San Diego Bromeliad Society
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  • Meetings/Events
    • July 2025
    • Past: June Sale - Balboa Park
    • Past: February 2025
    • Past: January 2025
    • Past: November 2024
    • Past: October 2024
    • Past: September 2024
    • Past: July 2024
    • Past: May in the Garden
    • Past: April 2024
    • Past: February 2024
    • Past: January 2024
    • Past: December 2023
    • Past: Nov. 2023
    • Past: Oct. 2023
    • Past: Sept. 2023
    • Past: July 2023
    • Past: May Tour
    • Past: June 10-11 Show & Sale
    • Past: April 2023
    • Past: March 2023
    • Past: February 2023
    • Past: January 2023
    • Past: Oct. 2022
    • Past: Sept. 2022
    • June Show & Sale Balboa Park
    • Past: May 2022
    • World Brom Conference 2022
    • Past: April 2022
    • Past: March 2022
    • Past: Feb 2022
    • Past: Dec. 2021 Plant Sale
    • Past: Dec 2021
    • Past: Nov 2021
    • Past: Expo at SD Botanic Garden
    • Past: August 2021
    • Past: July 2021
    • Past June 2021
    • Past: May 2021
    • Past: April '21
    • past: March '21
    • past: February '21
    • past: January '21
    • Past: December
    • Past: October
    • Past: September
    • Past: November
    • August Coffee in the Brom Garden
  • Past Newsletters
  • Videos
  • About Us/Past Events
    • 2019 Exhibition & Sale
    • WBC San Diego 2018
    • A Look Back: '17 Show & Sale
  • Bromeliad Genera
    • Aechmeas - the tank broms
    • Alcantarea - Brazilian giants
    • Behold Billbergia
    • Tillandsias aka "air plants"
    • Spotlight on Neoregelia
    • Spotlight on Vriesea
  • Links
    • SDBS Facebook page
    • ZOONOOZ Beautiful Bromeliads [great article]
    • Bromeliad Society International
    • Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies
    • Queenlsand
    • East London
  • Growing Tips
    • Growing in San Diego
    • Water & Fertilzer
    • Potting & Soil
    • How Much Light?
    • Blog
  • past: January '21

Welcome to the
​San Diego
Bromeliad Society !


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​We "imported" 10 Hawaiian treats – 5 Vrieseas and 5 Neoregelias. 
​Check out these photos and the key to each set of five.
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​Vriesea hybrid plants, from the subfamily Tillandsioideae
Shiigi Hawaiian Vriesea hybrids
A-(Memoria Howard Yamamoto x Hamakua) x (Leina’ala x John Hirota) (10”-14” tall, 15”-18” across)
B-Dark Ninja F2 (9”-12” tall, 14”-16” across)
C-Kelci Shiigi F2 (11”-14” tall, 15”-18” across)
D-Hawaiian Ruby x Kilauea F2 (11”-14” tall, 14”-17” across)
E-Princess Annique hybrid (13”-16” tall, 14”-17” across)
​Neoregelia genus plants, from ​subfamily Tillandsioideae
​
Hawaiian-grown Neoregelia
A-Kohala Mauka
B-Orange Crush x Wisteria
C-Dreamsicle 
D-Purple Star
E-Pemiento
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November garden-party meeting was fun.

We were invited by Sandy, a member in Point Loma, to her garden. It was a unique chance to hang out together in a garden setting.
THANK YOU, Sandy!



October 14th meeting was well attended.

Juliana Raposa was in Brazil this past July and gave a fun presentation on an amazing hiking trip.​ 
Bromeliads in the Mata Atlantica
Click to see October Meeting page.
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Come along on a 3-day hike through the bromeliad-rich mountains of Rio de Janeiro. The Mata Atlantica, or Atlantic Forest, is the ancestral home of hundreds of species of bromeliads. Under the expert guidance of Rodrigo Freitas, we got up and close to them in Tres Picos State Park, all the while enjoying a breathtaking sunrise in the granite domes of Serra do Mar and hiking up to a 1,000 year old tree. 
Plant trial: Pitcairnia nigra
A few members have participated in a growing trial for Pitcairnia nigra.  A year ago, Dan Kinnard brought in a few seedlings for SDBS members who have different growing conditions. At the meeting on October 14, 2023, we will bring our plants and share experiences. 
Here's a taste of the October plant table line-up...
Hohenbergia castellanosii
Just a sampling of the super fantastic and large Neoregelias for October
Tillandsias, Aechmea, min-Neo
Neoregelia 'Goldilocks'


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Tillandsia capitata 'Old Gold'
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October 2023

September
Our September meeting was good fun, with
“Bromeliads of Ecuador”
the presentation by Cristy Brenner as a highlight.

