Bromeliad plants are colorful, long-lasting (3 -4 months) and make great gifts. People always ask how to water them. Below we’ll give you a quick lesson on watering bromeliads and see just how much water can a bromeliad plant hold.
Bromeliads, air plants in their natural habitat, grow under a wide range of conditions and will survive prolonged periods of drought. The general rule of thumb for watering bromeliads is:
Water well and allow to dry before watering again.
How To Water Bromeliads
Many varieties of bromeliads sold today are “tank type” bromeliads. The rosette of broad leaves creates a “cup” or “vase” in the plant’s center.
These plants hold water in the cup and leaf axils. Plants with cups should be filled, and not allowed to remain empty.
Flush the tank out with plenty of water periodically to prevent stagnant water in the cup. This periodic flushing also prevents a build-up of salts left when water in the cup evaporates.
Water should be removed from the cup if the temperature is likely to fall below 40° degrees Fahrenheit. Hopefully, this won’t happen to you inside. This practice will prevent cold damage which appears as a brown line across each leaf at the water level.
If you care for Bromeliads indoors, you may need to mist the plant about twice a week in addition to your watering in order to prevent drying of the leaves by the low humidity.
FYI… Several pots of bromeliads can be put together into an attractive decorative planter to create a bromeliad garden, and when one starts fading, simply remove the pot and replace it with a new one. You can have color all year!
Bromeliads are like most other plants in that they will tell you when they become stressed from being too dry. Drying the plant out can cause permanent cellular damage to the leaf structure.
More On Bromeliad Plants
- Caring For Bromeliads After They Flower
- Growing Guzmania Bromeliads
- 17 Tips For Growing The Neoregelia Bromeliad
- Learn more about the Earth Star Plant (Crypthanus)
How Often To Water Bromeliads In Winter
In homes where the relative humidity is low (during winter months and in air-conditioning), plants must be checked and watered more often.
The quality of the water is important in Bromeliad watering. Tap water can generally be used for watering the pots and soil area. Better results are obtained by using rain water, distilled water or reverse-osmosis water over tap water for filling the central tanks or cups.
If you use city water, and it contains excessive salts, flushing of the plant periodically will reduce the chances of salt damages.
Bromeliads provide indoor color for months at a time and are generally carefree. Most of the problems encountered with bromeliads are usually associated with rot caused by overwatering.
By following these watering guidelines you should be well on your way to having a healthy bromeliad to enjoy for months and months.