Earlier in the month, we featured the Bromeliad potted plant in our fun facts and decor ideas blog. Now let’s learn how to care for your Bromeliad potted plant.
Bromeliad potted plants are the perfect addition to your living decor because they are low maintenance and look beautiful with their colourful foliage and textures. Similar to air plants, Bromeliads are epiphytes, which means they absorb nutrients and moisture from the air and don’t need soil to grow. When grown indoors at home or at your workplace, most Bromeliads are planted with a mixture of potting soil and sand.
You may have received your Bromeliad potted plant as a gift or picked it up at a local retailer, and you’re looking for some plant care tips. Read on to learn more.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Lighting Care Tips
Bromeliad potted plants thrive in bright indirect or filtered light. The best place for the plant is in a south, east or west-facing window. More light exposure can help the Bromeliad potted plant bloom, but be careful placing the plant in hot direct sunlight, as the sun may burn the leaves.
Watch for signs on the plant for the amount of light required for your Bromeliad potted plant. If the plant turns yellow, it may be getting too much light whereas if you see dark green or elongated parts, the plant might be getting too little light.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Watering Care Tips
Bromeliad potted plants prefer moist soil. Always check the soil moisture before watering. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water your Bromeliad potted plant. In general, during the growing season of spring and summer, water your Bromeliad potted plant sparingly at the soil level every week. During the winter resting period, reduce the watering. Bromeliads are also prone to root rot so avoid letting the plant roots sit in water, and ensure the container has drainage holes to allow water to drain.
An alternative way to watering your Bromeliad potted plant is in their water-holding cup leaves or urns. In natural environments, these urns can store rainwater. You can water by adding a few tablespoons of water in the cup, filling it occasionally. If you water your Bromeliad potted plant this way, best to flush the cup every so often to remove any salt build-ups.
If you are growing your Bromeliad indoor plant as an epiphytes, mist them with water and soak them once a week by submerging in water.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Temperature and Humidity Care Tips
In nature, Bromeliads grow in tropical humid environments so it’s best to try and create this climate if possible. The temperature range that Bromeliad potted plants prefer are between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 and 29 degrees Celsius. Although some Bromeliads are tolerant to temperature variations, most varieties need to be protected from freezing temperatures. During the summer, you can move your Bromeliad potted plant outside if the lighting and climate are ideal, but be sure to bring the plant back inside during the fall and winter. Bromeliad potted plants grow well in 40-50% humidity indoors.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Fertilizing Care Tips
During the growing season from April to September, you can use liquid fertilizer diluted at half the strength to fertilize your Bromeliad potted plant. If the plant is mature or begins to flower, best not to feed any fertilizer.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Common Pests Care Tips
Sometimes the Bromeliad potted plants can have mealybugs or aphids. Check your plant when watering and if you see any common pests, spray your plant with a mixture of water and dish soap.
Bromeliad Potted Plant Propagating Care Tips
To keep enjoying the Bromeliad’s beautiful foliage even after the plant dies, you may want to consider propagating the plant.
In the natural growing cycle, the mature Bromeliad indoor plants produce a flower spike that has small flowers surrounded by bracts or brightly coloured leaves. After the flower dies, the plant will also begin to die, but the parent plant will produce several smaller pups at the base of the plant. When the pups are roughly about one-third of the size of the parent plant, you can carefully cut them off with a sterile sharp knife and pot them in their own containers.
Conclusion
By following our care tips above, your Bromeliad potted plant will last longer and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy its attractive foliage in your home or office all year long. However, be patient as Bromeliad potted plants do tend to grow slower. If it’s not blooming already, Bromeliad plants can take up to one to two years to mature into a flowering plant.
If you like to learn more about the Bromeliad potted plant, check out our fun facts and decor ideas blog. For any further care questions, please contact us.