Bromeliaceae VOLUME XL - No. 4 - JULY/AUGUST 2006 The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. P. O. Box 565, Fortitude Valley Queensland, Australia 4006, Home Page www.bromsqueensland.com OFFICERS PRESIDENT Bob Reilly (07) 3870 8029 VICE PRESIDENT Olive Trevor (07) 3351 1203 PAST PRESIDENT Vacant SECRETARY Glenn Bernoth (07) 4661 3 634 TREASURER Glenn Bernoth (07) 4661 3 634 BROMELIACEAE EDITOR Ross Stenhouse SHOW ORGANISER Bob Cross COMMITTEE David Brown, Beryl and Jim Batchelor, Barry Kable, Doug Upton MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Roy Pugh (07) 3263 5057 AUDITOR Anna Harris Accounting Services SALES AREA STEWARD Pat Barlow FIELD DAY CO-ORDINATOR Nancy Kickbusch LIBRARIAN Evelyn Rees ASSISTANT SHOW ORGANISER Phil Beard SUPPER STEWARDS Nev Ryan, Barry Genn PLANT SALES Nancy Kickbusch (Convenor) N. Poole (Steward) COMPETITION STEWARDS Dorothy Cutcliffe, Alan Phythian CHIEF COMPETITION STEWARD Jenny Cakurs HOSTESS Gwen Parkinson BSQ WEBMASTER Ross Stenhouse LIFE MEMBERS Grace Goode OAM Peter Paroz, Michael O’Dea The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. gives permission to all Bromeliad Societies to reprint articles in their journals provided proper acknowledgement is given to the original author and the Bromeliaceae, and no contrary direction is published in Bromeliaceae. This permission does not apply to any other person or organisation without the prior permission of the author. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributor and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Bromeliad Society of Queensland or of the Editor Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the information in their articles. Front Cover: Guz. ‘Augusta’ (unreg) Photo by Ross Stenhouse Rear Cover : Quesnelia quesneliana Photo by Ross Stenhouse Bromeliaceae 2 Jul/Aug 2006 Contents THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PH METER ....................................................................... 4 CHARCOAL, THE FORGOTTEN INGREDIENT ............................................................ 5 WATERING AND WETTING AGENTS FOR BROMELIADS ........................................ 5 FERTILIZERS .....................................................................................................................7 THE EDITORS DESK ........................................................................................................ 9 PHOTOGRAPHER’S CODE .............................................................................................. 9 PLANT LABELING ......................................................................................................... 10 IN THE DOGHOUSE AGAIN .......................................................................................... 10 CRYPTANTHUS UPDATE ............................................................................................. 13 A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PRODUCING BROMELIAD SEED ................................ 15 SOCIETY CONSTITUTION UNDER REVIEW ............................................................. 19 NEW MEMBERS.............................................................................................................. 19 GUZMANIA SANGUINEA.............................................................................................. 21 AECHMEAS FROM SEED TO SEED ............................................................................. 23 HYBRID VARIATION...................................................................................................... 30 BULBOUS TILLANDSIAS .............................................................................................. 34 2006 TILLANDSIA WORKSHOP ................................................................................... 36 GROWING AECHMEAS ................................................................................................. 38 WATER.............................................................................................................................. 46 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ........................................................................................... 51 BROMELIADS DOWNUNDER ...................................................................................... 51 CALENDER OF EVENTS................................................................................................ 52 BSQ FIELD DAYS FOR 2006 .......................................................................................... 52 BUS TRIPS FOR 2006 ...................................................................................................... 