For Cristy's bio, see the meetings page.
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Also back in September...
Our own David Kennedy provided the plant opportunity table AND a few auction plants to tempt us!
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one of the September prizes: Tillandsia xerographica
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Tropical Storm Hilary dumped over 2 inches of rainfall in 48 hours. Plants responded!

Annual Summer Picnic August 12

It was another spectacular event -- great weather, wonderful folks, and tantalizing plants. Thanks to the Bird Rock crew for hosting us, and to Nathalie for organizing the plant vouchers & potluck. Everyone did such a good job on the food, too! More photos to come...
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June Plant Show + Sale
Wow, that was fun.

2013 Show & Sale was a huge success - with new members and robust sales.


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Your humble webmaster thinks that Al Evans, our enthusiastic assistant to the treasurer, says it best:
​
Thanks to all who participated but especially Morlane O'donnell for her tireless efforts in producing such a successful event, Juliana for the very well received awesome display, all the vendors who provided plants for the sale, the many tag pullers who made the cashier's job so much easier, the cashiers including Kerry Nelson, Sonya Wicker and myself and especially our new treasurer, Ronee who went above and beyond to be there for our busiest time on Saturday morning.

2023 Show & Sale Page
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May 13th:

Our May meeting was a field trip to Rain Forest Flora 
and Hula Tropicals in Bonsall. 

Click HERE for PAST EVENT May Tour details.

April meeting Highlights
Guillermo Rivera was our featured speaker on April 8th.

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We saw amazing Tillandsias in flower, high elevation Puya, spectacular Vrieseas and the most incredible bromeliad Puya raimondii growing at 4400 meters, with its inflorescence of over 20 feet!

See the video here...
SDBS VIDEOS PAGE
April 2023 Raffle/Auction Plant List
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March Meeting
It was a well-attended meeting in
​Balboa Park
​(between rain showers)!

We enjoyed presentations from 3 speakers on 3 bromeliad genera.
…
three short talks on Dyckias, Vrieseas and Hohenbergias. They are not the most commonly grown bromeliads but you will occasionally see them on the plant table or on the auction block.

Robert Kopfstein entertained us with his knowledge and tales of encounters with Dyckias

Scott Sandel, our erstwhile champion of Neoregelia, showed and discussed his successes with the Vriesea clan.

Andrew Wilson, aided and abetted by Dan Kinnard and Eloise Lau, introduced us to the Hohenbergia crowd and to the styles of living they expect whether sunning on the beach, hiding out in the forest or getting by in the hard places.


February 11th meeting 
It was fun getting together.

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January 2023 

Our speaker for January, Pam Koide-Hyatt, gave a fun and educational talk on the Tillandsia tectorum complex. 
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The raffle was a good mix of various genera, including Tillandsias.  For the auction, we had a wonderful donation of two very large and impressive Tillandsia latifolia.

Highlights from 2022...

This years holiday party was well-attended, and the food was marvelous.
Photos courtesy of Maria Thompson

And now ... a summer brom video!


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Our annual June Show & Sale in
Balboa Park, was a huge success!

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Check out these photos below of our Del Mar Fair exhibit this year!

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Back in May:

At our meeting in May, we had fabulous turn-out! We had a lively presentation, and the food was great. (Thanks for the anniversary pineapple cake, Kerry!!!) Some nice Neoregelias were placed in a silent auction (new) format. Top-shelf Vrieseas were won in the well-participated live auction! Congratulations, winners of raffle plants. Next year, bring them in to Show & Tell!

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​Morlane, who showed us spotted and pink-toned plants from her collection. Scott showed some Neoregelias.

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Want to
follow-up
on your

membership?
​Email membership at:
[email protected]

See our events tab for the June World Bromeliad Conference.
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Our January meeting in Balboa Park was fun.
We enjoyed a demonstration by member Robert Kopfstein on terrestrial bromeliads. Robert shared tips on potting, cultivation, and propagation.

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December Plant Sale was a Success!

