What is the care of bromeliad?

Aechmea fasciata

Aechmea fasciata

Talk of the bromeliad is talking about a tropical plant whose leaves and inflorescences are so decorative that you like to have it at home. However, being native to the hot and humid jungles of the planet, taking care of it correctly can be a very complicated task.

Drafts, as well as low temperatures, seriously harm it to the point that we can lose it if we do not do something to avoid it. But what about?

I love bromeliad. It is a type of plant that I fell in love with years ago. But whenever I bought one it would die that winter, and that where I live the minimum temperature is not too low (-2ºC). Although I took care of it as I knew best, the February frosts came and shortly after I found the rotten plant. You took the newer leaves, and took them with you, which was, and is, a shame.

Fortunately, the experience is long gone and now I can tell you what you can do to prevent what has happened to me on several occasions from happening to you. Y the first advice that I am going to give you is that you acquire the plant in spring, when the risk of frost has passed. Even if you are going to have it at home all year round, if you buy it after the winter has passed, you will make sure to take a healthy plant with you, which will take a whole year to adapt to the conditions of your home, and also to the care you give it.

Billbergia pyramidalis

Billbergia pyramidalis

In addition, during this season you can do something that will be key to its survival: change it pot. Normally, plants considered indoor are planted in pots only with black peat, which is a soil that does not have very good drainage. For this reason, As soon as you acquire it, it is advisable that you transfer it to a pot about 4-5cm wider and deeper, and fill it with a first layer of 2cm of volcanic clay, pumice or any similar material, and with black peat mixed with 20% perlite.

In this way, every time you water the excess water, it will come out quickly, so that the roots, not being flooded, can perform their functions without problems. But of course, when to water? And how?

Bromeliad humilis

Bromeliad humilis

To know when to water you will only have to look at how its leaves are: if they are hard, you will have to water the substrate every 2-3 days, spacing the waterings in the colder months; On the other hand, if it is soft, you will have to see how much water is left in the center of the rosette: if you see that it has little, then you can add more, directly in the center. Use rainwater or lime-free water for irrigation.

And what to do in winter? Well, In winter we have to protect the plant from the drafts coming from the heating and from the windows in case we have them open. But it is not only enough to move it around, taking it to a room where a lot of natural light also enters, but we will also have to make sure that the ambient humidity is high, placing glasses of water around it. I do not recommend spraying it since as in winter the plant hardly grows, the water that remains on the surface of the leaves could suffocate it.

Surely with these tips your bromeliad will grow wonderfully 🙂.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.