Bromeliads, the Perfect Indoor Plant

Bromeliads adapt to just about all types of conditions found in most homes. The plant varieties have many colored foliage and brilliant flowers. The native habitat for bromeliads is in branches and tree trunks or on rocks. This makes the plant a perfect specimen to be raised in the house. 

Root systems do not need much room; therefore growing in pots of tree fern bark will keep these plants happy. Bromeliads only flower once in their lifetime, but produce off shoots frequently that will bloom at the right stage of maturity.

Growing

Finding just the right spot for your bromeliads is important. A window with southern, eastern or western exposure is great. Avoid direct sunlight as it can burn the tender leaves. The heat of direct sunlight can scorch the tender leaves of the bromeliad.

Growing medium made up of one part peat, one part bar and one part coarse sand is what the bromeliad needs. The growing medium supports the plant and is not generally needed to provide nutrients, though a slow release fertilizer incorporated at the time of potting will give continued nutrition throughout the life of the plant. This makes the care for this plant almost negligible except for water requirements.

High temperatures are tolerated by the bromeliad and optimum temperatures should be around 70 to 75° during the day and between 60 and 65° at night. A good rule of thumb is that the softer leafed plants need a higher temperature and the harder, stiff leaves will tolerate more cold.

Humidity levels are the secret to beautiful bromeliad plants. Direct watering to the root systems can easily cause root rot and therefore the roots need good drainage. Placing the pot that holds the plant on a small bed of pea gavel will help prevent the root rot and allow water to drain easily from the potting mixture. As the water evaporates from the gravel, it is absorbed through the leaves. Watering once a week is plenty to keep your bromeliad healthy. A misting of water on the leaves about every two to three days is recommended for larger plants in the summer months.

Care

As the root system grows larger, repotting the plant will keep it thriving. When placing the pot in a larger container, follow the steps that you first used to pot the plant, ensuring that there is plenty of tree fern bark for the roots to anchor themselves to. Flowers may take a while to appear after moving a plant into a larger container, but they are well worth the wait. Flowers range from pale yellows and white to brilliant reds. Some varieties shoot out flowers that are in the blue ranges to deep purple. 

Once the bromeliad has put out baby plants, they can be separated from the parent plant and potted on their own to provide you with more bromeliads. Using the same methods of care for the babies as the parent plant will give you a line of bromeliads that will last for many years to come.