Bromelcairns - Bromeliads Down Under

Bromelcairns
Bimonthly Newsletter
of Cairns Bromeliad Society Inc. 2009 # 1
P.O. Box 28 Cairns Queensland 4870 Australia
President
Thomas Jones
V-President
Bob Hudson
Secretary
Lynn Hudson
Treasurer
Sharron Miller
Librarian
Elaine Asher
Editor
Lynn Hudson
Editor Assist. Sturt Gibbs
OIC Raffles
Karen Stevens
Member Concierge Barry Osborne
Popular Vote Steward Karen Cross
unlisted
0740533913
0740533913
0740322283
0740937510
0740533913
0421041236
0740361086
0740532047
0740545497
*Honorary Life Member - Grace Goode O.A.M.*
Life Member - Lynn Hudson
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Aims of the Society
Promote and Develop Interest in Bromeliads through Friendship
To Co-operate with similar Clubs throughout the World
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Membership Fee: $15 single, $25 family,
$7.50 junior (if not in family membership). Country Member $25
Meetings start at 1.pm sharp first Saturday of the month.
Please bring a cup and a chair.
Library: All books & magazines borrowed are to be returned in good order to the
following meeting. If not on wait list, they may be rebooked.
Plant Display/Sales: To participate, a member must be financial and circumstances
permitting, have attended at least three meetings in the past six months.
Where the society is charged a stall fee - 20% of sales are deducted for club funds. No
charge venue & meetings - 10% of sales is deducted.
All plants to be clean, free of disease, named and price tagged.
Show Plants: Must be the property of and in the custody of the entrant for the past
three months. For Society Shows the entrant must be financial and have attended at
least three meetings during the past six months.
Pens, Plant Tags & Pots: available at each meeting.
If reprinting article, wholly or in part, please acknowledge Author & Newsletter.
Any article will be emailed on request to LynnHudson@BromeliadsDownUnder.com
PRESIDENTS REPORT 2008
Another year has come and gone and we are not getting any older are
we? I think you would agree that 2008 was a great year for our little
society.
A very big plus for our society was the hosting of the 18th. WBC. It
was a resounding success due to the planning and organizing by Australian
BSI Director our own Lynnie, with only a handful of helpers she did what
others thought was just impossible.
I would like to take this opportunity, to thank these helpers who were
there to assist with anything they could - Sharron, Olive, Karen Stevens,
Karen Cross, Kay, Dave, Brendan, Sheryl & Les, Patrick, Barbara & Brian and
Sue & Gough. I know there were others that came and did some of the
chores but this little band of helpers that worked tirelessly deserve a big
thank you.
During the year we had our usual Show, Mini-shows and Popular Vote
and additionally this year we had the WBC Show, with Cairns entrants.
Congratulations go to all the winners, and for the winners in the WBC - you
are among a very few people in OZ to receive a prize in a WBC Show - well
done.
With the Gardens Lakes Area as a selling venue and a few new sellers
plant sale days have been enjoyable and it has boosted our bank balance.
We can now do a few little things to pay back the members that do assist in
building our bank balance, the first being our Learning Weekend planned
for June with guest speakers.
To the members who opened their homes and gardens to us to hold our
meetings throughout the year, I say thank you.
In 2009 we would like to share the committee positions with other
members who are willing to have a turn at some of the committee duties, so
some of us will be passing the baton on. These members will have our
support and I hope they enjoy the exciting year ahead. After 15 years of
being President I proudly pass this baton to Thomas. The society has grown
stronger and healthier, especially over the past decade and I have enjoyed
being your President.
I would like to sincerely thank my committee who assisted Lynn & I
throughout the year to ensure that our society has a great future.
Bob Hudson - President
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Club Activities & Around the Members
Aechmea chantinii !
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FEBRUARY: We had good attendance for the AGM and it was good to see
everyone again. Bob our long serving President, passed the baton (& bell) to
Thomas who had been in training in 2008. To pass the baton would not have
been easy for Bob after so many years but the young ones need the experience
and it is better they have it while the older ones are around as mentors. Good on
yer Bob.
* Dave was our Election President & did a good job.
* Elaine took over as Librarian and Sturt as Assistant Editor, thanx to each of
you. So we have a few changes in the committee and I am sure they will each
do a good job. Next we will split up the Secretary duties.
