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pitch113

Bromeliad Identification & Possible Pest Eradication

pitch113
13 years ago

Hi,

One of the greenhouses at my university was deemed structurally unsound, so they're remodeling and thus getting rid of a few plants they didn't deem worthy of transferring to another greenhouse. I picked up the bromeliad below, but have no idea what type it is. It also appears to have some kind of pest on it. If anyone could help me identify the plant and identify and provide steps to remedy the pest, I'd appreciate it.

Best,

Hunter

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Comments (19)

  • gonzer_gw
    13 years ago

    I'll gander that it's a species of Pitcairnia, a genus I have absolutely NO experience with. I'm not sure what you mean by "pests"? The tiny brown dot on the leaf is scale, just dab it with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The white residue is nothing more than salts from your water. Simply wipe off.

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Thanks, Gonzer. Any idea how to identify it more precisely so I can know watering/lighting needs?

  • hotdiggetydam
    13 years ago

    To get a more precise ID...you will need a flower..Watering and light for now go with bright indirect light and evenly moist like any other tropical plant.

  • splinter1804
    13 years ago

    Hi Hunter,

    I have no experience with Pitcairnia, but looking at the close up shot in the second last pic I wouldn't entirely rule out one of the various types of Aechmea weilbachii either.
    The other thing I would suggest is to find out just who was in charge of the growing of plants in that particular greenhouse and ask him or her.

    All the best, Nev.

  • LisaCLV
    13 years ago

    Your first photo has been removed, Hunter, so I'm only seeing the last two showing the base of the leaves. I'm not seeing a pest there, just some water residue, although the plant does look a bit stressed. Maybe too dry?

    I'm with Nev in thinking it's an Aechmea, but I'm leaning more towards Ae. victoriana discolor or one of its hybrids than Ae. weilbachii. Both of those species (and other similar-looking ones) like fairly low light conditions. Not pitch dark, but not out in blasting sun either. As with most broms, keep it lightly moist in a well-drained mix, and keep some water in the central cup too (assuming there is one).

  • bob61
    13 years ago

    I'm with Lisa. Could be a heavily shaded Aechmea Fosters Favorite. But a bloom would help a lot.
    Best
    Bob

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Hi, the first photo should still work. The link is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pitch/5405082975/
    Thanks for the feedback. I've e-mailed the person who runs the greenhouses, so maybe we'll be able to get a firm identification.

    I'm keeping the plant now on my dresser, about ten feet away from the window. I think it definitely qualifies as medium to low light. How often would you water the plants?

    Okay, so stupidly I hadn't even thought to check the cups and surprisingly when I found the central cup I saw this. Is this a bloom and, does it help identify the plant?

    {{gwi:438495}}

    {{gwi:438496}}

  • bob61
    13 years ago

    Yes It is About to flower. It will be another 2 to 3 weeks for it to mature. Then hopefully we can come up with a name. Good timing.
    Best
    Bob

  • hotdiggetydam
    13 years ago

    Nice plant

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Hi everyone,
    Here is the bloom as of today... is it fully mature? Can anyone say what plant this is definitively? Also, some of the leaves on the side opposite the window have turned brown on the tips, as you can see in the photo. Does that indicate it needs more light (or something else?) and should I rotate the plant every day?

    {{gwi:438497}}

    And here it is as of Febuary 15:

    {{gwi:438498}}

    Finally, for some reason my earlier photos got deleted, so I reuploaded them. Here they are:

    First sign of a bloom:

    {{gwi:438499}}

    The plant when I got it:
    {{gwi:438500}}

  • hotdiggetydam
    13 years ago

    weilbachii f. leodiensis could be a possibilty

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Thanks. Any advice on the brown tips/watering/fertilizing and whether to rotate it?

  • hotdiggetydam
    13 years ago

    In your photos I don't see the brown tips. It could be to lack of humidity and water if is on all the leaves. If the outer/lower leaves have the brown tips and not the new growth in the center, it probaly means the plant was stressed(lack of water at some point)when you rescued it. The plant won't live indoors without a lot of light and proper humidity. It needs to be outside if weather permits. Keep it out of direct sun, bright light but shaded to acclimate the plant from moving from indoors.

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Hi,
    if you look at the first photo towards the bottom and top left you can see some of the crinkled leaves I was mentioning. The plant can definitely not be outside - it is consistently under freezing here and, the danger from frost will probably not pass for a few months. It is currently on my dresser about ~10 feet from a big Northernly facing window in my apartment. I've been watering it about 2-3 times a week, making sure there's water in the center cup and, misting it. Does this sound adequate?
    Thanks!

  • hotdiggetydam
    13 years ago

    If the new growth looks healthy then thats all you can do for now. Light and circulation are the two things that are tough to get right indoors.

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Any further ideas on what kind this would be as indicated by the flowers? I'm gonna repot this and another (likely) Bromeliad I have - is a 50:50 orchid potting mix/standard houseplant potting mix suitable? I can safely summer this outside, right?
    Thanks!

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Just to let everyone know, the plant bloomed again in late December/early January. This past summer I had it outside and it was doing fine and, then a lot of the leaf tips turned brown. I'm not sure if it was too much sun or a pest problem - afterwards I moved it to a shadier location, cleaned some of the spider webs off of it (it didn't look like there were any other pests) and cut the leaves back and its put out some new pups since.

  • hotdiggetydam
    12 years ago

    If it is pupping good chance its doing fine Hunter

  • pitch113
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Here is how the plant looks now. You can see all the new pups & all the old ones I had to cut back after most of the parts of the leaves turned brown:
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    Compared to how it looked when I got it, I notice the leaves look a lot more light. Is this an indication of anything?
    {{gwi:438502}}

    One of the new pups:
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    One of the ones I had to cut back:
    {{gwi:438504}}

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