Puya berteroniana seeds – (Blue Puya)

Description

Picture thanks to www.plant-world-seeds.com

This is a bromeliad which grows in the ground, and is related to pineapple plants .  It has  grey green  leaves which are spiky like the pineapple. It produces lovely turquoise  blue flowers from a stalk which can be up to 1.5 m tall. The flowers have  central  bright orange anthers.  The whole flower stalk  is very spectacular, and it is of interest in the garden as not only is it beautiful, but it is  also rare.  It will die down after flowering, but produces other small rosettes of leaves at the base of the plant, which will flower the next year. It does well in rock garden and is also an excellent container plant.

Note : 8 Seeds in packet, and they are quite small seeds.

Sowing advice

Sow in spring or can be sown at any time if the correct temperature can be maintained. Soak the seeds for 24 hours in water. Sow the seeds on the surface of moist well drained seed raising mix. Don’t cover the seeds, as light is required for germination, just press them into the mix and keep it moist. Cover the pot with plastic film to keep them moist . Put them into the fridge for 2 weeks .  Bring them out to  about 18 -25 deg C. ( Can be cooler at night).  Keep them in a sheltered light place , but not direct sunlight. They should germinate in about 2-8 weeks. Immediately one germinates, take the plastic film off them, and keep them moist but not waterlogged.