How to take care of bromeliads?

Bromeliad maintenance is simple, so they're an excellent place to start if you're new to indoor plants. I have a lot of houseplants, but my bromeliad is probably the easiest to care for. You may enjoy a bit of tropical paradise in your own house if you learn how to manage bromeliads.

Last year, after visiting Maui and seeing so many various species of bromeliads, I decided to pick up a few at the garden center when we came home. They're so lovely that I expected it would take some extra effort to keep them looking that way, but I was mistaken!

My favorite purple bromeliad still looks as lovely and colorful as when I bought it.

Bromeliads may be grown indoors and out, but because they are tropical plants, there are a few things to consider before determining where to put them. How to take care of bromeliads? This article will lead you through those topics to see how excellent this plant is!

Bromeliad Plant Care Tips:

Bromeliad plants need a different kind of care than plants like Philodendron and Pothos, but you can take care of them even if you're a beginner. Let us help you take care of your Bromeliad plant, so don't worry! From how much sunlight you need to common problems and how to fix them, here are some things you need to know about.

Sunlight:

Place your Bromeliad plant in a bright and sunny place but not direct sunlight. This way, your plant gets a lot of good light but not direct sunlight. If you live in an area where there isn't a lot of light, you can grow them. Avoid putting your Bromeliad plant in direct sunlight because this can burn the leaves and make them yellow.

As a general rule, if your Bromeliad plant has hard or stiff leaves, it will like bright, indirect light most of the time, While a Bromeliad plant with soft, flexible leaves will need less light than a plant with stiff, rigid leaves.

If your Bromeliad plant has brown or white patches on its leaves, this could be because the plant is getting too much light.

You can help your Bromeliad plant grow better by giving it bright, indirect light that it can see. A Bromeliad plant that has been getting too much light will have leaves that have been bleached (white spots) or sunburned.

Water:

It's hard for bromeliads to deal with drought, but they can't stand being over-watered, which can cause root rot. If you want your bromeliad to thrive, you need to make sure it is planted in a medium that quickly drains. Soak the potting mix well each time you water, so the water runs out of its drainage holes. This will get rid of any salt built up in the potting mix. Wait until the top two inches of the potting soil are dry before watering again. If you water the plant more than this, it could get root rot.

Many bromeliads also have a water tank, which makes them look better. A cup is created when all of the leaves on a plant come together. As with other plants, bromeliads also get water through their main tank. Fill the tank with water, preferably rainwater, and flush it often to keep the water moving. If you have an epiphytic bromeliad, which means your plant grows on a rock, tree bark, or some other surface instead of in a pot, watering is slightly different. You can mist the plant now and then to keep it from drying out.

It's essential not to use a metal container to water a bromeliad. There are many things that bromeliads can't stand, and the results could be awful for your plant.

Humidity & Temperature:

We'll add this to our list of how to care for your Bromeliad plant: put it in a room with a relative humidity of 40% to 60%. Make sure to mist the room often, put it next to a humidifier, or put some pebbles in a tray. Besides, don't put your plant near air conditioning vents, open doors, or drafty places.

This is also true for your Bromeliad plant. It likes temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Run a humidifier near your plant:

Then, make a humidifier. Take a shallow plant saucer or tray, fill it with small pebbles or other decorative stones, then put it in the ground. Fill the tray with water until the rocks are just below the surface. They should be placed on or near the tray. The humidity will go up in that area because the water will make the air moister. Putting the container on top of the tray is essential to ensure it doesn't fall into the water. This will make the bromeliad's roots too wet, leading to root rot, so don't do this.

Place a few more plants around. There is a transpiration process when a plant turns water into vapor and releases that vapor into the air. This will help the humidity in the immediate area.

Use a spray bottle to mist the plant often. This takes a little more work, but it's not that hard.

Pots and Potting Media:

Using suitable pots and potting mix can significantly impact how much water the bromeliad needs. Plastic pots tend to keep water in them for a longer time. If you live in a dry area or keep your bromeliad in a heated house, you might want to think about getting a plastic container to keep your plant safe. Unglazed clay pots aren't sealed, which means they let water out. If you live in a humid place, you might want to think about this type of container, so your plant doesn't get too wet. A saucer or pad should be under the pot to catch any water spilled out. Otherwise, you could damage the floor or furniture that the bank is on, so you need to make sure there is something there to catch the water. Soil should never be used to plant your bromeliad, no matter what type of container it is. It's too dense and won't let the water drain quickly enough for bromeliads, who need it fast. Instead, use potting mixes that are made for bromeliads or mix your own with porous materials to make your own.

Fertilizing:

Bromeliads don't need a lot of fertilizer. When you need to use a water-soluble fertilizer, you will. If you put fertilizer in the middle of a bromeliad plant, you will kill the plant. Instead, sprinkle fertilizer around the base of the bromeliad to make it grow. It is suitable for air plants to use a liquid fertilizer that has been diluted to half or one-quarter of its strength. Spray the mixture on your air plant, and it will be done. Many people try to speed up the growth of their plants by adding fertilizer to their soil. Bromeliads are slow-growing plants, so too much fertilizer can make their leaves look wavy, and colors fade.

Toxicity:

Your Bromeliad plant is safe for kids and pets to play with.

Food:

This is another thing you can do to take care of your Bromeliad plant. Every 1 to 2 months, feed it with a general-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer. Feed it less during the winter.

Remember to use the right amount of fertilizer at the right time to avoid fertilizer burn or plant burn.

How long do potted bromeliads last?

These plants live for two to five years. Bromeliads often have beautiful flowers and foliage that are very interesting. However, a bromeliad will only bloom once during its life. Though it sounds terrible, especially if you bought the bromeliad for its flowers, it lasts for a long time. They usually last for 3 to 6 months.

Fortunately, bromeliads die beautifully. The flower can last for up to a year during a bromeliad's life cycle. This is because the plant is dying. When they start to die, they also make offshoots, called pups, that grow.

Pests & Other Problems:

When bromeliad plants have bugs, like mealybugs, they can get sick quickly. To get rid of this pest, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and use it to get rid of it. You can also use horticultural oil, organic insecticidal soap, or organic neem oil to eliminate bugs and other pests on plants.

That's all there is to it. It's not as hard as you thought it would be. You should try caring for a Bromeliad plant even if you've been taking care of plants for a long time. Don't forget to read our guide.

You can learn more about plants. If you want to learn more about different houseplants and how to keep them healthy, check out our Plant Care blog!