[GrowRR] Sun Neos

[FZachariah at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/09/05 07:32:20 AM Central Standard Time, 
shipwash at gte.net writes:
Hi All,
  I am in zone 9 in the United States. Can I grow bromeliads in the ground? 
What do I need to do to the soil prior to planting the bromeliads? Do I plant 
them in a raised bed? I would appreciate any suggestions regarding this 
subject. Is it better to attach them to my trees than to plant them in the ground? 
What is a good way to attach them to the tree? Our "normal" low temperatures are 
in the low thirties at night for a couple of weeks. Thank you, Shipwash.
Shipwash,
   Can't speak for zone 9, but can speak for bottom of zone 8. We get
mild freezes in upper 20's (F) and usually a couple of blasts of low 20's.
Some billbergias survive if planted up against a house. If you are planting 
in the ground, choose those with upright flowers or all your blooms will be in 
the mud.
   And of course there are a couple of cold hardy tillandsias that are 
indigenous.
   The most reliable bromeliad I know to plant in the ground here is 
Quesnelia quesneliana. It tolerates full sun but survives the winter unscathed better 
if it is under a tree canopy. Make sure you mulch heavily around the base --it 
is vicious to have to weed around!
Frank
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