52 Plant Competition Results Popular Vote - June Meeting Intermediate First L. Grubb Vriesea ‘Squiggles’ x ‘Red Chestnut’ Second G Vauhkanen Neoregelia ‘Shelldance’ Minishow - July Meeting Advanced Class 1 Second Danny & Lindsey Billbergia sanderiana Intermediate Class 1 First G & N Aizlewood Bill. Dr Oesers x ‘Catherine Wilson’ G & N Aizlewood Bill. Hallelujah Class 2 Second L. Grubb Calopsis Morreniana Class 3 Second L. Grubb Neoregelia ‘Whim’ Class 4 First G & N Aizlewood Bill. ‘Cimmeron Rose’ Second L. Grubb Till. complimata Novice Class 1 First B. Batchelor Bill. ‘Pink Patches’ Second B. Batchelor Bill. ‘Spotted Wren’ Class 4 First G. Stay Guzmania Bromeliaceae 3 Jul/Aug 2006 change pH depends on the ability of the me- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE dia to hold nutrients and the initial pH of that PH METER material. Only small amounts of material are (by Robert Willmott) necessary to change the pH of bark, whereas larger amounts are necessary to change the Editorial comment (Bob Reilly): Re- pH of peat. Constant use of an acidic or basic printed, with permission of the Bundaberg fertilizer will also change the pH. Orchid Society, from the Bundaberg Orchid Most of our orchid potting mixes are Society Newsletter, June 2006, v. 4 (6), p.4. bark-based, and as the mix ages the pH will In the March-April 2006 edition of Brome- decrease. It would be wise to periodically liaceae by C. A. Wiley highlighted the impor- check the pH with one of the inexpensive kits tance of having the correct pH for the water available at nurseries, and add lime etc to and, by extension the potting media, used for correct it. bromeliads. This article gives some practi- PH can be measured in two ways. A cal suggestions for adjusting pH, and ways simple pH kit is available which is most use- of measuring it. The suggestions may be par- ful for solid materials such as potting mix. A ticularly useful for those growers who use liquid is applied to the sample then, a pow- media similar to those used for orchids, for der that will change colour, which when com- their bromeliads. pared with a colour chart in the kit, will give PH is the measure of hydrogen ion con- a reading of the pH. centration of a particular media. It is ex- When measuring the pH of liquids, pressed as the negative logarithm of hydro- hand-held meters are available. These vary gen ion concentration with 7 being neutral, in expense from around $20 (I have never below 7 is acid, and above 7 is alkaline. Each found these types particularly accurate), to unit of measurement change decreases or in- quite expensive. For around $120, a local creases the pH by a factor of 10. For exam- hydroponics supplier will have one that is ple, a pH of 5 is 10 times more acid than pH ideal for our use. They will have a facility to 6 and 100 times more acid than a pH of 7. allow compensation for temperature, and will When wanting to change the pH, more lime, come with solutions that will enable you to for example, is required to change the pH calibrate the instrument and thereby give very from 5 to 6, than 6 to 7. accurate readings. They are battery operated The pH of a media determines the solu- and will display the pH reading with a small bility of the nutrients essential for plant margin of error. It is important to maintain growth. Although plants survive in a pH range the meter in accordance with the instructions as low as 3.5 to above 7.5, extremes should that come with it. One of these meters might be avoided for best growth. Most orchid be a useful addition to your club’s library. plants should be grown in media having a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. Low pH (acid) can be increased by add- Did You Know ing liming materials such as dolomite, cal- Previous editions of this Journal are cium carbonate (garden lime), or calcium available for downloading from the Society’s hydroxide. High pH (alkaline) can be reduced Web Site. It’s a good way of getting back edi- by the addition of finely powdered sulphur. tions starting 2005 The amount of liming material or sulphur to http://www.bromsqueensland.com Bromeliaceae 4 Jul/Aug 2006 nia and will hold it, a trait that plant roots Charcoal, The Forgotten utilize. It is the ammonia-forming capacity of Ingredient bone meal, fish meal, natural manure, com- (by Rex Hardy) post and other such organic fertilizers that we pay for, and the gas should not be allowed Editorial comment (Bob Reilly): Re- to escape. printed with permission of the Bromeliad Charcoal has other equally valuable Society International, from the Journal of the properties. It is the world’s most perfect pu- Bromeliad Society, September-October 2002, rifier. It acts as a continuous factory for the v.52 (5), p.226. Charcoal is used in certain destruction of injurious acids. Whenever evil bromeliad potting mixes e.g. those based on organic gases are given off, charcoal will ab- cymbidium orchid mixes. However, it could sorb the odor. A sprinkling of charcoal over be used more widely. It can be bought at the compost heap will not only prevent odor some orchid