Deuterocohnia brevifolia
Hardy groundcover bromeliad; yellow flowers
BERKELEY: (510) 558-8650
MARIN: (415) 870-9930
BERKELEY: (510) 558-8650
MARIN: (415) 870-9930
Deuterocohnia brevifolia
Hardy groundcover bromeliad; yellow flowers
Tropical terrestrial bromeliad in the Pineapple family; evergreen to 4’t.
Subtropical tuberous succulent, forms caudex; rich soil, regular water
Easy to grow natural bonsai with small succulent caudex.
Rex Begonias come in a wide range of cultivated varieties, with vibrant multi-colored leaves in all sizes.
They’re a low light tropical houseplant with underground succulent rhizomes that need to be kept relatively dry. And yet the leaves need moisture – a puzzle indeed. But not too difficult to solve. Follow along.
Soil: They need a fast-draining soil that will dry out fully between waterings. A high quality houseplant mix will work – but be wary of lower quality mixes because they hold too much moisture. An orchid blend is even better. If you use a cactus or succulent blend, we recommend adding coir chips or a little bark mulch to the mix, or even some vermiculite.
Light: For the best vibrant colors, we recommend bright indirect light only. If they’re going to get some direct sun, make sure it’s no more than 1 to 2 hours of morning sun, and not too close to the window or the plant can burn.
Watering: Here’s what we’ve discovered as the key to successful rex begonias in the Bay Area with wet winters and dry summers. It all depends on the temperature in your home through the year.
Below 60° – The plant is going to go semi-dormant, so reduce watering to every 2 weeks and let some of the leaves fall off for winter.
60’s – Water once per week, letting the soil dry out completely, and don’t mist.
70s – Water weekly, and mist the leaves occasionally with a very fine spray.
80s – Water weekly, and mist the leaves 2 to 3 times per week with a very fine spray.
90° and above – Water twice weekly, mist the leaves every other day or place on rocks in a saucer filled with water to increase the ambient humidity. Don’t let the pot sit directly in the water.
Watering Note: Always let the roots dry out between watering and never let the pot sit in water.
Misting Note: When misting rex begonias always use a very fine mist and never let water droplets collect on the leaves.
If you live elsewhere your results will vary, depending on your temperatures and especially your humidity.
Terrestrial bromeliad to 10″t. w/arcing yellow and green leaves
Terrestrial bromeliad to 1 to 2 feet tall with very strongly variegated/spotted leaves. Glossy foliage, upright form, multicolored blooms. Grows quickly if not too wet.
Terrestrial bromeliad with compact base to 10″ high. Upright form. Multicolored blooms. Sharp edges with marginal teeth.
Terrestrial bromeliad to 1 to 2 feet tall with subtle variegated pastel-colored leaves. Upright form. Multicolored blooms. Sharp edges with marginal teeth.
Terrestrial bromeliad to 12″t. w/pendulous blooms
Vines to 2ft, heart-shaped succulent leaves; Moist in summer, dry in winter
Vines to 2ft, heart-shaped succulent leaves; Moist in summer, dry in winter
Climbing succulent vine, richly patterned oval green-red leaves. Will vine to 12 feet. Good for hanging baskets indoors.
Shrubby to 6ft.; summer deciduous. Yellow daisy flowers.
Beautiful black/brown and white striped terrestrial bromeliad, nearly flat; white tubular flowers; light shade
C. bivittatus “Minor”
Beautiful striped terrestrial bromeliad, nearly flat, shades of brown
C. bivittatus “Pink Starlight”
Beautiful striped terrestrial bromeliad, nearly flat, bright pink in light shade
C. bivittatus “Ruby”
Beautiful red-striped terrestrial bromeliad, nearly flat, bright colors in light shade
x Cryptbergia rubra
Cryptanthus x Billbergia
Hybrid bromeliad to 12″. Brighter color in bright light.
A genus of 52 orchids from sub-tropical Asia. Great houseplants.
Small bulbs in the Amaryllis family. Pendant yellow flowers. Grows in marshes, can be dry when dormant. Heat-tolerant if soil is kept moist.
Small Jewel Orchid from Indonesia. Beautiful colorful leaves, stays small – great for terrariums! Terrestrial orchid that prefers warm temps and some humidity, not too much water- fast draining orchid soil.
A huge genus of epiphytic orchids from Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Good for bonsai; slow growing tree w/small leaflet pairs
Tropical vine w/slow-developing caudex; winter-dormant
Vining epiphyte; round, concave leaves; sm. white flowers
Vining epiphyte to 10ft. Tiny white blooms
Small leaves, green with white edges. Long vines. Small white flowers.
Vining epiphyte; hanging baskets, or terrariums
“Ant Plant” epiphyte; hollow chambers in caudex colonized by ants