Bromeliads Plant Care and Grow Guide: All You Need To Know

With its amazing diversity of colors and textures, the spectacular bromeliad may appear difficult to cultivate, yet it can readily adapt to typical residential settings. Bromeliads are popular as gorgeous foliage plants, with leaves in red, green, purple, orange, and yellow, as well as bands, stripes, spots, and other characteristics. Bromeliads are slow-growing plants that develop into floral plants in one to three years.

Bromeliads may be grown both inside and out, but because they are tropical plants, there are a few things to keep in mind when determining where to put them. This article will lead you through those topics so you can see for yourself how amazing this plant is!

So What Are Bromeliads?

Known as bracts, bromeliad leaves have rosette-shaped leaves under which they develop cascading foliage. These bracts, which are commonly referred to as flowers, have a long flowering period and will blossom for several months.

The plant’s new growth comes from the center, and if the center is too crowded, the plant will stop producing new leaves. Instead, it will concentrate on raising “pups.”

Bromeliads come in a wide range of hues and there are hundreds of distinct types. That’s why they’re so popular — they’re vibrant, vivid, and long-blooming!

Because they are native to tropical America, they may be cultivated indoors in various regions of the world.

Bromeliads Indoors: How to Care for Them

Bromeliads thrive in humid conditions. It’s critical to maintain a humidity level of roughly 60% in your house while growing them inside. Otherwise, you’ll need to sprinkle your bromeliad with a spray bottle on a frequent basis to keep the leaves from drying out.

Here’s a quick approach to boosting the humidity in your plant’s environment:

• Small pebbles or stones should be placed on a shallow saucer or tray.
• Fill the saucer or tray with just enough water to moisten the stones, but not so much that it spills or overflows.
• Then, on top of the saucer, place the bromeliad pot.
• Make sure the plant’s roots aren’t directly submerged in the water since this can cause root rot.

Placing your bromeliad over a water-filled tray aids in humidity control since the water in the tray actually adds moisture to the air! Any indoor plant that thrives in a humid atmosphere might benefit from this approach.

The location plays a crucial role in whether or not your bromeliad will thrive. Never put your plant in direct sunlight for more than a few hours at a time. It’s best to sit a few feet away from a window. Even when screened by a window or glass door, direct sunlight can injure the plant and burn the leaves.

As with many other indoor plants, indirect sunlight is ideal. Aim for 6 hours of filtered sunshine every day for your bromeliad.

Also, the pot in which you store your bromeliad is crucial. Plastic pots retain moisture, but clay/terra-cotta pots drain it away. You may put your drainage-holed plastic pot in a more ornamental pot so it’s easy to remove and water while still looking nice in your house!

If your house isn’t humid enough, use a plastic pot. To avoid rot in a humid environment, choose a terra cotta pot. Always make sure your pots have drainage holes.

Bromeliad Watering: When and How

It’s simple to water bromeliads. This indoor plant can withstand a lot of water! It’s why it’s extremely durable and low-maintenance. Bromeliads should be watered in the same manner that other drought-tolerant plants, such as succulents, are: only when the top two inches of soil feel dry.

Using water, flush the dirt until it drains from the drainage holes. This drenches the soil while also flushing off any salt accumulation.

The amount of water you give your bromeliads may vary depending on the season. The more sunshine that enters your home, the hotter and brighter it becomes, and the more frequently you’ll need to water. Watering is more common in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter.

How to Take Care of Bromeliads Outside

Bromeliads thrive in humid and warm regions, but you’ll need to keep an eye on your plant if you’re growing it in your backyard.

When it comes to outdoor bromeliad maintenance, the most essential thing to remember is to keep it out of direct sunlight, especially in the summer. This tropical plant is severely harmed by high temperatures, low humidity, and direct sunlight.

To thrive outside requires a lot of shade and indirect sunshine. If you live in a dry area, you’ll need to spritz it with a spray bottle on a regular basis.

After Flowering, What Should You Do?

A bromeliad, however, only “blooms” once in its life. The plant’s brightly colored leaves linger for months, but it will ultimately die. You’ll need to clip it off with a clean, sharp pruner or scissor as the leaves start to die.