* New Member - Welcome to William Harris, yes there is plenty to learn
William, but there will be lots of laughs on the way.
* Brendan made a tray of yummy scones with jam & cream - no, there were
none left over! We were lucky the rain stayed away but it made up for it
during that night!!
* Progress on our ‘Bloomin Broms’ weekend was welcomed. Thanks go to
Brendan for his production of professional looking and informative pamphlets
that include a Registration Form.
* Once again there were no plant sales. Almost all members have joined the
society after coming to me to buy plants - then they seldom buy another from
me. What is wrong with my plants? I have seen you buy the same from
other people. To those who think I make money from the society, think
smarter & ask how! I give at least 40 hours a month to your society.
‘Bromelcairns’ takes me a week to prepare.
In 2008 I received only three articles submitted by members on how they
became involved with bromeliads. Seven wrote comments on the WBC and
ten wrote bus trip comments. This is not enough support!
There are so many things that happen with/to your plants that other
members will enjoy reading, learn from and appreciate.
Have a go, write an article, my Mac has Spellcheck!
* There were good plants in open section of Popular Vote but the Novices need
to join in. I really do not want to dust those trophies for 2010! Come on, you
have some good plants, bring them & skite!
POPULAR VOTE:
JUNIOR: Nil entries
NOVICE: Tillandsia streptophylla Grower: Stuart Howe
OPEN: Neoregelia ‘Dark Storm’ Grower: Darryl Lister
Cryptanthus zonatus
Grower: Karen Stevens
Tillandsia flexuosa
Grower: Bob Hudson
Aechmea chantinii variegated Aechmea ‘Green Ice’
Aechmea ‘Black’
Some growers are confused with the many forms of Aechmea chantinii
but most enjoy both their appearance and ease of growth. As they readily cross
pollinate and set seed, even in habitat, they have been called promiscuous! We
are the winners as there are some beautifully marked plants. I collect any
different hybrids I see and the colours range through several shades of green
and brown to black.
The inflorescences have boldly coloured banners and the flower bracts will
hold colour for many months after flowering. When in flower the sunbirds visit
and chatter and make some new hybrids. The pollinated seed pod usually turns
purple but some stay white. Both plants and seed are easy to grow in Cairns as
chantinii and their hybrids thrive on humidity, warmth and light. There are
many hybrids available here, the smallest being ‘Stripes on Stripes’ with the
banding widths thin and almost equal.
Seed Bob has grown has produced plants of varied markings, some beautiful
pink leaves and large spines and several XNeomeas also with pink to purple
leaves. All of these plants have the chantinii striping - silver white crossbands
of ‘scurf’ or the hairs of an epidermis that help the plant to feed, respire and
cope with sun and heat.
Aechmea chantinii variegated appears identical to Aechmea ‘Samurai’
but the scape bracts or banners, are darker in the variegated form. ‘Samurai’ is
a tissue cultured plant that tends to produce only three offsets with the yellow
centre leaf stripe. These plants are quite spectacular but never revert to the
original. My Aechmea chantinii variegated came from Paul Deroose and he
said I would have more consistency in the offsets. From the two original plants
their production would be more than thirty offsets and only one was without the
yellow stripe. Last year it produced a variegated plant! I felt really lucky!
What is bad about these plants? Not very much but maybe the leaf
spines can be a little scratchy, all else is good, very good. As they grow the
leaves are attractive and strong and the inflorescence is a bonus. Maybe I
should complain about the way they ‘climb’ out of their pots. The offsets grow
on a slolon, up and out and push the mother plant to an angle; sometimes they
even wind themselves around the pot! In habitat they grow on trees and the
offset moves away from the parent plant to ensure they get enough light and
food. It amazes me how bromeliad species pass their inherent habitat
characteristics through to hybrids.
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And it rained & rained & rained, February 2009
Aechmea zebrina
XNeomea
from Aechmea zebrina seed
Aechmea ‘Enoldo’
Some get Aechmea zebrina confused with chantinii but zebrina is usually
taller, the leaves are less arching, there is wider scurfing so the green markings
are narrower and the markings are lighter on the inside.
The seed of Aechmea zebrina also produces some interesting strong plants.
