Countless plants withered.
But I don't look back. If I do, I won't be able to keep my sanity...

My name is Suzuki and I've been gardening as a hobby for 14 years.
This is a section that introduces only plants that we have actually grown.

This time we will introduce the mottled tank bromeliad "Billbergia Louise".

What kind of plant is Billbergia Louise?

Bromeliad is a tropical plant.
By the way, air plants, which have become a standard houseplant, are also bromeliads.

Originally, Louise has a pale pink surface.
My child is the epitome of green. He's very pretentious.
Some Louise specimens have polka dots.

The patterns and shapes of Billbergia vary greatly depending on the light, wind, and temperature.
Basically, the colors and patterns won't come out unless you give it plenty of light.
If you fail to do this, even if you have collected different colored species, almost all of them will be green...

Let's hang it

In nature, it is an epiphytic plant that grows mainly on trees.
The tubular leaves are cup-shaped and store and absorb water.
The roots only absorb a small amount of water, so planting them in a large pot can cause root rot.
Therefore, it is recommended to plant it in a small pot and hang it, as this allows the roots to dry out more easily and makes it less likely to rot.
Hanging the plant allows it to be exposed to the wind, which helps to create a firm, well-shaped plant.

If you are keeping it in a placed position, it is best to use a flower stand to improve ventilation at the bottom of the pot.
However, a dry environment is not suitable, so humidity is necessary.

The joy of growing beautifully

The best part of gardening is growing things beautifully.
Tank bromeliads are interesting because it's easy to see how they react when you handle them.
Like agave, bilbergia looks better when its leaves are kept taut so they don't grow too long.

Once, I tried growing it on the balcony without any shade, using natural wind and a circulator.
The body was firm and the color was great!
However, if I continued to maintain it in the same way in July, the condition would worsen due to leaf scorch and the heat.
After that, we switched to 20% shading and the condition improved.

Our house only gets sunlight in the morning.
Therefore, we set the shading to 20% in the summer.
If you live in an environment where the sun is out all day, you may need a higher shading rate.

Plant Gachimeter

Finally, I'll give "Bilbergia Louise" a score based on my very personal opinion.

-Ease of raising: 18 points. Not much work and a good plant!

Ease of tailoring: 16 points It's difficult to tighten it up...

・Growth rate: 18 points Before you know it, new shoots have appeared.

・Osaka compatibility: 18 points. OK indoors!

・Likeness rating: 16 points Sorry... I like the space-patterned building (tears)

Total score: 86 points

That's all, Editor-in-Chief.

Author: Suzuki Edited by: Kambara