Billbergia pyramidalis
Billbergia pyramidalis · Bromeliaceae
📷 Wilfredor · CC0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant billbergia pyramidalis: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, grayish-green, in rosette form
- Blooming
- Summer to autumn, very decorative red and blue flowers
- Adult size
- 40 to 60 cm tall, 40 to 50 cm wide
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Not hardy, min. 10 to 13°C
- Origin
- Brazil (tropical regions)
- Soil type
- Well-draining, aerated substrate, rich in organic matter
Care
Watering
Regularly fill the central rosette with soft or demineralized water. The substrate should remain slightly moist without water stagnation. In winter, reduce watering. Empty and renew the rosette water every 1 to 2 months to prevent residue buildup.
Light exposure
Place the plant in bright, filtered light, ideally near a window away from direct scorching sun in summer. Good lighting stimulates spectacular flowering. Avoid dark areas that slow growth.
Pruning and reshaping
Remove dead or damaged leaves from the base of the rosette. After flowering, the mother rosette naturally decays, but it produces lateral shoots that you can separate and repot to obtain new plants.
Fertilizer
Apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 15 days during the growing period (April to September). Prefer a balanced formula or one slightly higher in potassium to promote flowering. Stop fertilizing in winter.
Substrate and repotting
Use an aerated mixture based on pine bark, peat (or coco) and sand. Drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Repot in spring every 2 years if needed.
Diseases and pests
Watch for mealybugs and spider mites in warm, dry environments. Excess stagnant humidity in the rosette can promote fungi. Ventilate regularly and clean the rosette to prevent these issues.
Did you know?
The genus Billbergia is named after Swedish botanist Gustave Billberg. This bromeliad is renowned for its spectacular inverted pyramid-shaped flowering, hence its name pyramidalis: the scarlet red flowers combine elegantly with the intense blue of the bracts, creating an impressive natural contrast that attracts hummingbirds in its native habitat.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.