This bromeliad is native from the montane forests of the Rio de Janeiro state, where it lives both as epiphyte or soil plant, always clos...Read Moree to the soil, where it gets propper shade.
This plant has a very wide rosette that must be constantly filled with water. It is morphologically very variable, specially regarding the inflorescence - it´s most atractive part, with a cup shaped crown of colorful bracts enclosing the flowers in the middle. The color range of these bracts goes from orange to dark red, sometimes with pink and purple. The leaf width and lenght change a lot too.
It must be cultivated in organic soil, maybe some black soil mixed with bark bits or coal. It needs frequent watering, specially on the rosette, and high humidity. The temperatures are moderate, and it must be kept under some shade.
It´s not commonly seen in cultivation, so, if you see it on sale somewhere, have in mind that that specimen could have been collected illegally from its natural habitat.
This bromeliad is native from the montane forests of the Rio de Janeiro state, where it lives both as epiphyte or soil plant, always clos...Read More