Do you want a flowering plant that you can have inside your home? So you have to take a look at Billbergia nutans.
It is a herbaceous plant but it can tolerate being indoors. Now, what is it like? What care does it need? Pay attention to this guide because you are going to meet a plant from the Bromeliaaceae family.
What is Billbergia nutans like?
Billbergia nutans is actually a terrestrial bromeliad, That is, they are not epiphytic as they usually are. This one in particular is native to Brazil, Mexico and Central America. In its natural habitat it does grow epiphytically, but as a decorative plant you can have it directly in a pot or planted in the garden.
Other names by which it is known, and is marketed, are: queen's tears or salon oatmeal.
Physically, the plant is herbaceous and grows in the form of a fairly thick bush. It can measure up to 50 centimeters in height. The leaves are ribbon-type, light green with a small silver sheen. However, when the sun hits it, it is common for this silver to turn reddish.
As a bromeliad, it does not need watering because the water it collects through the leaves at the base is what helps it retain moisture. Of course, it feeds on that water and also on the humidity and nutrients in the environment.
Unlike other plants, Billbergia nutans blooms in late winter but the flowers do not last very long despite how attractive they are. Although even more beautiful are the floral stems, which become arched and pink, so that the flowers fall as if they were bells or tears, with pink, purple or green and yellow petals.
Regarding the roots, you should know that it barely develops them. In reality it only has enough to settle in the pot. This may tell you that it could also become an air plant, or tillandsia. And as such, you should know that their average life expectancy is not too long.
Billbergia nutans care
Now that We have brought you a little closer to Billbergia nutans, It is possible that, from the photos, you have fallen in love with her (no wonder). But how do you have one and not have it die in two weeks?
Here we leave you an important care guide so that this does not happen.
Location and temperature
As we have told you, Billbergia nutans is a plant that tolerates living both outdoors and indoors.. And each place has special conditions.
Outdoors, it could be good to place it in an area with light, but not direct sun. Putting it under a tree can be an option because it will filter the light.
Indoors, it is best to have a place with good lighting, but not in direct sunlight because you could get burned. That doesn't mean I can't give it some sun, but let it be first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Regarding temperature, Billbergia nutans is a plant that can endure as long as the temperature exceeds 10ºC. But it is not recommended that it go down any further. Even so, it can withstand short frosts of -2ºC.
Substratum
If you choose to have Billbergia nutans in a pot, taking into account that it will hardly develop roots, you do not have to place a pot that is too deep. The soil to be used ensures that it is not limestone., and always very well drained so that it does not have difficulties for its roots to grow.
If you prefer to have it in the air, you will save the pot and the soil, but be careful. If she is already used to the soil, taking her out into the air can stress her out and cause her to start getting sick.
Irrigation
Another important point is irrigation. As we have told you, It feeds on environmental humidity, and this is much more enriching than irrigation.
But it doesn't mean that you shouldn't water it, you just have to do it approximately every 10-15 days (except in winter when we don't recommend watering it).
What you should keep in mind, and almost daily, is to spray it with lime-free water.
Subscriber
Billbergia nutans does need a little fertilizer from time to time. You can put it in the irrigation water or in the water you spray. Of course, only one monthly subscriber.
Plagues and diseases
There are several pests that can affect Billbergia nutans.. The most common are red spiders, mealybugs and aphids. If you catch them in time you won't have a problem with them, but if not, they could consume the plant from the inside.
Regarding diseases, lack of humidity and excess water can be fatal for the plant. In the first case it dries inside, and even when it is fine on the outside, you just have to touch it for it to crumble and the center appears black.
In the second case, you will notice it soft and with a bad smell.
Multiplication
Finally, we want to talk to you about the reproduction of Billbergia nutans. This is produced through offspring that are born from the base of the pot itself. so that, when the mother plant dies (in about five years), you can have many offspring that you can continue to enjoy.
You can separate these in spring or after it has flowered.
To separate them, you have to get a very sharp knife to make quick and accurate cuts. But don't plant them right away. It is best to allow time for the cut to heal.. Otherwise you could contract fungi from the wound and these will kill it from the inside. A trick to make it heal quickly is to add cinnamon powder.
Finding Billbergia nutans on the market (nurseries, florists...) may not be easy. But through the Internet you do have it and from now on we tell you that it is quite a spectacle. Do you dare to have one at home?