Caring for Bromeliads
Great information, tips and suggestions on how to care for bromeliads…
Bromeliad Care General Information
- Common Name: Bromeliad
- Scientific Name: Depends on variety
- Lighting: Bright Light
- Watering: Low to Moderate
Bromeliads consist of a large family of plants. Bromeliad house plants feature exotic looking foliage with colors varying from marbled green, red-striped, greenish gray and more. On most varieties a flower stalk rises from the center of the plant. In general, Bromeliads prefer bright light so if possible place in east or west facing windows. Watering Bromeliads is different then most house plants. Instead of watering near the base of the plant, you need to water by filling the center of the stalk (rosette) with warm water.
Most Bromeliad varieties prefer to be potted in a loose, coarse soil mix. Their roots do not like to be sitting in water, so over watering will cause the plant foliage to drop. Allow for good drainage by placing 1 – 2 inches of pebbles in the bottom of your pot and use pots where drainage holes exist. Due to this house plants exotic nature, Bromeliads prefer warm temperatures, making it a popular choice as an indoor house plant.
Most varieties of Bromeliads will produce offsets. These offsets can be cut or dug up and re-potted. The offsets usually will root quickly and continue growing into full sized Bromeliads!
Overall, I have found that Bromeliads are a medium maintenance house plant. With a little bit of tender care, Bromeliads make a beautiful addition to any room.
June 6, 2006
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Kathleen Pierce posted on August 15, 2006:
I received a bromelaid plant and the flower is leaning over to the side, is this natural or should I re-pot or stake the flower?
Thank-You
admin posted on August 15, 2006:
@ Kathleen - It is completely natural for the flower to lean or grow to one side.
Linda Grant posted on August 24, 2006:
What does one do with the bloom after it has died and dried? Cut it off? Where?
admin posted on November 6, 2006:
@Linda - You can cut off the dead bromeliad bloom or wait for it to dry enough to pull it off. Cut it where death ends and life begins.
wade smith posted on November 11, 2006:
The center stem is green …when will it turn red?
Kirsten Wallace posted on February 10, 2007:
After I cut off the dead bloom, will another one come up or is it finished blooming forever?
Doris Benton posted on March 7, 2007:
Help!!! My boss just gave me his wife’s bromeliad because it drying out, bloom is brown and leaves are turning brown! He wants me to “nurse” it back to health. I think it has about 3 pups on the side. What do I do????
admin posted on March 8, 2007:
@Doris Benton- If I’m correct, it sounds as if the plant has fully dried out (roots and all). I believe your best bet at this point would be to begin the propagation process. Bromeliads can be propagated by removal of “pups” or “offsets” from the “mother plant” (asexual) or by seed (sexual).
Here is my Bromeliads Propagation Overview, I hope it is able to provide you with the guidance you need to create new life for your Bromeliad.
Have fun growing!
Bonnie Sellers posted on December 15, 2007:
Do you cut or pull off the pups. Mine has one coming up on the side but its only about an inch tall now. Then do you put it in water or dirt to root? Also when the leaves get brown do I just remove them as close to the bottom as possible. Thanks, Bonnie
Murray Klein posted on February 24, 2008:
If flower in the centre looks to be damaged dead or drying up,what do you suggest I do with the flower part?? Can it or should it be removed without hurting the existing plant