Greg Oldano registered XNeomea ‘Valli’, named for his Mother, an attractive
purple leafed plant. From the same seed batch he gave me plant that has grown
to become a strong brown and scurfed aechmea that I have suggested should be
named ‘Enoldo’ after his father. Into the third generation, it has held true in
colour, shape and inflorescence, so it is time to register this good plant.
Other aechmeas
Serving
Sizes that also have stripes and can be confusing to growers and
information is on http://fcbs.org/index1.html. Go to the Photo Index and look
up Aechmea chantinii then go to “Uncle Derek says” both on Ecuadorian
Platyaechmea and chantinii. There are comparisons on chantinii, zebrina,
tessmannii, manzanaresiana, retusa etc.
Derek Butcher has done much work in preparing these interesting articles.
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Mosquitos
“No Moz’, vinegar, fly sprays boric acid, ‘Mavrik’, pyrethrum & kerosene
are well known mosquito killers. There are other tablets and sprays
available.
*** Remember your bromeliads feed through the top of their leaves ***
With dengue fever making people very sick the Health Unit is
checking around homes for mosquito breeding places, with $400 fines.
Last week I welcomed them to Bromeliad Heaven.
They were duly impressed when they were in the driveway but as is
normal they were stunned when they turned the corner.
They asked what I did to prevent mosquito breeding and I replied
nothing’.
They asked what I thought of the accusation that mosquitos breed in
bromeliads. “I have seen wrigglers in my plants but if they were
breeding you would not be able to pass my block, let alone stand
amongst them. I have been told there is an enzyme in the bromeliads
that prevents the wriggler from further development but I do not know
if this has been proven.”
Mosquitos do not breed in clean water as they need food.
Marie of Sth Johnstone: 7/2/07 Meeting apologies, we are flooded in!
Rob has been sitting on the boat all night pushing logs off that came down
the Johnstone River in great mobs. He is still stuck where the boat is
moored as the big tide is keeping water up in the street not letting him
walk out to where the car is.
Barry from Babinda - Our shower recess flooded so Mary stood on the
small chair to shower as toilet paper and everything came up the pipe!
Mary set off for work and got almost to Mirriwini and the car started
floating, so she came back - just as the police set up road blocks.
Lynn of 7/2/09: It started as thunder & lightning that looked like the herald
to the end of the world, then rain, then it just bucketed down. We had our
highest tides for the year & just as the tide turned the sky opened and it
poured rain. Of course it was late, 11:00pm and dark!
The storm water tidal drain behind us was raging. The road filled, the
drain rose, the garage filled, the shed filled, the driveway was a river. Still
it rained, in big drops. Luckily the tide was on the way out, the drain was
taking out all sorts of stuff - logs, grass, palm fronds, the inevitable plastic
bottles and broken thongs.
The whole yard was under water, nearly 2 feet deep at the back! Some
plants had a little surf around but most were packed so tightly they were
submerged.
It went down & left a centimetre of slippery ochre coloured clay mud
everywhere! The tiles were really dangerous. I had just worked really hard
through horrid heat & cleaned up so much. Wot a bloody mess! All my
work is top dressed with mud & bits of something else - sort of mulch!
Chris visited and grabbed a hose to help me clean off the top layer - that
was a big help. Thank you Chris, that hour you gave was gold.
Bob's shed was interesting, he was greeted by floating boxes, pots etc.
It was so deep, Wellingtons would have filled up. Zanita the dog loved it!
Dan Kinnard suggested Bob look for crocodiles under the shelves!
The whole yard is top dressed with stuff from the drain, mainly vegetative.
The weeds are sprouting & growing as we watch, however I would rather
this stuff than fire & ash!
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Selling Tips
You can only tell people what you know - never
make it up.
* Never be afraid to say “I’m new to bromeliads, I do not know but
ask ------ over there. When you do this you are placing the Asker
on the same level as Yourself and they will feel more comfortable.
* Do not ask people “Can I help you?” as you give them the chance
to say “No” and walk away. Never boom out “What do you want?” as
I heard one day and cringed - had I been the customer I would have
left but that person stayed and bought plants!
* Better to say Are you having a good day; enjoying the show; have
you seen bromeliads before; do you have any bromeliads; isn’t that
one beautiful; do you like this one, I grew it, etc. Stay with the
plants, do not stray to other topics.
* My favourite is to look at their eyes - some look confused and
stunned .. I say ‘haven’t you seen bromeliads before?’ especially
with tillandsias. Some look like they are in a lolly shop, wondering
“which one will I get first”. Some you can read their lips “I have that
one, that one” , etc.
