wrapped. Be sure to keep each plant with its label. Please recycle the packing material and the box.

2) Expose them to light

Mangifera indica

Mango trees in tall pots

Put all plants standing upright and expose them to light. Avoid direct sunlight for a few days, because they have been in total darkness for a while. Potted plants will often need some water. Bromeliads will need some water within the funnel. Consider where to place your plants: if it is spring or summer, outdoor conditions will be the best. During the colder months, the house, greenhouse or conservatory might be a better choice.

3) Planting and transplanting to pots or larger pots

- POTTED PLANTS -

Archontophoenix cunningamiana

Young potted Archontophoenix palm

Our palms, cycads, yuccas, fruit trees and others are grown in small pots to reduce shipping costs and handling problems. You will need to transplant them to larger pots shortly after you receive the package, within a few weeks. You will often need to double the original pot size. A palm received in a 12 cm pot needs a 24 cm pot, etc. Canarius will ship only the strongest seedlings, with strong roots ready to occupy new soil. Most species will enjoy a layer of bottom drainage. Some of our plants are large enough to be planted directly in the ground, if your climate is good for them. This is the case of larger palms and cycads, and most of out fruit trees, which are grown in tall pots.

- BARE ROOT PLANTS -

Bare root Cacti and Succulents

Echinopsis aurea

Echinopsis aurea on the packing desk

There is no rush to plant them. Most succulent plants can wait for weeks or even months, bare-rooted, until weather warms up. Planting should be done when temperatures are warm enough. Pot size suggested is usually 1,5 times the size of the plant. Succulents should not be watered until 3 or more days after planting. If you are going to plant out hardy species in the garden, chose spring or early summer, so they will have a long growing season ahead.

Bare root Bromeliads and Heliconias

Aechmea nudicaulis

Bare root bromeliad pups ready for packing

They need to be planted as soon as possible. Bromeliads are shipped as bare root pups. Pups should be planted by lightly burying the base in the pot just 1-3 cm. Pups are often heavy and sometimes will need to be staked in order to stay in place and permit rooting. The center of each plant (funnel) must be filled with water.

Heliconias are sent as rhizomes. They are large, field-grown rhizomeswith at least two active growing points. Plant them out in large, shallow pots with good drainage, about 30 cm wide, or directly in the garden.

4) Planting outdoors in the garden: Tropical plants and cold winters

If you are growing tropical plants in northern climates, please be careful. Young plants are often less resistant to cold than adults. An adult hardy plant can take -20 C, but a young plant of the same variety should not stay outdoors in January during a storm. If you are purchasing young plants that are “marginal” in your climate, protect them in winter during a few years. Even if you are going to plant out fully hardy species in the garden, chose spring or early summer, so they will have a long growing season ahead.

5) Learn more about their needs, write back and enjoy

Be prepared to give them the best. Learn as much as you can about the plants you purchased. Different growers suggest different growing conditions. Some people prefer clay or plastic pots, different soil mixes Some of them can take snow, some can live indoors or in pots, and some are very tropical and tender and do need a greenhouse. Canarius offers a blog with abundant information. Check our pages about Tropical Gardening up North . Browse plant-related websites to find more information about the plants you are growing.

Plants are living beings – be responsible.

Ravenala madagascariensis

Many Ravenala plants ready to be shipped