Bromeliad hybridizing by Allan Ladd
Bromeliads to me are a hobby, as well as a pleasant way to fill in time till I die.
Living in Booyong northern NSW (near Byron Bay), is ideal, as the climate suites both cool and warm growing plants not just bromeliads.
When working in & around the home and garden, some plants come to mind that I would consider in the category of low maintenance gardening, bromeliads (broms) would generally fit easily, though some are better value than others? to find out which ones would be best in your area? give Allan a email or phone call. Click here
I have been growing bromeliads (broms), on and off for over 25years.
Starting with running a retail plant nursery in Newcastle (called; "Cherry Road Nursery") in my early 20's.
My nursery sold bromeliads plants and seedlings as a specialty, along with the standard retail plant, ceramics, potting mix, seedlings, etc.,
My particular passion is breeding Broms from seed with the particular purpose of creating plants which are both attractive, and durable (preferably with out spines).
Have had breaks, away from growing Broms in the past, though am now back producing both seed and seedling bromeliads with the idea of producing bromeliads which will tolerate a wide climatic range, as well as being small to medium size plants (i.e. with in 15cm (6inch) to 45cm (18inch diameter), and up to 43cm (15 inch) tall.
I breed both species & hybrids broms from seed, as I feel many species plants are equally attractive to most of the hybrid plants I produce.
Flower season for most of my stock plants is all the year round, in this climate.
Bromeliad seed is produced all year round and all of this seed is a result of specific hand pollination (with occasional exceptions).
I also breed Hippeastrum species like Hippeastrum papillio as well as white hybrid hippeastrums. enquiries about these plants are also welcome.
I enjoy using interesting stock plants for seed production.
To see images of seed parent plants (Breeding stock) listed in my catalogue;
Click here
(Hippeastrum parent plants are located on 'Index page 4' in this gallery of images.)
The first image shows two clones of Vriesea ospinae var. gruberi, while the second image shows a flowering plant of Guzmania musaica, which hopefully will produce seed for late summer 2009.
These are more novelty species bromeliads.
While the bulk of my seed and seedling production, is from some of the more robust and colourful members of the following bromeliad genus;
Aechmea, billbergia, canistropsis, guzmania, Pitcairnia, neoregelia, nidularium, Tillandsia and Vriesea.
The amount of work which goes into producing most of my seed is often very time consuming as well as involves skill in knowing what pollen is to be kept in the freezer, to set seed on a plant possibly flowering up to 4 months after the first plant has finished flowering. Knowing what the seedlings will look and grow like from each cross? is important, such that the seedlings are guaranteed to produce worth while future bromeliads.
There may be broms growing in your garden at present, which you are not sure what they are?
You may like to look at or check up a particular bromeliad image?
Then click on the following web link Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, Bromeliad Photo Index ( to get best value from this site? I would advise you find out the species name first).
These images, show seedlings growing in mass (images taken during summer), The size of the seedlings in the foreground (second image) are similar in size to what I usually sell as $3.00ea seedlings.
The growth rate of seedlings varies depending on type of plant, i.e. miniature plants grow slower than large forms & time of year i.e. winter growth is very slow while summer is fast. There for availability will vary at different times of the year.
Some of the slow growing Billbergia's like B. Domingos Martins, produce only small quantities of seed with each flowering, while Vriesea and Guzmania usually will produce considerable quantities of seed in each seed pod.
Keep in mind, the bulk of seed produced is for my own growing. Though in many cases I produce more than required by me & hence I have seed available.
If you are a wholesale grower and require large amounts of seed? Occasionally I have bulk seed set on choice crosses and am able to offer a bulk Price for those seed crosses. Enquiries are welcome.
For those wishing to grow their own plants from seed?? Click on the following link to download a PDF file, suggested Bromeliad seed raising cultural notes (file size is 130kb);
(Catalogue updated 6th February 2010) to download my new Catalogue.pdf file (file size = 24 kB); Click here
(Next catalogue update will be 20th March 2010. Will include many new seedlings also seed.)
Note; I try to ensure seed is viable & store seed under dry, refridgeration.
If you purchase seed and do not get reasonable germination? ("reasonable" meaning; that you atleast get the mumber of seed stated in catalogue to germinate).
Email me and receive a credit or refund for any seed that does not perform.
Where I live is in a small valley approximately 30klm from the coast, unfortunately this area is prone to frost in winter for several weeks a year. Most of my plants will tolerate this cold thought prolonged cold down south may create more stress than the plants are able to tolerate?
If at any time you see something on my stock list that you would like then it pays to ring first just in case it is not suitable for your conditions or is no longer available.
Online Help; I am happy to answer questions for any one wishing to grow bromeliads (regardless of weather interested in any of my plants), if uncertain about a plant you have or intend buying from another person? though do not know the growing conditions required etc., then it may be worth your while to ask me for help????
Article on Microclimate (Word 2003.doc size 31Kb), which may help you understand what is happening with your plants? to down load a copy; Click here
To email Allan, click on the following email link; ant_52@westnet.com.au
For those people who do not have an email program on their computer (hence get an error message when you click on the above email link)? Or use Hotmail, Yahoo, or other web based mail programs?
Copy the above email address and past it into your web based mail program e.g. hotmail, compose an email then send.
My contact details (Postal address);
Allan Ladd
588 Booyong Road
Booyong 2480 N.S.W.
Australia
Phone with in Australia; (02) 66 291 559
Location map?
Click on the following google map link, copy and past this address; "Waterloo St Booyong NSW 2480" into the address line. The actual map will show you where my drive way starts, in the center of Booyong.
Google Map search location
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To return to Gold Coast Bromeliad & Succulent society Suppliers page; Click here
To return to Sunshine Coast Bromeliad society Suppliers page; Click here
Growing plants is a hobby that I have been doing since the age of 10years old. Now I am taking a new direction, which involves letting go of this plant addiction & replacing it with challenging the "legal social taboos" particularly for men as I am one, if you have a sense of adventure or would just out of curiosity like to see what I mean? then click on this link to my new web page; Click here