BROMELIADS: THE COLORFUL HOUSE PLANTS
by Jack Kramer, 1965
D. Van Nostrand, Princeton, New Jersey
No ISBN listed in the bookI have seen two editions of this small book; one is a hardback and has a few pages of color photos as well as a number of excellent line drawings, while the other edition is a paperback with no photos but still having the drawings.
This is not at all a bad book for a beginner, but it does have faults. Some bad advice is given; for instance, Kramer recommends using Plaster of Paris to anchor bromeliad trees, but that substance will quickly deteriorate - concrete is what is needed. Kramer talks about all the species a grower is likely to encounter, but the summaries are very brief and from time to time also have errors of fact. He says Aechmea fasciata is "sure to bloom", but the experience of many amateurs is that it's one of the harder Aechmeas to get to bloom! Nevertheless, the good information far outweighs the bad and I would not hesitate to recommend it as a purchase.
The tables at the back list good species for various situations such as which ones grow well in sun and which in shade, as well as listing different inflorescence shape. Another table lists many species and gives their size, flower color, leaf appearance, growth pattern, and recommended light exposure and that can be quite handy. Hybrids are not discussed in the text or listed in the tables. There is a list of dealers at the back of the book, but of course it is totally useless after 40 years!The book is out of print.
Review by Kenneth Quinn