New Plant Variety of 2011

It seems that with each new year in the garden, a group of plants I have never tried before captures my attention.  For 2011, it appears that the group will be the Tillandsias.  This genera exhibits incredible diversity in size, shape and form.  I'm not confident that they would be able to withstand our winters, so they'll be outdoors for most of the year, but spend time inside during the cold.  Information on their care can be found both at Plant Oddities and at Air Plants.

Sounds like most varieties should avoid direct sunlight - I can certainly provide shade.  They prefer humid conditions with frequent watering - hmm, pretty humid here most of the time, but may require me to spray the hose in their direction more often than is my norm (will have to watch that).  Seems like they like good air circulation - this might be the hardest to provide; once summer arrives, the few breezes that make it through the trees and the fence tend to lessen.  Will have to position them as best I can to provide some air movement.

Since they are epiphytes, they can be attached to pretty much anything (as long as it doesn't hold water; though they like moisture, they don't like sitting in it).  I actually used Liquid Nails to affix mine to a couple pieces of old wood (Liquid Nails dries to a white color; would have preferred clear - though plant should hide).

I started with five plants of four varieties.  Not sure if I'll be getting any more, but once a plant group has my attention, they become hard to resist (and there is space on that larger piece of wood...and I have already snagged another gnarly piece of wood - and there are so many more tempting cultivars...).

Tillandsia ionantha 'Ron': This is the only variety for which I purchased two

(how could I refuse a cultivar named 'Ron'!). 

Tillandsia ionantha 'Fuego': This is the only one showing some color; online research

indicates that Tillandsias change leaf color as they begin to bloom.

Tillandsia ionantha 'Rosita': Many of the Tillandsias also form clumps, so though it may look lonely

in its mounted location, it will hopefully pup and form a small colony.

Tillandsia jucunda: This was the largest specimen and the only one already in bloom.

From what I can gather, pupping usually follows blooming.

Will have to find the right spot in the garden so the plants can be appreciated.  They are small but, combined with interesting pieces of wood, they still capture ones attention.

New Plant Variety of 2010: Status

Each season seems to bring a fascination with a new genera of plants that are unfamiliar to my garden.  For 2010, it was the Dyckias.  Its now time to see how these plants performed.

The plants had been doing very well, right up until our severe winter (below freezing temperatures for 60+ straight hours - extremely unusual for central Texas).  Though the plants received some protection (mainly covering but no light-based heat source), all were damaged to varying degrees.  Some likely are a loss, some may survive through pups.  Others lost some leaves but look to be recovering.

Pineapple Dyckia (Dyckia brevifolia): Assumed lost (hey - it looks just like some of my Aloes - grumble, grumble).

Dyckia platyphylla: The main plant is a loss; but there do appear to be a few pups surviving.

Bronze Dyckia (Dyckia fosteriana 'Bronze'): All three show extensive damage, but some green remains.  Will have to wait and see if they can recover.  And to think, it even bloomed last year.

Dyckia brevifolia 'Moon Glow': Definite damage to some of the larger, upper rosettes.  But some of the lower appear to have escaped largely unscathed.

Dyckia 'Cherry Coke': Also showing considerable damage on some leaves, but the centers appear to be good - may even be producing some new growth.

Red-leafed Dyckia (Dyckia 'Red Devil'): Though it lost a few of the lower leaves (due to a combination of the cold and some physical damage from tree limb removal), it is definitely producing new growth.

I also had potted two dyckia varieties: Dyckia choristaminea 'Frazzle Dazzle' & Red-leafed Dyckia; obviously both of these were inside and thus escaped damage.

Though the past winter was an exception (one hopes!), it appears that it would be best to either plant the Dyckias into pots or to concentrate them into a bed for which I could provide a light-based heat source for the rare (one hopes!) winter extremes.

Planted in the Ground:

• Trailing Violet (Viola banksii): Actually bought five 4" pots that were overflowing almost a month ago, then right before I was going to plant them, we had some more freezes roll in; so I waited - and promptly let four of the five dry out (grumble).  So planted the remaining good one while two remain in their pots & are starting to recover (the other two may be a loss).
• Gopher Plant (Euphorbia rigida): Has been on my 'Gotta Get' list; decided to only get one and see how it does.
• New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens x hawkeri): Bought on sale before winter and babied inside through the winter; cut them back severely and placed into yard

Planted in Pots:

• Coleus 'Pineapple' (Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Pineapple'): The bright yellow leaves with their small maroon highlights quickly caught my attention; planted them into the large pot that contains my Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red'); hoping they fill in nicely underneath.