I have a deep red Bromolaid and I need to know how to take care of it. I have no experience in taking care of this type of plant.
Bromeliad care is relatively simple. The plants are largely epiphytic which simply means they live on the branches of trees in the rain forest. Many occupy the highest regions of the rain forest and become homes, and water supplies, to countless animals. Many frogs live their entire lives inside the cone of one or more bromeliad plants. They lay their eggs, hatch their young, and live their lives inside those plants. Part of the Sean Connery movie "Medicine Man" was based on these plant species. Although yours' is likely in some sort of soil, it is not found that way in nature in the majority of cases. The only care that is needed is to keep the cone filled with clean water and give the plant bright light. Many live in direct sunlight. Dump the cone often and refill it with clean, fresh water. You can add a small amount of fertilizer to the water once a month or so, but don't try to overdo it. The "roots" do nothing but hold the plant in place. They do not transfer water or nutrients and are known as "hold fasts". It severs little purpose to water the soil other than to keep the hold fasts firm. If the plant has an inflorescence, which most would call a "flower", that will last for some months. But each plant only produces one inflorescence in its life cycle. Shortly after the inflorescence dies, so will the plant. But don't get in a hurry to throw it in the trash! You'll likely soon see a "stolen" or small plant develop alongside the parent. The stolen will look like a runner leading away from the plant. In nature that stolen would attach itself to the tree branch and continue the plant's life cycle. If the plant produces "pups", leave them attached until the parent plant dies. It will take one to two years for the pup to complete its growth and the produce another inflorescence. Some species are capable of holding several gallons of water. I have many bromeliads attached to trees and cork bark in my tropical atrium. Some produce multiple pups and often a large cluster of plants can be seen. They sometimes produce multiple inflorescenes but eventually all will complete the cycle as I describe above. Attaching them to cork bark is easy and makes for an interesting display. Just take a tiny drop of "Liquid Nails" glue and glue the plant to the cork. Don't put the glue in the center of the hold fasts. Just attach a portion of the plant's body to the cork. It won't take long for new hold fasts to attach themselves. Be sure and wash off all the soil should you elect to do this form of display. Quite an interesting group of plant specimens.
Just a few points to add...If it is a rather large specimen and you want to keep it in a pot, something like an orchid mix would suffice, if they get wet feet they will more than likely get crown rot. If you want to put it on a tree, firstly make sure the tree doesn't shed its bark...do you have a pic to share with us? Good luck Ed
Good advice mate! I didn't check a map to see where Arcadia, CA is but these will survive outdoors provided you don't receive hard freezes. I recommended against watering the soil for that exact reason, I just didn't specify why. Many people think they have to water the soil to keep the plant happy. In this case, the bromeliad doesn't care.......other than the rot that can form from excess water. So very good info!
