Bromeliad seeds ? vriesea Splendens-

[Kamipalms]

Howdy all,

I have a Vriesea splendens which flowered last season and ( please forgive my ignorance here) I think it has set seed.

Can some one please confirm this, heres a couple of pics;

After opening one of the old bracts there was what I think is a seed pod inside and opening the pod, there is literally hundreds of fine, soft "fibres" with a small head at one end. You can just make out the "heads" on the fibres under the blue arrow on the left hand side in the second pic.

I was allways under the impression that you need atleast 2 broms to cross pollinate before you can sucessfully set seed and never doing this before I'm not exactly sure.

A couple of questions;

1. are these seeds?

and 2. How would I go about germinating them?

Thanks in advance,

Jason.

[Gonzer]

The same as Tillandsia seeds, dandelion-type parasols that blow in the wind. Get a flat or pot saucer and fill with sterilized sphagnum moss or potting mix, press the mix down firmly and water thoroughly. Sprinkle your Vriesea seed on top, don't cover with mix, mist often to avoid drying. You can cover this with plastic wrap and make sure it is in bright light but not direct sun. Unlike Aechmea and Billbergia seeds which can stay viable for a year or two, Tillandsia and Vriesea seeds lose viability after a couple of months. Be patient too, very patient.

[PalmsZA]

Hi J

Pop them in the Kamie maker, the misting that you give will be perfect. If you cant find sphagnum us a sponge, one of the more dense types that you can buy from a tiling store to clean up all the grout. .....works like a champ.

PS AVR reckons the plants in question may be plants that were sold here a good few years ago as C.woodsoniana but they are not that species.....he thinks the plants may well be a form of C.benziei. I noticed that you had some in the Kamie maker......do the seedlings look alike?

D

[Kamipalms]

Thanks for the help guys, I've done exactly as suggested.

Are we talking a few months for germination?

A note to every one who is sowing Vriesea seeds as described above;

Make suer you mist the seeds before moving the flat and don't do what I did.......

I sprinkled the seeds over the medium then picked up the flat and as I started to walk forward with the flat in my hands almost all of the seeds blew off the medium...Arrrrgh!- mist them first!

Dennis,

I'm pretty sure the seeds were not orange as in C.benziei rather black.

the seeds were/are oblong shaped where as C.benziei are almost round. The seedlings in question are fast growers when compared to the C.benziei seeds germinating now - in the "Kami maker" - love it!

Either way, we'll figure out what they are- eventually!

Thanks again,

Jason.

[PalmsZA]

Jay

Unlike most palms the seeds will germinate quickly : a week or two. The plants are slow to mature so you have a few years till your seedlings flower themselves......I suppose they are just like Copernicia species, quick to germ and slow to grow!

As for you mystery plants.....I am sure you will figure them out!

[Kamipalms]

Thanks Dennis.

Can I send some your way?

Have more than I need.

J.