Billbergia nutans
Friendship Plant
Bromeliads are a family of monocot flowering plants with over 3,000 species in over 50 genera. Each species will appear in this encyclopedia with its' Genus name. The diverse family includes Epiphytes, such as Tillandsia and terrestrial species such as Ananus (pineapple). Billbergia is a genus within the Bromeliaceae family, and they are usually evergreen epiphytes native to tropical forests. Billbergia nutans is a species native to South East and Southern Brazil, and through to Northern Argentina. It has a number of common names, including Friendship Plant and Queen's Tears. This plant forms a rosette of grey green serrated leaves, and produces flowers on a slender pinkish inflorescence in which they have emerge from pink bracts. Each flower has green petals and violet-blue tips. Billbergia nutans offsets readily and generally lives for approximately three to five years.
Contributed by @shazbop
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Partial shade
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Occasional watering
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Not Frost hardy
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Rich and free draining
Common name
Friendship Plant
Latin name
Billbergia nutans
type
Epiphyte
family
Bromeliaceae
ph
5.0 - 6.5 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
Billbergia nutans
Bromeliads are a family of monocot flowering plants with over 3,000 species in over 50 genera. Each species will appear in this encyclopedia with its' Genus name. The diverse family includes Epiphytes, such as Tillandsia and terrestrial species such as Ananus (pineapple). Billbergia is a genus within the Bromeliaceae family, and they are usually evergreen epiphytes native to tropical forests. Billbergia nutans is a species native to South East and Southern Brazil, and through to Northern Argentina. It has a number of common names, including Friendship Plant and Queen's Tears. This plant forms a rosette of grey green serrated leaves, and produces flowers on a slender pinkish inflorescence in which they have emerge from pink bracts. Each flower has green petals and violet-blue tips. Billbergia nutans offsets readily and generally lives for approximately three to five years.
Planting
From Early Spring TO Late Winter
Pots and potting media can directly affect the moisture levels in the bromeliad. Plastic pots tend to hold moisture for a longer period of time. If you are in an arid region or raising your bromeliad in a heated home, you may want to consider a plastic container to house your plant in. Un-glazed clay pots are porous and allow water to seep out. If you are living in a very humid area, you may want to consider this type of container so your plant doesn’t stay overly wet. You will want to make sure that there is some sort of saucer or pad underneath to catch the seeping water otherwise you could end up damaging the the floor or furniture the pot sits on. Regardless the type of container, never use soil when potting your bromeliad. It is too dense and will not allow for the quick drainage that bromeliads require. Instead, use potting mixes specially formulated for bromeliads or mix your own using porous materials. Plants can be repotted if they become to bulky or tight in their existing pots and this can be done in the spring. Do not transplant to too big a pot, as Billbergia nutans does not produce too many roots.
Propagation by Division (Spring)
From Early Spring TO Early Summer
These are pretty easy to propagate, the main plant will send out small off sets around its base, when these have developed small roots they can be cut off and potted up.
Flowering Season (Spring)
From Late Winter TO Late Spring
Billbergia nutans typically flowers anytime from late winter through to end of spring.