Bromeliad Question

[Selkie]

My husband bought me a beautiful bromeliad. The last one I had suffered an early demise due to my ignorance in how to care properly for it.

Anyone know the best way to take care of it (watering, light, food, etc.)? I want this one to thrive.

[Veronica]

Good luck! I've gotten two from students recently and have not been able to keep them alive. I hope someone can help, 'cause they really are pretty. My neighbor, whose cats I take care of, has several. She keeps her in a pretty well lit area, but not direct light and waters sparingly. I did read, in my defense, that the ones purchased in supermarkets often don't make it.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

Move to Florida and put it in the ground?

[Selkie]

Oak---I wish! I hate winter....

This is a really nice plant, from White Flower Farms. I have another house plant from there and it's thriving with minimal care (had it for more than 5 years). We got our tomato plants there this year and had a bumper crop (again, with minimal care).

[blackhillsbiker]

I had a bunch of bromeliads and their offspring when we lived in Wyoming. I had a big southern-facing window. I followed the suggestion to water them through the top instead of at the base. They seemed to thrive. I'll have to look up in a houseplant book how wet they like to be. I forget. They were very hardy, pretty plants. I know they like lots of light, just not directly. I hate the windows in this house. I only have room for a couple of plants. My rosemary tree (about 10 years old) died when we were on vacation from over-attention. I want to replace it but I haven't found one I like as well.

[blackhillsbiker]

This seems to be it, in a nutshell:
"Do not put your new plant in the full sun, near a hot light bulb or next to a window that can act as a magnifying glass with the sun and burn your plant. Low to bright-defused light will be just fine.

After your Bromeliad has found the perfect spot, next comes the care of your plant. The BIGGEST mistake is over watering your new plant! ! ! Remember, when your plant is in a container where water can sit and not drain, your Bromeliad can rot! Put a half-cup of water in the center of the plant known as the “cup" of the Bromeliad. Next, water the mix where the plant is in with another half-cup of water. When the mix dries out, then, and only then add another half-cup of water. In most cases, watering is only once a week, but you need to determine the exact watering cycle in your situation by checking your plant symptoms. A "'rolled" leaf indicates too little water and you need to get a lot of water fast to the .'cup" of the plant.. Likewise, when the center of the “cup” dries out, add another half-cup of water .Your Bromeliad will love a misting all over from a quart sprayer once or twice a week. Good air movement by your plant prolongs its life and health."

[Selkie]

Thanks!!! I'll try to keep this one going.

I have a bromeliad-like plant that was my maternal grandma's. The plant must be more 40 years old and is still going strong. I've watered that one in it's "cup." I've had the plant since the early 80s and it's thriving. Got a couple of its babies in smaller pots.

[tulip]

Call White Flower Farms and ask them. I think they have good customer service. They have beautiful plants.

[annielynn]

We cannot kill them here! My mom and MIL had a bunch on the sides of there house and we literally could not make them go away. They love the Florida sunshine. They are beautiful but they mulitply like rabbits and soon will take over a persons entire yard.

My mom asked me one day if I would like to dig up some of her blooming flowers to plant in my flower bed at my old house. My husband told me under no uncertain terms would he allow me to plant it! LOL He knew that it would take over the yard.