Growing Bromeliads Outdoors Overview
Growing Bromeliad Plants Outdoors Overview by Bromeliads.info
Bromeliads can be used in the landscape in frost-free areas of the state or grown in containers that can be moved indoors in areas where freezes occur. Since bromeliads require minimal care, they are an asset in the landscape.
In south Florida, bromeliads can be grown outdoors unprotected during most winters. In this area, people enjoy bromeliads for their graceful and decorative foliage, flowers, and fruit year round.
Some bromeliads tolerate low temperatures. The graceful, spiny Bromelia penguin survives north Florida conditions, provided it is grown in a protected area. However, extreme cold temperatures will scorch and injure it. Cold damage to a few leaves will destroy the symmetry and beauty of the plant for a long time.
In areas where frost and freezing temperatures are common, covering with plastic or cloth may offer some protection. However, it is a extremely tedious job to cover the plants, and the covers are unsightly. In addition, mechanical breakage of leaves often occurs. A more practical way to prevent cold damage is to grow bromeliads in containers with a potting mix and sink the containers into the ground. When freezing temperatures are predicted, pull the containers out the ground and move them into a garage or other protected area. While indoors, the plants should receive some light during the daytime. When temperatures are above freezing and no more frosty nights are predicted, the plants can be placed back into the landscape and mulched to hide the pot edges.
May 23, 2006
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Sharon Howe posted on December 30, 2006:
Thank you for your information. It has helped me more than any other web site in understanding how to care for my bromeliads in Seattle.
Sharon Johnson posted on March 31, 2007:
I live in Mesa AZ and wonder if I can plant a Bromeliad into the ground? If so, should it be in a shaded place as it get’s very hot here in the summers?
Thank you,
Sharon Johnson
ljatmesa16@aol.com
admin posted on April 2, 2007:
@ Sharon Johnson. Do you know what kind of Bromeliad you have? That would really help me to answer your question; because the amount of temperature a Bromeliad can endure varies from one species to the next.
Take a look at my post Caring For Bromeliads - Part Two - Temperature. It describes the general temperature that Bromeliads like (it’s not species specific), but it may help.
A lot of the Bromeliads that like hotter temperatures, tend to like the temp. around 80 degrees F. So your guess was right on about finding a shady spot to plant your Bromeliad for the summer; due to the extreme temperatures Mesa gets that time of the year. On the other hand, your particular Bromeliad may not like a lot of heat! Let me know what kind of Bromeliad you want to plant outside, and I’ll try to help answer your question better.
Happy Growing!
Marylou Crane posted on June 11, 2007:
I just purchased two V. flammea:Red flowers, recommended for beginning bromeliad growers and I want to keep them outdoors on my deck in the summer. They are in pots and I live in the Chicago area. Can I do this? Marylou
admin posted on June 13, 2007:
@ Marylou. If your deck is covered you should have no problems, as long as your bromeliad isn’t in direct contact with sun! With the right amount of sun protection, these bromeliads can withstand long periods of temperatures around 100 degrees F. without any ill effects.
The level of humidity surrounding your plants is important and care should be taken to maintain the humidity needed (about 60 percent humidity); living in Chicago (during the summer) this shouldn’t be a problem for you. But if you notice that the humidity seems a little low, you can try misting your Bromeliad to add a little. You could also try surrounding your V. flammea with other plants to add some humidity.
During the summer, watering or misting should be carried out after the heat of the day has gone (late afternoon or early evening). If you choose to do so in the mornings, be sure that it’s early so that water on the leaves has dried off before the heat of the day hits them and causes leaf burn.
I hope some of this information is useful to you, if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask! I’ll be posting general growing specifications for Vriesea bromeliads in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled!
Good luck, and happy growing!
kim posted on August 6, 2007:
I would like to plant bromeliads near my pool which gets morning shade and afternoon sun. I live in Los Angeles about 12 miles inland. Could you recommend an appropriate type?
Michael Ezzai posted on October 13, 2007:
I just purchased some bromeliads and live in Central Florida where summers are very hot with high humidity.I would like to plant them outside.I was planning to plant them where they get morning shade and afternoon sunlight or should i do just the opposite?
