Growing Bromeliads
Bromeliads are fun to grow both inside as a potted plant and outside in the landscape where the climate allows. They can give you many different shapes and colors from small to large.
The bromeliad family can be broken down into three main categories. They are Terrestrial (Ground), Saxicolus (rocks) and Epiphytic (Air):
Terrestrials are the one that are normally found growing in some form of soil and rely some what of their roots to gather water and nutrients. They are mostly shaped in a rosette shape to where the leaves channel water and debris toward the plants center and its main root concentration. The pineapple is a good example of the type.
Saxicolus are the ones that mainly grow on rocks. They are very similar to Terrestrials in that they rely on the root system for some part of their nutrient pick-
Epiphytic are the bromeliads that grow on trees or other plants to where they have no contact with soil. Their root systems are mainly used for anchoring them to the host plant. Epiphytes draw most of the nutrients and water they need directly from the air. These are mostly Tillansia of which Spanish Moss is a member.
The one thing that all bromeliads have is small scales on the leaves that are very efficient absorption system. They are called Trichomes. The Trichomes also help protect the plant from burning in the sun.
Bromeliads like all living things need proper nutrition. Healthy plants are better prepared to combat pests and diseases. Proper nutrition is a combination of a number of diverse things.
Air: Plants need air to provide their leaves with carbon dioxide to make sugars and starches for plant food. Roots also need air to stay healthy.
Water: Plants need water even more than nutrients and light. Most plants are 90% water. Plants use water directly when they capture light energy and transform it to food.
Plants also transpire. Transpiration is when plants exchange water for carbon dioxide. All leaves have stomata that when open let water out and carbon dioxide in.
Sun light: The sun light provides the energy necessary to make food. The process is called Photosynthesis.
Nutrients: These are divided into two groups.
First are the Non-
The second group and the minerals and they include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. Many bromeliads get almost all of these nutrients through their leaves.
Biology. There are many levels of live microorganisms in the soil and on plant leaves that are essential to plant life. The main groups are bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, protozoa and algae. These all work in various ways to help plants store water, break down nutrients into a usable form and to fight pests and disease.
Bromeliads. For the most part are not heavy feeders and do better with low amounts of fertilizer (N-
Too much emphasis is put on fertilizers and not on a balanced feeding program. N-
The terrestrials and Saxicolus that you are growing in soil (potting mix) can produce roots systems extensive enough to provide a portion of the nutrition. This ‘soil’ should have 3% to 5% organic mater that is in a state that it is called humus. That this point in decay it can hold water, allows proper aeration and contains the biology necessary to support the plant roots. The plants use it up just like fertilizer so it needs to be replenished regularly. We also need to add all of the minor elements necessary for plant nutrition.
For the Epiphytic bromeliad we need to be able to give them all of the nutrients and biology they need in our foliar spray mix to supplement what nature gives them.
Feed well during the plants growing season and cut back during the rest on the year. I remove the growth nutrient from my spray during their dormant season.
A number of years ago I felt that it was necessary to provide my family, pets and wildlife with a better environment. I grow many bromeliads, orchids and many other plants in both a natural setting and in greenhouses. I did a great deal of study and decided that I would try and grow everything in a totally organic setting. First I got rid of all pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Then I changed to organic fertilizers and amendments.
I started treating my bromeliads with a natural Humate along with a good fish hydrolysate fertilizer. The bromeliads loved it and flourished. Within three months my plants were scale free for the first time ever. It seems that the combination of proper nutrition and healthy biology works.
Since then I have gotten deeply involved in foliar feeding of all plants and have evolved my sprays into what I feel gives me a great end product. I do very to content depending on what I see the plants need but I have a couple basic sprays.
FOLIAR SPRAY All Purpose during growing season
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon liquid Humic Acid. Recommend a complete natural Humate such as Turf & Garden Pro. Be sure of country of origin on Humates, many come for China and some are suspect as to quality.
1 Tablespoon Liquid Fish fertilizer*. Recommend a fish hydrolysate such as Mega Green
( www.multibloom.com/ ). We recommend fish hydrolysates over fish emulsions.
1 Tablespoon Liquid Seaweed. Recommend North Sea products such as Maxicorp Seaweed.
1 Tablespoon Blackstrap Molasses
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Drops of Superthrive (www.superthrive.com/ )
1 Gal. Water -
for a day to naturally de-
During the doormat season I remove the fish fertilizer from the spray.
If you have any questions please contact jloepp@turfprousa.com or call (407)340-
On-
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