While the plant is usually grown in a pot, it is a plant that can flourish without soil and will grow just as easily in a jar of tap water. Most bromeliads are very adaptable and resilient house plants. Many bromeliads don't need full sunlight and in fact, grow better in shady spots – that's why they're so successful under big trees. The truth is, that bromeliads can be easily adapted to regular home conditions. An informative site on the bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) family including classification, care requirements, propagation, blooming, diseases and insects, photographs, and product reviews. Bromeliad Potting Soil. Even discounting their showy flower displays, bromeliads are beautiful foliage plants with strappy leaves in red, green, purple, orange, yellow colors and with bands, stripes, spots, and other features. Bromeliads are beautiful foliage plants. Potting Up Bromeliads. Terrestrial bromeliads (those that grow on the ground) often require a growing media which can either be soil or a soilless potting mix. A month after planting, mist the leaves with Miracle-Gro® Ready-to-Use Orchid Plant Food Mist. Most bromeliads prefer at least 60 percent humidity, which is more than most homes provide, especially in the winter. Repeat these steps until you have fastened all the bromeliads you want to the driftwood. Juniper or cedar stumps make some very interesting mounts. Bromeliads come from a wide range of environments, from areas with deep shade to full sun, so chances are good that you can find one suitable for your site. Any fine bark or pumice based ‘potting’ mix is ideal to use – often sold in 40 litre bags from garden centres. Now, before we get started, please note that if your driftwood is straight from the ocean and has not been treated to take out the salts, you should soak the wood in water (changing the water regularly) so as to remove all the harsh salts from the wood. ", Houseplant; epiphyte and terrestrial species, 4 Genera of Bromeliad Plants for Growing Indoors, Growing Cryptanthus Bromeliads Inside Your Home. When they are adequately protected under trees, some of them, like Tillandsias, will thrive in zone 9. You can increase the humidity in your home by running a humidifier near where you keep your bromeliads. The age that it can normally reach if it planted in the soil is the same age that your bromeliads that growing in water can have. A south, west, or east window is often perfect. Break off pups and root them to grow more bromeliads. Tillandsia (air plants) are great for mounting on driftwood and an easy starting place. Make sure any water is drained from the bromeliad's central cup (the center of the plant that catches water) before attempting this. Helping Your Bromeliad Thrive Situate your plant where it can receive bright partial sunlight. In many climates, bromeliads can be grown outdoors during the summer. Bromeliads have small root systems, and therefore do not need large pots. The main thing to consider when choosing a bromeliad is the amount of light your spot receives. The flower bracts are often long-lasting—sometimes for months. Bromeliads, because of their adaptations to their natural growing environment, have special needs when it comes to soil or lack there of as the case may be. When grown in a pot, use a potting mix comprising of equal amounts of composted bark, perlite, and coir fiber. During the growing season, use a liquid fertilizer at 1/8 or 1/4 strength, given every two to four weeks. Currently, there are several ways to mount bromeliad plants. Bromeliad plant problems usually start with water. These scales open up to capture needed moisture and close when a sufficient amount has been absorbed. Submit your photo to be featured on the blog! In spring, sprinkle a slow-release fertiliser around the base of your bromeliads – this gives … While their roots can draw water and nutrients, they typically serve as a plant’s ‘anchor’, attaching and holding it place. what types of bromeliads are best suited to mount on driftwood. Learn how to care for your Hechtia bromeliad with this quick and easy informational guide. Broms do not always root easily. © 2019 bromeliads.info. Plant care. For a long time, bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) were considered advance houseplants, more fit for a greenhouse than a typical home. when a potted flower fades? You may now water your bromeliads, but make sure they are able to dry out before watering again. However, they are considerably more tolerant than orchids of fluctuations in temperature, drought, and careless feeding. Most of these tree dwellers do not have a cuplike formation that will hold water and must depend on tiny peltate scales or trichomes on their leaves to control their moisture requirements. In general, the plants prefer bright windowsills but not direct sunlight. Regarding soil, potted bromeliads need a very fast-draining growing medium. You can also use orchid mix, charcoal, or soilless potting mix. These plants collect all the food and moisture they need with their leaves but need a little help from you in the indoor setting. Growing media . Without soil to retain moisture, the reserved water held by the leaves helps the plant survive between rains. In a natural growth cycle, a mature plant will send up a flower spike that includes small, sometimes insignificant flowers surrounded by showy bracts. Almost all bromeliads like a very free draining, or ‘loose’ growing media. You can correct drainage by adding orchid potting mix toraise the soil’s height. Light levels that are too low for the variety will lead to leaves that are long, thin, and greener i… Avoid feeding mature plants in winter and when the plant begins to flower. Our supplier, Kent's Bromeliad Nursery provides a wealth of information and we have included much of it here. Bromeliads that are epiphytic can grow in containers, or they can be grown as "air plants" mounted to boards or logs (typically with ties or glue). However, homegrown bromeliads have finally attracted the attention they deserve and can easily adapt to average home conditions. If a bromeliad is growing on a tree in a tropical climate without access to soil, watering the “cup” or into the leaves core, is ideal as this is where the plant can use the water as it needs and maintain the level of moisture. Good bromeliad care often … Regular potting soil will hold too much water and rot the roots. will it bloom again? It takes around one to two years for the bromeliad pups to attain full growth and bloom. Because of this, bromeliads will naturally fasten to and grow on trees and other debris in the wild. Commonly grown as indoor plants, bromeliads do best in medium to bright light positions. Take your bromeliad plant and a bit of sphagnum moss to put with the roots, find a nice nook in your driftwood to tuck in the root system, and place your bromeliad here (still holding it in place). As a general rule of thumb, bromeliads will thrive in the same conditions as epiphytic orchids. You can choose to mount your bromeliads on a variety of surfaces, but one common one (and the one we’ll describe today) is driftwood. Basic Bromeliads Care Tips Select suitable potting mix for your bromeliads. However, the ones most often seen in cultivation are epiphytic plants (plants that grow on the surface of another plant) that grow naturally in the tropical or subtropical regions of the Americas. If you are growing your plant outside of soil in a log or on a rock, you can use a spray bottle and mist the plant in place of watering with a hose or watering can. Bromeliads are a type of plant called epiphytes, which means that they draw moisture from the air and don’t need to be in soil to survive. In a typical house, it's usually not necessary to keep the central cup of the plant filled with water. Plants that are yellowish might be receiving too much light, while plants that are dark green or elongated might be receiving too little light. November 02, 2016 5 min read. How to Grow Bromeliad Plants. Bromeliad Temperature Needs: Bromeliads can tolerate a wide range of temperature. Epiphytic plants grown outside of a soil need more consistent watering; drench them once a day, and give them a good soaking by submerging them in water once per week. For a long time, bromeliads were considered advanced or expert houseplants, more fit for a greenhouse than a normal home, but bromeliads are finally beginning to attract the attention they deserve. … However, the parent plant will send out one or several smaller pups at its base. Bromeliads multiply by sending up offsets, or pups. Your email address will not be published. They grow well indoors at humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent. Just remember that it is important that you have some mounting material that is not going to deteriorate and fall apart just when your bromeliad plant has rooted and is beginning to flourish. It holds water to be taken up by the roots and provides nutrients to plants. If necessary, use a humidifier, as the plant requires high humidity levels. Bromeliads are very tolerant of drought conditions. Be sure the area is well-drained - a bromeliad in a wet area will rot and die. Bromeliads thrive in harsh interior environments without sun, with very little water and little or no attention. However, their ability to grow without soil is one of their main attractions and growing them mounted is a great way to show off this quality. Repot into a slightly larger pot only if your bromeliad is still growing in size. As a general rule, soft-leaf bromeliads like more shade than the hard-leaf varieties. This is a superb plant for low maintenance. Please make sure your put nothing between your brom and driftwood. Bromeliads are also highly tolerant of temperature variations, but plants in hotter conditions need more humidity. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. And again, please make sure the point of attachment is firm enough so it will not shift because of wind or watering. Bromeliads that grow without soil are watered via misting a few times a week. No soil amendments are necessary when planting...these plants have very little in the way of roots. You may also use weak fertilizer solutions (without lime), once in a while. An epiphytic plant, the bromeliad doesn’t require a large container or a lot of space in order to thrive. Too little and the plant dries out, too much and they are prone to stem rot. Place your new bromeliad display in an attractive location that gets plenty of light. Most do well in pots and planters that provide good drainage and air flow. One way to accent any home or office is to mount bromeliads in a pleasing and unique manner. However, their ability to grow without soil is one of their main attractions and growing them mounted is a great way to show off this quality. 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