The holiday season plant sale in Balboa Park was a success by all counts.
It was great seeing folks. Our treasurer, Al Evans, reported financial success. We are a well-oiled machine, with members coming together to set-up the space, work the sales stations, and break-down at the end. Thanks to everyone who participated, especially to our treasurer, Al -- and to Morlane, who organized it.
Some of the plants that were on offer!
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Fantastic, colorful foliage Vriesea bromeliads at October 2021 meeting


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Puya tunarensis
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We have a sizeable library of bromeliad-focused videos for viewing on our Videos page. Check them out.

Click here to jump to our Videos page.

Check out some of the Show & Tell plants from May, 2020.
[ Click to enlarge and view captions. ]

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Tillandsia reuteri, northern Peru

January Bromeliads from the
​San Diego Facebook Group
... just before Covid-19 hook the world!


December 2019 Show & Tell Meeting

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from Eloise Lau
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from Andrew Wilson
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August 2019 Member Show & Tell Plants
Thanks everyone for sharing!
​[
Click on images for slideshow.]


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Tillandscia 'El Rancho', T. capitata x xerographica, is now T. riohondoensis
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Tillandsia capitata 'Marron'

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Vriesea 'Huana Fireburst'
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Vriesea Tasman #2

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Remember ... our ​June 2019 Exhibition & Sale in Balboa Park?

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It was a team effort, headed by Morlane (sales) and Juliana (exhibit). So many pitched in to volunteer, and it was inspiring — from sales to security! And so many folks brought in plants...

Check out the photos below, and check out the page here.

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 Bromeliads 
pronounced broh-MEE-le-ads

. . . flowering plants belonging to the plant family Bromeliaceae.
There are more than 3,000 species and hundreds of hybrids.
Join the SDBS: click here & download the membership form.

In a Nutshell: 

Bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae (bro-meh-lee-AH-say-eye). The family contains over 3000 described species in approximately 56 genera. The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple. The family contains a wide range of plants including some very un-pineapple like members such as Spanish Moss (which is neither Spanish nor a moss). Other members resemble aloes or yuccas while still others look like green, leafy grasses.
In general they are inexpensive, easy to grow, require very little care, and reward the grower with brilliant, long lasting blooms and ornamental foliage. They come in a wide range of sizes from tiny miniatures to giants. They can be grown indoors in cooler climates and can also be used outdoors where temperatures stay above freezing.
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Photos from Nico Nelson, Rod Waddington, Carine06, mezuni
  • Home
  • Join us! Membership
  • Meetings/Events
    • July 2025
    • Past: June Sale - Balboa Park
    • Past: February 2025
    • Past: January 2025
    • Past: November 2024
    • Past: October 2024
    • Past: September 2024
    • Past: July 2024
    • Past: May in the Garden
    • Past: April 2024
    • Past: February 2024
    • Past: January 2024
    • Past: December 2023
    • Past: Nov. 2023
    • Past: Oct. 2023
    • Past: Sept. 2023
    • Past: July 2023
    • Past: May Tour
    • Past: June 10-11 Show & Sale
    • Past: April 2023
    • Past: March 2023
    • Past: February 2023
    • Past: January 2023
    • Past: Oct. 2022
    • Past: Sept. 2022
    • June Show & Sale Balboa Park
    • Past: May 2022
    • World Brom Conference 2022
    • Past: April 2022
    • Past: March 2022
    • Past: Feb 2022
    • Past: Dec. 2021 Plant Sale
    • Past: Dec 2021
    • Past: Nov 2021
    • Past: Expo at SD Botanic Garden
    • Past: August 2021
    • Past: July 2021
    • Past June 2021
    • Past: May 2021
    • Past: April '21
    • past: March '21
    • past: February '21
    • past: January '21
    • Past: December
    • Past: October
    • Past: September
    • Past: November
    • August Coffee in the Brom Garden
  • Past Newsletters
  • Videos
  • About Us/Past Events
    • 2019 Exhibition & Sale
    • WBC San Diego 2018
    • A Look Back: '17 Show & Sale
  • Bromeliad Genera
    • Aechmeas - the tank broms
    • Alcantarea - Brazilian giants
    • Behold Billbergia
    • Tillandsias aka "air plants"
    • Spotlight on Neoregelia
    • Spotlight on Vriesea
  • Links
    • SDBS Facebook page
    • ZOONOOZ Beautiful Bromeliads [great article]
    • Bromeliad Society International
    • Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies
    • Queenlsand
    • East London
  • Growing Tips
    • Growing in San Diego
    • Water & Fertilzer
    • Potting & Soil
    • How Much Light?
    • Blog
  • past: January '21