Bromeliad belongs to the Bromeliaceae family. The pineapple is one of the best known specimens of this family, which includes plants of different sizes, shapes and colors. For the most part these are houseplants or plants that can live outdoors in fairly warm climates, as long as you know how to treat them. Once in the correct condition, it doesn't require a lot of attention, but you will still need to check it regularly for changes in color or condition that may indicate problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Caring for an Buried Bromeliad
Step 1. Try to identify bromeliad
There are thousands of species of bromeliads and the different varieties grow best in different levels of sunlight, temperature and humidity. If you buy the plant in a greenhouse, employees should be able to tell you the exact gender and in what environment you can grow it. You could also consult a gardener, botanist, or specialist book, especially if you know the region where the plant originates.
- Visit an online photo gallery of bromeliads to see if you can narrow your search to a specific genre. By doing a specific research you should be able to get the information necessary for its cultivation.
- If you find the exact name of the species, search online for more specific information on temperature, soil, etc.
- If, on the other hand, you can find the genus but not the specific name of the species, as is often the case, follow the general guidelines in this chart. If multiple boxes are checked in a single category, follow the directions of any one species, which should work for most bromeliads.
- If you can't identify bromeliad, follow the tips below… these are the most common methods. Monitor your plant carefully and follow the Troubleshooting Guide if you notice something is wrong.
Step 2. Learn what kind of material to use
Most bromeliads suffer from common earth or loam, which collects too much water and causes roots to rot. It is best to use specific blends designed for this type of plant or create your own. Identify your bromeliad needs using these simple methods:
- If it is labeled "aerial bromeliad", "epiphytic" or "non-terrestrial", it will grow on other plants rather than in the soil. They are sold attached to a piece of wood, alone or in a vase containing only dry bark or rocks. Go directly to the specific section for aerial bromeliads.
- If your plant is a "land" variety or is very similar to a pineapple, succulent or succulent, it requires a mix that can hold a little more moisture than other bromeliad varieties. The soil should drain quickly: you will need to use a specific variety for this plant or mix two parts of common earth with one part of perlite or sand.
- If the leaves of your plant form a central cup or cylinder to hold water, or if the plant has no particular identifying characteristics, use a prepackaged mixture. Purchase a bromeliad specific or mix equal parts pine bark (or mulch), perlite, and a professional soil-free blend. The end result should moisten quickly, but be able to drain well.
Step 3. Find out about year-round humidity and temperature if you want to plant your bromeliad outdoors
If you live in an area with 50 - 75% humidity that is free of frost, you should be able to keep it outside all year round. Most bromeliads come from the tropics and do best in daytime temperatures between 24 and 32 ° C. A few colder nights shouldn't harm the plants.
- If you can't find your area's humidity in the weather data, follow these instructions to calculate it yourself.
- If your outdoor space meets the required conditions for most of the year, but not in the winter, plant bromeliad in an underground container. Before the frost hits, dig up the container to easily move it indoors. If you don't know the exact species and maximum size, use a larger container than you think will fit to be safe.
- If your plant was sold with a manual or with an identification label, you will be able to read which temperatures are suitable for that particular species.
Step 4. If you keep the plant indoors, use a plastic pot unless the area is unusually moist
It will retain moisture for longer, which is important in heated or dry rooms. If, on the other hand, the house is usually quite humid, use a ceramic vase.
Remember to put a saucer with a high edge, or something similar, under the vase that can catch excess water when it is drained
Step 5. Place it in an area affected by indirect sunlight
Almost all varieties of bromeliads are tropical and thrive in warm, shady areas. Even if you don't know the name of your species, the plant may contain clues to provide you with more detailed information:
- If the plant has thick, gray-green leaves, it grows best in a bright location with indirect sunlight. Place it in a place where it can receive light without being directly exposed to the sun's rays, such as near an east-facing window or outside under the slightest shade.
- The thin green leaves need to be kept under low indirect sunlight. This could be a dimly lit area, such as under a tree that provides plenty of shade for plants, or indoors, near a north-facing window (or south-facing if it's the southern hemisphere).
- Total direct sunlight should only be used with a minority of desert-typical species. Most of these are aerial and non-terrestrial bromeliads. If you're not sure you can identify the plant, stick to indirect sunlight.
