DIY Network

Bromeliads Bromeliads From "Ask DIY" episode ADI-409

Q: I recently recieved a bromeliad as a gift and I'm not sure how to care for it. Can you help?

A: (DIY gardening expert Jessie Mack Burns) Bromeliads are among the most forgiving of plants: you can put one in a corner and forget to water it a few times, and it will still thrive. I don't know which type you received as a gift, but the varieties range from large and impressive (figure A) to small and dainty-looking (figure B). But no matter which type you have, you'll appreciate the beauty of not only the blooms but also the foliage.

Figure A

Figure B

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	Figure C
	Figure D

To grow a healthy bromeliad, you must use a well-draining soil. You can buy potting soil that's already mixed with perlite or vermiculite, or mix your own.

If you see a shoot -- or "pup" -- forming beside your plant (figure C), be aware that you can snap it from the main plant and pot it. Place a little growing medium in the pot, position the pup in it, and then fill the pot the rest of the way. Water all around the pup, but be warned: This is the only time you should water a bromeliad in this manner. Watering around the base can cause a bromeliad to rot. Instead, you should always water from the top; the rosette configuration in which the leaves grow (figure D) enables the plant to hold water and use it as needed.

Bromeliads need to be kept near a light source in order to form bright, long-lasting blooms, but if you notice any burning on the foliage, be sure to decrease the amount of light the plant receives. Outdoors, don't place a bromeliad in an area that gets bright light unless you know it's a variety that can withstand the amount of light it will be receiving.

Fertilize your bromeliads regularly, and remember to keep spent blossoms pinched off.

RESOURCES :
The Bromeliads
Model: 1878471015
Author: Leon Duval et al
Big Bridge Press
Pacifica , CA 94044
Email: walterblue@bigbridge.org
Website: http://www.bigbridge.org/