Description
Nidularium – Bird’s-nest Bromeliad –
There are about 46 species of rosette forming, evergreen epiphytic or terrestrial perennials, sometimes rhizomatous, bromeliads, related to Neoregelia in this genus. They occur from woodland and rainforest, to 6,500′ high mainly in Brazil. The toothed leaves are narrow to broadly strap shaped. The conspicuous leaf sheaths surround tubular flowers, usually borne in summer, they nestle in a cluster of large bracts, resembling a bird’s nest. Grow as houseplants.
Indoors, grow in epiphytic bromeliad potting mix in bright filtered light with moderate to high humidity. During the growing season, water freely. Apply a low nitrogen liquid fertilizer monthly from spring to late autumn. Keep rosette cup filled with water from spring to early autumn. Keep just moist in winter.
Prone to scale insects.
N. innocentii – Karatas innocentii – Regelia innocentii – This very variable, epiphytic bromeliad from Brazil grows 8-12″ tall and 24″ wide. It forms funnel rosettes of 30 or more sword or strap shaped, minutely toothed, dark green or reddish green leaves, 8-24″ long, widening toward the tips, with brown-violet undersides. Clusters of tubular, white or pink sepaled, green based white flowers, to 2 ½” long, are produced in rosettes of bright red or green tipped red bracts.
Zones 14-15