Step 6. Moisten around the base of the plants, on the soil or in the potting mix
Do not over-wet; these plants handle dry, rather than soggy, roots better. Only water once when it is dry about 5 cm from the surface.
- NEVER use a metal watering can to wet the bromeliad. Many varieties cannot handle the traces of metal absorbed by the water.
- If the plant is indoors, it may be a good idea to clear the salt build-up from the soil by watering the plant until water comes out of the drainage holes. ONLY do this if the soil drains quickly and does not stay soaked for long.
Step 7. Fill the plant tank with distilled water, if it has one
Many bromeliads have a cup or cylinder in the center of their leaves to capture rainwater. If such a tank is present, keep it filled with rain or distilled water rather than using tap water, especially if the water is hard.
- Change the water and keep the tank clean to avoid the risk of the plant rotting.
- If your pipes, dishes or sink regularly become encrusted with a mineral deposit, usually white, it means that the tap water is too hard and should not be used for this purpose.
- Never put water on the surface of the plant during periods of direct sun or excessive heat, especially in the late morning and early afternoon. Hot water could burn the plant.
Step 8. Apply fertilizer only when needed and do it carefully
Bromeliads are slow growing plants and do not need the same amount of fertilizer as many other flowers. Too much fertilizer can make the leaves particularly long and thin, without improving their growth or, even, it can take away color from the plant. You need to be careful and carefully follow these steps for optimal fertilization:
- The fertilizer should not be used with indoor plants or during the winter months.
- Fertilizer works best with grass-like bromeliads or adult bromeliads that you are stimulating to bloom.
- Never pour fertilizer directly onto the plant or into the central water container between the leaves. You could burn it.
- The central water tank should be emptied and refilled every two months to reduce rot, even if nutrients are lost by doing so. Add a small amount of slow-absorbing fertilizer all around the base of the plant after emptying the container.
Step 9. Cut off the young seedlings of your bromeliad after flowering
These flowers typically bloom only once in their life and then die, but their lifespan can be up to several years. Before they die, they should still produce shoots for the new plants, called "pups," which are usually found inside or under the base of the lower leaves. After six months or when the mother plant begins to die, cut the seedlings near the base with a sharp, disinfected knife and plant them individually in their own pot.
Disinfect the knife by carefully rubbing the blade with denatured alcohol. You can also use it to remove unsightly dead flowers or brighter colored flower stands. Be careful not to cut too close to the mother plant
Part 2 of 3: Caring for an Aerial Bromeliad
Step 1. Understand how aerial bromeliads behave
If your plant is of this type, you probably bought it attached to a log or other object, placed in a pot containing bark and rocks instead of soil or impregnation mixture, or simply on its own.
These plants draw moisture and nutrients from the surrounding air. They are particularly hardy compared to other bromeliads, but you should keep an eye on them to avoid problems from the start
Step 2. Plant it in dry bark or lean it against any hard object
Most aerial bromeliads cannot extract moisture or nutrients from the roots and need to be placed in dry bark in order to fix in its crevices and hold upright. The smaller varieties can also be attached to logs, pebbles or other objects.
- If you suspect the item has been exposed to salt water, soak it in distilled or rain water for two weeks with frequent changing of the water, before placing it under your plant.
- Some species sold as aerial may have a more extensive root system, either because they are larger and require more support, or because they extract moisture from the air and water. Plant them in a mix of one part perlite and two parts bromeliad impregnation mix and occasionally moisten around the base of the plant if the leaves appear dry.
Step 3. Place it in indirect light or in full sun
Aerial bromeliads usually come from desert environments and may require more direct sunlight than other varieties, but this isn't true for every species. Keep the plant facing an east or north facing window for indirect sunlight or move it from a west or south facing window for full sun and keep an eye out for dry leaves.
- Most aerial bromeliads are small in size and therefore are easy-care houseplants, but they can be kept outside. They tend to be more difficult to care for than other varieties, but they will grow better in the heat and should be brought indoors before frost appears.
- If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, the south-facing window will get indirect sunlight and the north-facing window will receive direct sunlight. If there are hills or a mountain slope nearby, it may be necessary to move the plant to another window.
