Need a pop of color inside? Then grab an MVG favorite- Bromeliads.
Bromeliads are native to Brazil. In the wild, they typically grow on trees as epiphytes. Epiphytes develop minimal roots and absorb most of their nutrients through their foliage.
Bromeliads are a large family of tropical flowering plants that belong to the pineapple family and come in hundreds of varieties. They reproduce by making an offshoot, sometimes called a “pup.” The pup feeds off the mother plant until it can set down roots of its own and separate from the mother plant.
These plants come in a rainbow of beautiful color choices ranging from bright pink centers to all red leaves to zebra-striped foliage. Some even have spines along the edges of their leaves and they are extremely adaptable, tolerating a variety of home environments. By following a few basic techniques, you can watch these beautiful colored plants thrive and flower for years.
- Evenly moist soil is ideal. Do not let the soil dry out and use a spray bottle to mist the plant regularly
- Provide bright indirect sun exposure
- Adequate air flow around the plants
- Adequate drainage
- Fertilize sparingly with plant food labeled for Bromeliads
- Never use metal containers to water a bromeliad. They are very sensitive to metal.
- Run a humidifier near your plant or create a humidity tray by filling a small tray with pebbles or decorative stones, fill will water just below the stones’ surface then set your potted bromeliad on or near the tray.
Bromeliad Care After Flowering:
Once the Bromeliad bloom has begun to die, you can cut it off by using a sharp, sterilized blade. Cut the bloom off at the stalk. By cutting off the bromeliad dying flower, you can help the plant refocus its energy on the new pups. Clean the plant’s leaves with a soft, damp cloth and place the bromeliad in filtered or diffused light.
Starting New Pups:
Remove the smaller pups growing from the base of the plant when they reach approximately half the size of the mother plant. Cut the pups from the mother plant with a sharp, clean knife. Dig under the soil a bit and make your cut at the base of the pup where it splits from the mother plant, cutting as close to the parent plant as you can without causing damage.
Plant the pup in a four-inch container filled with loose potting soil that drains well. Commercial potting soil designed for cacti and succulents works best. You may have to tie the young bromeliad to a wooden stake to keep it upright until it forms a strong enough root system to support itself.
When your young bromeliad’s leaves form a cup, keep the cup filled with water rather than watering the soil. You can begin your normal fertilization routine immediately after transplanting the pup. Give your new plant at least a year to establish itself before forcing flowers.
More questions on our products, acclimating young plants or getting your garden off on the right foot this season? Stop in or give us a call at 937-845-0093.
MVG – Helping Our Customers Grow Fine Plants Since 1984
