AU: Dave Weston wins bromeliad competition at Cairns Show
The Kewarra Beach man has landed his second champion bromeliad sash in as many years – but the honour hasn’t come without effort.
Irrigation systems and “a few hours’ hard work” every weekend keep his 500sq m of 1000-odd bromeliads healthy, and they’ve come a long way from the “run of the mill plants that wouldn’t get a second glance” that he first started growing.
“The wow factor with this one is definitely its size, and the fact it’s not the easiest bromeliad to cultivate. It’s a little bit fussy and it’s difficult to keep the foliage in good condition – you’ve got to be vigilant about grasshoppers,” Mr Weston said.
He has advice for those hoping to achieve a number of show placings like he has on his 25 bromeliad entries.
“Don’t be too liberal with the fertiliser, or you’ll just end up with lots of really big green plants,” he said.
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