- Check out the Troubleshooting to learn how to recognize the signs of a plant that is too exposed or too little exposed.
Step 4. Spray water on the plant every other day
The aerial species requires extra moisture from the air. Use a spray bottle to mist the water on the plant. You may need to do this daily or every other day if you keep it in a particularly dry environment or during a dry season.
Do not wet the base of the plant except in a few situations described later in the article. Standing water could cause the roots to rot
Step 5. Add diluted liquid fertilizer (optional) sparingly
Bromeliads grow slowly and typically do not require fertilizer. If you want to encourage flowering or rapid growth, you can use it no more than once every two weeks.
Aerial species can only be fertilized with liquid fertilizer, as they do not absorb nutrients from the roots. Always dilute one part liquid fertilizer with one to three parts water before spraying
Step 6. Cut the young seedlings of your bromeliad after flowering
When the plant blooms at some point - it can take a few years and last for several months - it will produce sprouts for the new plants. Use a disinfected knife to cut off dead or unnecessary flowers and to remove any buds that have been growing for months or the plant will begin to die.
Disinfect the blade with alcohol before cutting them and be careful not to injure the main body of the plant
Part 3 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Move the plant to a sunnier area if the leaves get bigger and greener
These are all signs that the plant is not getting enough light.
Do not expose it to direct sunlight, as it damages most bromeliads. Move it to a sunnier but shaded area or closer to a window that receives indirect sunlight. Move it back if the leaves don't recover in a couple of weeks
Step 2. If it wilts or the colors fade, move the plant away from sunlight to a shadier area of the garden or a little away from windows that receive direct sunlight
Make more drastic changes in lighting if the sun burns the leaves.
If your plant should be able to withstand more sunlight according to what is written on the label or what an expert tells you, it is possible that it has been improperly cared for by previous owners. Allow it to acclimate to the correct conditions by periodically moving it to a slightly brighter area
Step 3. Increase the moisture as the soil dries out too quickly or if the leaf tips turn brown
If the leaf size and colors haven't changed, the sunlight is probably fine, but more water is needed:
- Spray water on the bromeliad every other day when it is not exposed to full sunlight.
- If present, keep the plant's central tank filled with water.
- Place other plants a short distance from the bromeliad. Each raises the humidity in its vicinity.
- Run a humidifier in the same room as the plant or create a natural one by placing pebbles in a tray and pouring water just below their surface.
Step 4. Rehydrate the dried or wilted leaves of an aerial bromeliad by sprinkling it with water every other day
To repair dry leaves, soak the plant in water for a few minutes and then hold it upside down, making sure there is no water left between the leaves, otherwise they could rot.
Step 5. Change care methods if you notice a white buildup near the base of the leaves
This is a sign of an excess of minerals. Follow these steps to remove the problem:
- Use rainwater or distilled water instead of using tap water.
- Pour the water over the plant or into the central cup until the pot begins to drain or the soil is moist enough. This gets rid of excess minerals, but should be done in moderation, as it could cause root rot. Flip the smaller plants over the sink to allow the water to drain.
- Stop using fertilizer or halve the dose.
Step 6. Treat any white spots or spots caused by parasites
Rub an alcohol-soaked cotton ball every day or every other day until the problem is completely removed.
- For more common and persistent problems, mix dish soap or neutral shampoo into the water and spray it on plants to suffocate insects. Rinse the plant immediately afterwards to allow the leaves to gain access to the air.
- If you are forced to use insecticides, avoid thick or oil-based ones that can choke the plant. Bromeliads use leaves to absorb water and nutrients, so leave insecticides as a last resort.
Advice
- The sprout must remain attached to the mother plant until it is able to produce its own roots, becoming a fully-fledged independent plant.
- They do not suffer from particular diseases, nor do they attract many parasites.
- Bromeliad blooms only once: after it blooms, the plant will produce no more leaves, but a new shoot.
- The new plants are usually found at the base of the bromeliad, inside the leaf blanket. The mother plant survives for a couple of generations before dying.
- This type of plant features blooms of all colors and are very easy to grow. It is the perfect plant for those without a green thumb.