Dottie posted on February 23, 2008:
I have just purchased a Guzman Puna Gold and need help in keeping it healthy. I live in Tallahassee, Fl so I will keep it potted out doors and bring it in @ 45 or less. It is a rather large plant with 2 beautiful flowers at present. There are 2 shoots of about 2 in in height.
Amy posted on April 11, 2008:
I like in Louisville, Ky. and I would like to buy a bromeliad and plant it in a pot and sit it on my deck near my pool. That area does not get a lot of shade, maybe very little late evening shade. What type should I buy or can I?
Connie posted on April 26, 2008:
I live in Ohio, near Cleveland. I’d like to plant my bromeliad outside, but the weather is so unpredictable. Should I just keep it as an indoor plant?
Thanks.
shireen mathur posted on May 17, 2008:
i just bought a a red flame colored Bromeliad and i have kept it indoors as i live in Columbia Maryland .i would like toknow howmany times do i need to water it and doi need to spray it everyday to give it some moisture?
Bonnie posted on June 2, 2008:
I live in Ohio and recently purchased 3 bromeliads in Florida. I thought they would be acceptable in the sun since they were from Florida. However, their leaves are turning yellow. I also believe I read that they should mostly be watered by rain. Should I put them in a partly shaded place?
Cheryl Werth posted on July 7, 2008:
I just purchased a Bromeliad and it won’t open I have it outside right now and mushrooms have been growing in the pot I have it in. It is’nt in direct ligh but it is on the patio. It is real flat and wont open what do I need to do. Thanks
Del Zimmerman posted on August 9, 2008:
We live in the Tampa area and have several bromeliad plants in the ground outside. They both bloomed initially, then put on pups which we did not remove. None of the pups have bloomed. Should we have removed the pups right away and replanted them?
Del
Diane Haumann posted on August 12, 2008:
I have a few large boulders in my yard and would like to plant some bromeliads on them. the rocks have holes and crevices in them. I have seen this effect in the Fairchild Gardens in Miami, FL. Problem is, I don’t know how to anchor them in the rocks. Could you give me some advice on how to do this? Hoping to hear from you soon.
Diane Haumann
Haps McNamara posted on September 15, 2008:
HELP HELP HELP !!!!!
ARE WE SUPPOSE TO CUT THE FLOWERS WHEN THEY DIE OR JUST LEAVE THEM (since they oly bloom once in their lifespan)????????????? Thank You
David Ellis posted on March 5, 2009:
Are they poisonious to cats
Sherry posted on March 21, 2009:
I have a aechmea faciata and live in south Texas. the pink is there but browning inside flower do you cut the flower or do they rebloom themselves. it was all pretty pink with the purple buds inside before we had a temp of 40, then warmed up it is outside in a planter. it is still the pretty pink petals.thank you Sherry
Joy posted on April 6, 2009:
I just bought some Bomeliad plants and live in Virginia.
Can I plant these plants outdoors?
Joy
Angela Henson posted on April 23, 2009:
I was given a bromeliad as a gift from my mom, the card doesnt say what species it is. She said the florist instructed her to have me water it in the center, and I did (the first day) and it was dead by the 2nd day, that is when I read the insert in my plant and it said water amoung the lower leaves only. Will my flower in the center come back? It is flourishing otherwise.
Mike Smith posted on May 22, 2009:
I live in north texas plan to plant these in a very shaded area with moist ground along a 8 ft fence line under evergreens that have been trimmed up about 4 ft
direct sunlight is minimal and shade is primary. should I leave these in a container to remove of plant directly into the soil. I do not think frost could reach them with the foilage above the soil does remain moist in the spring and dry during summer and winter purple jew has been thriving for quite sometime in this setting.
Joan Oates posted on June 16, 2009:
June 16, ‘09. My pink Bromeelaid was brought from AL this last March, it had just one stem then, but now has two and also another baby starting up. The first ’stem’ and its leaves now has its first pink flower’s stem hanging over the pot and is almost in full bloom, it’s lovely! The leave’s edges are quite pikery w/sawteeth edges. On what site can I find any pictures so as to know what kind of a Bromelaid I have?. Thank you for any information you can provide.