By slicing the top off at the base, the remaining green plant will be able to focus its energy on creating pups, or offshoots. This section of the plant will eventually perish as well.

Locations: Where to grow Bromeliads in the home

Bathrooms are ideal environments for a variety of bromeliad species. The humidity in bathrooms is naturally greater than in the rest of the house or office building. Bathrooms, on the other hand, have a number of challenges, including a lack of natural light.

If your bathroom doesn’t have any windows, make sure the plant is exposed to constant fluorescent light or place a grow lamp near the plant that will stay on even when the other lights are turned off. In low light, several Cryptanthus, a terrestrial bromeliad commonly found on forest floors, will survive. Several species from the genera Aechmea and Vriesea can also survive in low light.

Kitchens have a greater humidity level than other areas of the house. Kitchens have an advantage over bathrooms in that they have more natural light. A few feet away from a window, most bromeliads will flourish on a table or countertop. Place your bromeliad away from a south-facing window. The leaves can burn if they are exposed to too much direct sunlight.

There are several bromeliads that thrive in dry environments. Dyckia and Hechtia species are suited to sunny, dry weather like those found in Texas and Mexico’s deserts. You won’t have to worry about humidity with these bromeliads.

They will thrive, though, if they are exposed to plenty of direct sunshine. These bromeliads can be securely placed in a south-facing window. Most bromeliad species have very sharp spines that border the leaf edges, so exercise caution while handling them. Place them out of reach of curious dogs or little children.

If your plant is in a sunny place with plenty of indirect light but low humidity, consider increasing the humidity surrounding it. Directly beneath the plant, place a waterproof tray filled with tiny stones or river rocks. Add a few inches of water to the tray.

Place the plant container on top of the tray, but keep it out of the water. If it lies in the water, it will absorb the moisture and cause root rot. The water in the tray will slowly evaporate, raising the humidity surrounding the plant somewhat. Keep in mind that the tray will need to be refilled with water on a regular basis.

Many bromeliads are epiphytes, meaning they may be mounted, hung, or planted in a container. Tillandsias are well-known as air plants, and they make lovely mounts. They may also be grown on suction cups that are hanging from a window.

They look lovely in little glass orbs that may be hung from window frames as well. Most species in this genus like indirect light, so avoid placing them in a bright window if you don’t want them to dry up rapidly. Because they take in water through scales on their leaves rather than roots, these plants need to be misted often.

Growing Bromeliad Outdoors

Bromeliads may be cultivated both indoors and outdoors. In tropical regions, they will grow all year, but in more harsh areas, they may be brought outdoors in pots during the summer.

Containerized bromeliads thrive on shady patios or beneath trees with large canopies that let dappled light in. If your bromeliad will be exposed to the sun throughout the day, place it in the morning or evening when the light is less harsh. The leaves will be scorched by the scorching midday sun.

Keep in mind that containers will dry up faster outside. Soak the pot fully and allow it to drain properly after the potting media is dry a few inches down.

Bring your container to a protected place as soon as frost threatens. Until the winter weather arrives, a garage should be warm enough. After that, you’ll have to bring the container inside. Dyckia, Puya, and certain Vriesea species can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They may have some damage to their leaves, but as the weather warms up, they should be OK.

Learn More About Growing and Caring For Bromeliad Plants

Questions That Are Frequently Asked About Bromeliad Plants

Is it preferable to grow bromeliads indoors or outdoors?

They demand humidity, therefore they do better in the natural Florida climate than they would in a controlled setting. They will thrive indoors if you provide them with their optimal setting. If bromeliads are exposed to direct sunlight for an extended length of time, they may burn.

Is it better to grow bromeliads in the sun or in the shade?

Bromeliads are excellent low-maintenance indoor plants since they require little sunlight and only need to be watered once a week when maintained indoors. Because bromeliads need humidity, keep them away from air conditioning and chilly draughts and spritz them every couple of days with a spray bottle.

Is it time to repot my bromeliad?

The optimal time to repot is in the spring after the growing season has begun but before the bromeliad has bloomed. This is when it will have the most vigor and will be able to better endure the stress of being transported from one pot to another without interrupting the blooming process or causing additional harm.