Who hasn't had a bromeliad at home or in the garden at some point? It is a plant that is often given as a gift, for example with the arrival of a new member to the family, or at any other special event. Although at first you might think that the price is a bit high (especially if you are buying a specimen of a delicate species), this is not really the case because its growth rate is slow, so it requires more care than another that grows quickly.
We see this a lot in nurseries: a plant that grows at a good pace and also adapts very well to the climatic conditions of the area is cheaper than another that is more demanding. Well, bromeliads are in this second group. So let's see. what care they require indoors and outdoors.
How to care for bromeliads indoors?
Image - Flickr / Forest and Kim Starr
Bromeliad is a plant of tropical or subtropical origin. This is something that must be taken into account when purchasing it, because with this we can already know that, for example, It needs a lot of light and high ambient humidity.. Therefore, the ideal is to place it in a room with plenty of natural light, and also to put it in a corner that is away from air currents, especially those generated by fans, air conditioning units and the like.
Likewise, I highly recommend putting it some distance from the wall, above all, that its leaves do not rub against it. And if they did, these leaves would end up having dry tips, but over time we would have to cut it all off because it is wilted. For this same reason, I also tell you that it is better not to put it in very narrow pastures where there is a risk that, when passing, you will rub against it.
Another important point to discuss is the pot. It is too common to have bromeliads indoors in a pot without holes, which is not advisable at all. It is a plant that needs oxygenated roots, not permanently wet. So We will plant it in a pot with holes in its base., and then we will put a plate underneath it so that, when watering, we do not dirty the furniture. But, after watering, we have to empty the plate.
Continuing with irrigation, We will have to water it about three times a week during the warmest time of the year, and once a week or two the rest of the year. If the humidity inside the house is low, we will have to spray it with water frequently, especially during the summer. This way it will stay very healthy.
How do you care for bromeliads outdoors?
Bromeliad is a plant that does not resist frost, so it can only be kept outside the house during the summer; although if you live in an area with a tropical or subtropical climate, you can choose to decorate your garden with it. But where should you put it: in the sun or in the shade? Well, It is always recommended to protect it from direct sunlight, but it should not be in a dark area., otherwise it will end up getting sick. Ideally, it should be, for example, in the shade of a tree or a little protected by other plants around it.
If you are going to keep it in a pot, you can put it on the terrace or in the patio, but try to find a place where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise it will burn.
As a substrate or soil, bromeliads need one that is light and that absorbs and drains water quickly. For example, If it is going to be in a pot, you can add coconut fiber mixed with 2 to 30% perlite.. This way, it will be able to grow in good conditions, as there will be fewer problems with watering. However, if it is going to be in the ground, the soil must be able to absorb and filter water quickly; otherwise, you will have to make a hole of about 40 x 40 centimetres and fill it with the substrate I just mentioned.
If we talk about irrigation, During the summer you will have to do it more often than during the rest of the year., since the soil takes much less time to dry out than during winter. For example, during this season I water them between 2 and 3 times a week, but the rest of the year once every week or every two weeks, depending a little on whether it rains or not and the temperatures (the higher the temperatures, the more I water).
You can fertilize it in summer, using a fertilizer for orchids.. I know, bromeliads are not orchids, and orchids are not bromeliads, but they live in very similar environments. In fact, if you've ever watched a documentary about plants (like the documentary series 'The Private Life of Plants' or 'Green Planet', both by naturalist Sir David Attenborough) you'll have noticed that these two types of plants often share habitats. And that habitat can be the trunk of a tree. That's why It is not so strange to use an orchid fertilizer to fertilize bromeliads, since both need similar nutrients.
Bromeliad in habitat.
And when it starts to get cold, that is, when the temperature starts to drop below 10ºC, it will be time to bring it inside the house or into a greenhouse so that it can survive the winter.
And you, where do you prefer to have your bromeliads: indoors or outdoors?