* Usually at a plant sale people go just to buy plants. There will
always be the “I’m just looking” people - they also deserve your
attention. Maybe today they do not have spending money but will
remember you were accessible to them. You never know when they
will come back. Some of us have been told “I met you at ....” even 4
years later! * PRICE TAGS - We make them BIG.
$15
Many people do not wear their glasses when they go out - their
RH
choice. Many people will not ask the price of a plant in case they
cannot afford it.
We put the price on big and bold and it says, ‘This is what I want for
growing this plant.’ ‘It is worth this much for the care and time I gave
to produce it.’
After the sale the Treasurer sorts the tags into seller lots, tallies them,
the % is deducted, monies allocated for each seller with their tags - for
reuse.
The tags can be made from any plastic container - ice cream, milk and
fruit juice bottles are ideal. The price on the top and seller’s initials on
the stem.
2009 Sale Days: Saturday - 28 March, 22 August, 24 October
7:30am - 1:00pm (approx or until sold out).
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BBQ Area, Centenary Lakes, Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill.
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6 - 8 June
“Bloomin Broms”
6 - 8 June
A weekend of growing Bromeliads & Tillandsias
Educational seminars and instructive workshops and sales.
Guest Speakers Genny & John Catlan and Peter Tristram.
Saturday Seminars, Sunday Sales & Demonstrations
Registration required for Saturday, numbers limited.
Open to public on Sunday
Serbian Centre, Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill.
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Cairns had days of sunshine amid the rain but Neville down at north Cardwell
was not as lucky. He had weeks of continuous rain and was housebound like an
island. His ride-on mower was parked on the raised carport and as the water rose
he decided to tie it down. Nev stepped into the water only to see the mower slide
off and float out of sight! Two days later his neighbour phoned to say it was
against his shed. Later the insurance assessor phoned to say he was visiting - Nev
“will that be by boat?”
Nev needed bread, milk & eggs, so phoned George his mate and arranged to
meet him up the road. Nev set off in water with his esky, lost the esky and
couldn’t reach George. Next day the water was down a bit so he suggested
George meet him at a crossing (doesn’t that imply a water course?), and off Nev
went again. George & Nev arrived at the crossing but it was too deep and too fast.
Nev asked George to throw his treasures to him - yeah, sure Nev throw eggs &
milk!! Along came a 4-wheel drive and delivered Nev’s supplies. Everybody was
wet but happy.
Nev’s beloved bromeliads have been thoroughly drowned several times, the last
time for 3 days straight. It will be interesting to see if they truly are survivors!
The water went down and Nev went down to check his plants - got bogged at the
bottom of the steps! He said, “I haven’t got 4-wheel drive!” Tie a rope to the
stairs and around yourself Nev. Nev is a Survivor, my Favourite Survivor.
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Cairns Show Schedule 2009
Show Plants.
The first rule is clean it! Many times we cannot stop grasshoppers from
nibbling or almost completely deleting our plants, or the dog knocking them
over, but we can wash our plants. Do it now. To enter a dirty plant in a
show is unforgivable and an insult to the Judge. You will lose many points.
Clean it before you remove it from the pot as it is secure and easier
to work with. Clean it completely, preferably months before the show. First
hose it out thoroughly. Use a few drops of mild washing up liquid. Make
sure the cupped bases of the leaves are clean. A small long handled
paintbrush is good - do not cut the leaves with the metal hair holder. An old
pair of undies is perfect for rubbing dirt and algae off the leaves.
If your plant has had green slime in the centre you could have white
patches on the leaves. The green slime is simply algae from the water and
sun, it turns white when it dries and is like thin tissue paper. It must be
wetted to remove, use a damp soft cloth and wipe to the outside of the leaf.
You may need to do this several times as some can adhere and not reveal
until it is dry. You will be surprised how much grot will be hidden in the
leaves and amazed at the new sheen of a cleaned plant.
Repot if the plant is not in the centre of the pot. Repot if the pot is
tatty. Repot if the plant is wobbly – check the mix, maybe it is not suitable
and your plant has not grown roots.
Leaf Removal. At this stage only remove the bottom tatty leaves,
leave any that will need to be trimmed. On large neoregelias with heavy
leaves, leave as many as you can - removal of one will cause the next one to
drop and this can continue! Best to leave it until entry day, even until you
get to the hall.
