Family of Bromeliads

Scientific name: Bromeliaceae

 

Bromeliads come from Central and South America. This family of plants mostly living on top of other trees in the wild. These peculiar plants have a very small root system & get their water supply by collecting rain water. Rain drops on individual plant’s leaves eventually funneling down into the middle, where the flower grows. Some can even live entirely on the presence of high humidity in nature. Most bromeliads have exotic looking flowers with vibrant colors. Which has a long life of few months. They are slow growing plants, edible pineapples being one of them. Bromeliads defer from other houseplants in the sense that the mother plant dies after having one or two babies simultaneously, and in turn baby plants continue the cycle. All bromeliads are easy plants to look after.

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Light

Most Bromeliads need good light (1m to 2m away from a window), except for Neoregelias which can tolerate direct sun.

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Temperature

Optimum temperature should be between 15C-25C. Humidity is needed for these plants; stand on gravel tray if needed.   

 

Watering

Keep media moist but not soggy; allow the top 3 cm of compost to dry out, in between waterings. Bromeliads need one tablespoon full of water in the funnel where the flower grows. Wait until water in funnel dries up completely before adding more, otherwise the flower will rot.  

In winter, these plants will need less water but make sure the compost does not dry out completely.

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Feeding

During growing periods (summer) these plants should be given a diluted feed every three to four weeks.

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Helpful instructions

Never repot Bromeliads. Only if the top of the plant becomes heavier, because of the flower or the pineapple, move it into a bigger pot without discarding the original one.

It is very normal for the flower to die and rot, so just discard the flower. 

After the babies grow, do not remove the mother it will died and fall off automatically. 

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Varieties of Bromeliads available in store