My last Puya Mirabilis before life went sideways. It was a labor of love, taking 3(?) years or so to bloom then it shot up in one week. Simpler times 
I had a Puya Berteroniana started, not realizing how dangerous & "too much plant" it really was. I tried to rehome it to a botanical collection but didn't hear back from them in time.
Had it for years but the spikes/talons were too much.
4
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
4 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.AMAZING! I looked up that turquoise Puya, those flowers are amazing. The color is so unique. The article I found doesn't mention their hazardous aspects but it appeared they were selling them so maybe they wanted to avoid the subject. Being related to pineapple, I can imagine they could be rough to handle. The lowly pineapple can be rather mean and these look to be way larger. Picture is from the article.
DotLewis
Level 7
Apr 17, 2018
3
Yes!
I used to try collecting the weirdest, coolest plants. Found seeds on ebay, followed the instructions carefully. They must be germinated just so (many didn't take), but at the time there weren't many articles on them, so somehow I missed the dimensions of what an immense plant they are. So when the "Bert" got about 2 ft in curcumference it became an ordeal to move around in the house. It was contending with something along the lines of a cactus and octopus with some razor sharp talons. You simply don't move one of those without getting nailed. Need kevlar or something.
OH! And I had let the mirabilis dry out, it threw seeds (I still have those somewhere but don't know if they're viable). When I got around to saying goodbye to the mirabilis, picked it up to take it to the curb and it thanked me by spewing a million RAZOR SHARP seeds into my hair and eyes. THAT was fun.
I would do the Mirabilis again. I want to know how they press, but one MUST keep pets away from them, I don't have the space for them anymore 
So amazing I had to look them up on this Canadian's wesite of stupid, amazing plants to grow- his words- and found this description totally tender useless BEAUTIFUL needy plants Hah That sound like something I want to try. Now he,had them outside. Not sure that myZone 5.5 will actually encourage their wellbeing. Snow is predicted for today. Qualia, you must be growing thme indoors? Hats off to you. I am now going to look for one of those exotic plants. That one and the vanilla orchid should give me anough chanlleges .
Spinliesel
Level 9
Apr 17, 2018
3
I have a north south house with a window that gets sun from the east in the morning.
It was happy there. I would still have them but when we got the doberman puppy I just knew being the bull in a china closet he was, he was going to get clawed/stabbed by one of them, thus the death of the berteroniana. It was just too freaking vicious a plant.
Even the mirabilis will stab you, but they are beautiful.
Doberman puppy > Puya
Say if you've never tried pressing flowers that's kind of fun(there are microwave presses too, "Microfleur" ). There are ways to press thick flowers too, you just slice them in 1/2 with an exacto.
Dangerous??
farmboy2017
Level 7
Apr 16, 2018
1
the thorns are vicious, not as bad on Mirabilis but Berteroniana just moving it in a pot had to put foil around it 
Berteroniana one of the few flowers in the world on the blue spectrum toward turquoise. Imagine a mature plant falling on someone would be pretty awful.
@btroje I know roses are brutal!
@farmboy2017 They're meaner than roses. (Berts are)
Recent Visitors 23
Cast1es
Houston,
Qualia
Post Apocalyptia,
btroje
Silver City, New Mexico,
WarwomanRising
Central Georgia,
DotLewis
Norton,
Photos 5,329 More
Posted by FernappleThe little woodland garden, is a symphony of blue, purple and white now. Hyacinth, Honesty, and Ornithogalum.
Posted by KateOahuThis morning I went to a class for making a terrarium with native plants at the Waikiki Community Center, which is about three blocks from where I live.
Posted by FrostyJimToo cold to plant outside for another month here in Wasilla Alaska.
Posted by FrostyJimToo cold to plant outside for another month here in Wasilla Alaska.
Posted by JolantaUnusual fungi.
Posted by FernappleI am trying to grow some extra salad crops this year in the new greenhouse.
Posted by JolantaBugg life.
Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells
Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells
Posted by FrostyJimSeedlings ..
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FrostyJim...don't be silly!
Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.
Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.