Leaf Trimming – do not trim leaves until the afternoon before or
on entry day as usually the edges go brown. Use an old leaf as a template,
trim to a natural shape, do not cut it straight across.
To get even colour place the plant in good light and turn the plant
around regularly, say one quarter each week.
The judge will look for the correct growth for that bromeliad, good
colour & shape, cleanliness in both plant & pot. Cut potholes in the bottom
of a polystyrene box, turn it upside down to stop your plants from rolling
around the car floor. You can do it; it just takes a little time. Good Luck.
Flowering Plants – There is a visible change in plant from the onset of flowering.
Tillandsia – Plants may be multiple growths provided they are intact as one plant.
Offsets - attached offsets are permitted when they are less than two-thirds the size of the
mother plant.
Multiple Specimen Plants – 3 or more connected mature plants.
All plants must be named with the species in lower case.
Hybrids in single parenthesis, in lower case, starting with a capital letter.
BROMELIOIDEAE
Aechmea
Billbergia
Cryptanthus
Neoregelia mature plant to 200 mm
Neoregelia mature plant to 400 mm
Neoregelia mature plant over 400 mm
Nidularium / Canistrum / Edmundoa
Orthophytum
XNeophytum
Other Bromelioideae
Flowering Bromelioideae
Bromelioideae Multiple Specimen
TILLANDSIOIDEAE
Guzmania
Flowering Guzmania
Vriesea
Flowering Vriesea / Werauhia
Alcantarea / Werauhia
Tillandsia small
Tillandsia medium
Tillandsia large
Flowering Tillandsia
Tillandsioideae Multiple Specimen
PITCAIRNIOIDEAE
Hectia / Dyckia / Dueterocohnia
Other Pitcairnioideae eg. Brocchinia, Fosterella, Navia, Puya
OTHER
Artistic Display Planting - single or group planting in a pot.
Artistic Display - using mainly bromeliad material.
Epiphytic mounting.
Two Additional Awards - Potty Lynnie Award & Bobalog Award
Setup: Sunday 12th 8:30am Entries: Monday 13th July 2:00-6:00pm
Judging: Tuesday 14th July 9:00am -12 noon BBQ Tuesday 14th
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"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt
should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and
controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome
become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public
assistance." Cicero - 55 BC
So what have we learned in 2 millennia ........... Evidently nothing...
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With age comes wisdom
Fred is 70 years old and loves to fish.
He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, 'Pick me up.'
He looked around and couldn't see anyone. He thought he was dreaming when
he heard the voice say again, 'Pick me up.'
He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog. The man said,
'Are you talking to me?' The frog said, 'Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up
then kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll
make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your
bride!'
Fred looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully and
placed it in his front breast pocket. Then the frog said. 'What, are you nuts?
Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.'
Fred opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said
‘Nah, at my age I would rather have a talking frog’
With age comes wisdom.
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GLUE How come when you mix water and flour together you get glue?
And then when you add eggs and sugar ... you get cake ???
Where did the glue go ???
Need an answer ???
You know really know where it went, it is what makes the cake stick to your
bum!
Megan & John Welch
FERtLIZERS * FUNGICIDES * WATERING SYSTEMS
POLYPIPES * POLY FILMS * SPRAYING EQUIPMENT
SHADECLOTH * PLANTER BAGS * PLASTIC POTS
Cnr. Brown & Little Spence Sts. Cairns
Phone: 07 4035 2670
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Hudson’s Bromeliads Down Under
Bromeliads & Tillandsias
Bob & Lynn Hudson
Phone: (07) 40533 913
47 Boden St. Edge Hill Cairns
email: lynnie@ledanet.com.au
ABN 66 951 932 976
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Bromeliads XV
‘Bromadelaide’ 10-13th April 2009
For details & Registration Form.
I just want to let you know I have entered the Snapdragon part of my life ..
Part of me has snapped, the rest is draggin. Lynn
www.bromeliad.org.au/BROMADELAIDE2009.htm
Come to our conference. Learn from the experts. New
plants. Buy plants. Sell plants. Swap plants.
Make new friends. Buy rare plants at auction. Ask
questions. Have fun.
Store lots of memories to brighten your quiet moments.