Bilbergia brings a vibrant Brazilian flavor to any interior. Despite drooping flowers and thinnest leaves, it still looks exotic and enviably magnificent. Admiring the dense bushes of Bilbergia is as pleasant as its flowers. Moreover, caring for bilbergia is not at all difficult. This plant only needs regular care. It is determined by simple, clear and beginner rules. The main thing is to choose the right conditions and monitor watering.
10 simple rules for growing bilbergia
From the genus Bilbergia, only one plant has become popular in indoor floriculture – bilbergia drooping (Billbergia nutans). It grows in large groups of families. Narrow, tough, most often jagged leaves along the edge with a rich or bluish-spotted color look very elegant. And the larger the plant, the more spectacular the leaves curving in arcs also look.
Read more about the plant in the article Unpretentious and loyal drooping bilbergia.
Bilbergia is grown in large containers, which give room for the growth of children and the development of the group. In the mass of graceful leaves, drooping spikelets of inflorescences with very large pink bracts seem to be real jewels.
In order to fully enjoy the beauty of bilbergia, you should not forget about the 10 main points in growing this amazing plant – simple rules for selecting conditions and care.
1. A lot of light, but no direct sunlight
In indoor conditions, it is better to grow bilbergia in a well-lit place – the windowsill of the east or west window or close to the south windows. But with slow habituation or the initial purchase of penumbra accustomed plants, bilbergia will pleasantly surprise. They are very plastic and can adapt to any place, they bloom well both in soft partial shade and in the interior of light rooms.
For a plant, the level of lighting is also important in winter, it is better to transfer containers to a more illuminated window or move them closer to the glass.
Despite the light-loving nature, bilbergia leaves are softer than most Bromeliads. And they need to be protected from direct sun both in rooms and outdoors. Diffuse screens are not the only option. After all, bilbergia can simply be placed in the interior or with the “right” neighbor.
2. Permanent rejuvenation
Bilbergias grow in large groups and it is not always easy to notice the dying off of fading rosettes in them. But it is this process that most of all affects the growth rate and duration of flowering. Dry rosettes should be removed without delay, immediately after drying (usually the process takes about a month after flowering). This must be done manually and carefully, allowing young replacement plants to develop freely.
3. Fresh air comes first
Bilbergia, unlike many of their relatives, are not at all afraid of drafts. Of course, they will not withstand a sharp temperature drop during ventilation in winter, but if there is no temperature jump, bilbergia will not notice a draft (and in summer it will react to it in the same way as when it is taken out into the fresh air).
Placing bushes in the summer in the garden, on the terrace or balcony is ideal for this plant. In the open air, bilbergia transforms – they grow and bloom much more actively. At the same time, the plant must be protected from precipitation as carefully as from the direct sun.
Placing bilbergia bushes in the garden, terrace or balcony in summer is ideal for this plant. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Wildfang
4. Heat protection
Bilbergias grow well in moderate temperatures and do not like extremes. The greatest decorative effect from their leaves can be achieved by limiting temperatures in the range from 20 to 25 degrees. But with the access of fresh air and an increase in air humidity, bilbergia can endure the heat.
5. Soft cool wintering
Bilbergia prefer to spend the winter in light coolness. There is no need to significantly lower the temperature for them, it is enough to move the pots to a cooler place in the house with an air temperature of 15 to 18-20 degrees. It is necessary to create a difference with the summer mode by at least a few degrees.
The minimum allowable decrease for this culture is 12 degrees Celsius. But it is better if the average temperature is close to 15 degrees.
6. Constant soil moisture is required
Bilbergia is often recommended to be watered abundantly in summer and almost not watered in winter. But the beauty of thin leaves requires a much more stable environment. The moisture content of the soil for bilbergia should be medium and constant. In summer, the plant is watered so that the water does not stagnate, the soil is evenly moistened and only the top layer of the substrate dries out.
For all bromeliads, the easiest way to achieve ideal humidity is by maintaining a constant water level in the funnel, but for bilbergias in a large group, simple classic watering is often chosen.
For the winter, watering is always reduced in accordance with the air temperatures, the soil is slightly dried between these procedures (usually 1 watering per week is enough). As in summer, stagnation of water in the sump during wintering is unacceptable.
The quality of water for Bilbergia is just as important as for other Bromeliads. This elegant beauty should be watered only with soft water, the temperature of which corresponds to the air temperature.
The beauty of the thin leaves of Bilbergia requires medium to constant soil moisture. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com sco sio
7. It is better to “overdo it” with feeding
Bilbergia does not welcome an excess of fertilizers and grows well even without intensive fertilizing. For this plant, it is better to choose special fertilizers for Bromeliads and apply them with an average frequency: once every 1-2 weeks with a half dose or once a month with a full dose.
The enviable mass of bilbergia leaves needs support even in autumn and winter. But feeding from October to March should be done carefully, once every 1-6 weeks.
8. Mandatory humidification in heat
Bilberghii tolerate ordinary air of apartments surprisingly well and do not need high humidity. But with one “but”: if the air temperature does not rise above 22 degrees. In hotter conditions, bilbergia must be constantly sprayed – the more often the better. The frequency of spraying is usually increased in proportion to the increase in air temperature.
9. Rough and loose substrate
Bilbergia is suitable for driftwood, blocks, and hydroponics, but if grown in soil, choose very loose, rough soil. The plant is not very demanding on the composition and characteristics of the substrate and it is not necessary to plant it only in the soil for Bromeliads. The main thing is to make sure that the pH reaction is close to 5,0 and not a very large addition of sod land. The texture of the soil can be corrected yourself by adding loosening additives – from pieces of bark and sphagnum to coarse coconut fiber.
For bilbergia, it is obligatory to lay a very high drainage (up to a third of the capacity).
Bilbergia is not very demanding on the composition and characteristics of the substrate. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com GreenBuddyNursery
10. Transplant only when absolutely necessary
Bilbergia not only tends to grow and grow whole seeds, but also likes to grow freely. And the more often she is disturbed, the more problems arise with her. Bilbergia in the literal sense should be transplanted only when the roots appear in the drainage holes and it grows so much that the diameter of the container will not be enough. This rule should be observed at any age!
The transplant of this plant can be carried out not only in March, but throughout the whole spring and summer. There is one small trick in the procedure for transplanting bilbergia: a newly planted plant, no matter how carefully it is transferred, is better to provide lower heating for several days and raise the air temperature to 25 degrees.
Dear readers! If you check the degree of drying of the soil and ensure the plant is clean and at optimal temperatures, there will be no problems with bilbergia. And if the bush becomes too large, or you want to increase the collection, restore and rejuvenate an old or diseased plant, you can always simply divide the bushes into parts or root individual children.
