Add an exotic touch and tropical vibes to your home with the gorgeous and unique Bromeliad plants. They can easily adapt, easy to grow, and low maintenance houseplants. However, caring for a Bromeliad plant is quite different, but it's not complicated. Learn how to care for your Bromeliad plant with our tips.
Bromeliad plants are popular indoor plants because of their unusual appearance. You can see them at homes, hotels, offices, and even retail establishments. If you're a beginner or new plant parent, you might think that this plant is high maintenance and requires witchcraft skills that you can only learn in Hogwarts, but it's actually the opposite. Bromeliad plants can easily adapt. They are easy to grow and low maintenance houseplants. Moreover, this plant can even grow well in low light conditions and are pet friendly, too!
Fun Fact: Well, it's actually not a fun fact but a sad fact. Did you know that a Bromeliad plant bloom only once? After it gives you a flower, it will slowly die over the next year or two. *insert sad face* However, you can continue to care for your Bromeliad plant until it produces new plants, called pups.
The Bromeliad plants are epiphytic like orchids, which means that they do not grow in soil, but they grow on rocks, trees, or other plants. They are not parasitic, but they use the structures as perches from which to gather nutrients, sun, and water. However, Bromeliad plants are considerably more tolerant than orchids in careless feeding, drought, and fluctuations in temperature.
You can actually force your Bromeliad plant to bloom by exposing it to ethylene gas. Simply put your Bromeliad plant in a tightly sealed, clear plastic bag for up to 10 days with a ripe apple. Yes, the apple will be the source of ethylene gas as it decomposes. However, before you proceed with this process, make sure any water is drained from the Bromeliad's central cup or the center of the plant that catches water.
| Botanical Name | Bromeliaceae |
| Common Name | Bromeliad |
| Plant Size | A Bromeliad plant can grow from about an inch to 30 feet. |
| Types of Bromeliad Plants | Aechmea, Alcantarea, Billbergia, Cryptanthus, Guzmania, Neoregelias, Tillandsias, and Vriesea |
| Sunlight | The Bromeliad plant requires bright, sunny spaces. You can place your Bromeliad plant where it can get bright, indirect light. |
| Water | Water your Bromeliad plant once a week. It’s important to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. |
| Humidity | Bromeliad plants grow best indoors at a relative humidity of 40 to 60%. |
| Temperature | It does best at 70–75°F during the day and between 60–65°F at night. |
| Toxicity | The Bromeliad plant is non-toxic to children and pets. |
| Food | Feed your Bromeliad plant with a general-purpose, liquid houseplant fertilizer every 1 to 2 months. Feed it less during the winter months. |
| Pests and Problems | Your Bromeliad plant is prone to common pests, such as mealybugs. To eliminate this pest, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. You can also use horticultural oil, organic insecticidal soap, or organic neem oil. |
| Omysa Plant Care Tip | For new Bromeliad plant parents, caring for this plant is much different compared to your average houseplants because Bromeliad plants take up nutrients and water through their leaves, so it's important to be careful in feeding, potting, and watering them. |
Bromeliad Plant Care Tips
Bromeliad plants require a different type of care, but similar to Philodendron and Pothos, it's pretty easy and doable even for beginners. Don't panic because we've got you covered on how to care for your Bromeliad plant. From sunlight requirement to common problems and its solutions.
Sunlight
First, on our list on how to care for your Bromeliad plant is to put it in a bright, sunny space where it can get bright, indirect light. They can also thrive in low light conditions, which makes them great low light indoor plants, as well. Avoid placing your Bromeliad plant under direct sunlight as this can burn the leaves.
Generally, if you have a Bromeliad plant with hard or stiff leaves, it will most likely enjoy bright, indirect light. While a Bromeliad plant with soft, flexible leaves will prefer lower lighting levels.
Common Problem: If the leaves of your Bromeliad plant are producing brown or white patches, it could mean that the plant is receiving too much light.
Solution: Your Bromeliad plant will grow best under bright, indirect light. A Bromeliad plant that has been receiving too much light will have bleached (white patches ) or sunburned (brown patches) leaves.
Water
Next on our list on how to care for your Bromeliad plant is to water it once a week since they are very tolerant of drought conditions. It’s important to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Avoid overwatering your plant to avoid root rot.
There are two ways you can water your Bromeliad plant:
- Keep the central cup filled with water, particularly if the light levels and temperature are high. Be sure to remove the water from the central cup every so often to remove any built-up salts.
- Water your Bromeliad plant through the soil weekly during the growing season.
Common Problem: Overwatering your Bromeliad plant can cause severe damage, such as root rot.
Solution: The best way to avoid this problem is to follow a watering schedule of once a week. It's much better to underwater your plant since it's fixable than to overwater it.
Your Bromeliad plant can be sensitive to salts in tap water, so it’s best to use distilled water or a water filtration system. However, if this is not possible, leave the water in an open container overnight.
Humidity & Temperature
Adding to our list on how to care for your Bromeliad plant is to put it in a room with a relative humidity of 40 to 60%. To increase the humidity in your home, we suggest that you mist it often, place it near a humidifier, or use a pebble tray. Avoid placing your plant near air conditioning vents, doors, and drafty areas, as well.
Also, your Bromeliad plant prefers temperatures between 70–75°F during the day and between 60–65°F at night.
Toxicity
Your Bromeliad plant is non-toxic to children and pets.
Food
Another on our list on how to care for your Bromeliad plant is to feed it with a general-purpose, liquid houseplant fertilizer every 1 to 2 months. Feed it less during the winter months.
Remember to follow the recommended amount of fertilizer and schedule to avoid fertilizer burn or plant burn.
Pests & Other Problems
Bromeliad plants are prone to common pests, such as mealybugs. To eliminate this pest, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. You can also use horticultural oil, organic insecticidal soap, or organic neem oil.
That's a wrap on how to care for your Bromeliad plant. It's a bit different, but it's not as difficult as you thought it would be. If you're a beginner or have been a plant parent for years, we strongly suggest that you try caring for a Bromeliad plant. Don't forget to follow our guide.
Grow your plant knowledge. Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
