How to Care for Bromeliad Plants

Bromeliads are valued for their exotic foliage and outstanding blooms.  Bromeliads are superb potted plants, easy to care for and will bloom for long periods of time, if you provide them with the proper care.

Begin by selecting a spot where your bromeliad will receive the right light. Bromeliads thrive in areas where they will get lots of bright, filtered light or indirect light, but won't be exposed to direct sun. Another important consideration is room temperature. Bromeliads do best when the room temperature is between 55° and 85°.

Bromeliads are tropical plants and as such, love humidity. An easy way to increase the humidity around each plant is to make a pebble tray. Simply add small rocks to a saucer, then fill with water. Place your bromeliad on the rocks, making sure the bottom of the pot is above the water in the saucer.

Speaking of water, watering your bromeliad is a little different that watering your other houseplants.

Bromeliad leaves generally grow out of a central cup or vase. When you water, you'll want to water directly into this cup or central vase.

Add enough water to fill the vase to overflowing. The excess will trickle down and moisten the compost below. Refresh the vase water every 2 weeks or so by emptying the vase and adding new water. It's best to use water that is at room temperature. You can do this by letting a container of water sit out overnight. This will bring it to room temperature and also help dissipate some of the chlorine in our water.

As bromeliads age, they often produce new shoots at their base. These baby bromeliads are called pups and as they mature, you can harvest them and start new bromeliad plants.

With their intense color and interesting foliage, bromeliads offer a "touch of the tropics" to your home. Definitely a houseplant worth adding to your collection.