Step into the fascinating universe of bromeliads and become familiar with a family of tropical plants that can make a stunning centerpiece for the table or a sophisticated decorative announcement elsewhere.
Most bromeliads have dramatic, durable blooms, and some have brilliantly coloured foliage as well. These plants have been praised for their ability to easily adapt to the adverse growing conditions that exist in most offices and homes, due to the low light wants and drought tolerance. So it is no surprise that they have come to be a popular present.
To top it off, not only are bromeliads a beautiful and relatively durable alternative to a costly cut-flower arrangement, but they also release oxygen and eliminate toxins (following dark, like orchids and succulents), making them ideal in bedrooms or combined with additional day-purifying foliage houseplants for naturally-occurring toxin elimination.
Horst Architects
A single Vriesea bromeliad in blossom with its flat sword-like bract includes a subtle exotic fashion, which makes it the perfect companion to a sculptural red stool in the distance.
Although many bromeliads are epiphytic, meaning that they develop on branches and trunks of trees or on rocks in their native habitat, most could be grown in containers. Unsurprisingly, bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae, of which the pineapple is the most famous member.
Studio D – Danielle Wallinger
Here the number Aechmea weilbachii, that has a brilliant reddish stem with purple blooms, is a gorgeous complement to the delicate lavender mosaic tiles.
Bromeliad blooms can last from two to three weeks or longer, given ideal conditions. Bromeliads do not rebloom, but as a consolation, they will produce a small “puppy” plant in their foundation within two years of blooming, which can slowly grow to become the next generation.
Charles de Lisle’s Office
Once the bromeliad bloom dies, the plant itself can nevertheless be appreciated because of its long green leaves and rosette growth formation. A black kettle serves as a perfect foil for all these glowing green leaves and ties along a space with other black accents.
Prestige Builders
Bromeliads grouped together in an oblong container bring a timeless taste of the tropics for this streamlined architectural space. The Guzmania rana blooms found here closely resemble that of the ginger plant, therefore despite the plant South American origins, it actually looks very Asian and is a nice complement to this shoji-screen-inspired windows.
Whilst fascination with bromeliads appears to have risen lately, growing bromeliads turned into a hobby at the mid-1800s, often among those with a passion for raising orchids, as collectors couldn’t distinguish bromeliads in the desirable orchids in their natural habitat and mistakenly accumulated both.
ecopacheco
A jaw-dropping living wall of bromeliads is an aspiration for a serious collector. It is possible to do something like a much bigger scale, and even indoors, once you become well acquainted with the needs of this bromeliad species you’d like to feature.
In the meantime, consider combining different types and colors of bromeliads into a single widemouthed and very low pot to produce a stunning arrangement.
Philpotts Interiors
Placed to a side table in a long hallway, one bromeliad is perfectly paired with a sculptural eye pot that brings focus on the wealthy decorative components in its proximity.
Reynlds-Sebastiani Design Services
Bromeliads require only enough dirt to anchor their origins, which means you can make arrangements in odd containers that wouldn’t be suitable for additional soil-loving plants. You can even make a natural landscape look with an arrangement of stones, so that bromeliads appear to be growing between the cracks.
Alpha Design Group
A group of four bromeliad plants at one tapered container is well proportioned and an elegant addition to this neutral dining room. The brilliant red bromeliad blooms balance the red clouds at the painting like the eye dances between the painting and the headboard, creating a subtle sense of activity in an otherwise quiet space.
Grants Gardens
Outdoors, bromeliads are often planted in a bed of stones, a look you are definitely able to duplicate indoors with a large, very low planter. Here, the low-lying blossom of this Nidularium is particularly magnificent amid the apple-green leaves.
Westend Interiors
Get creative with bromeliads by combining them with other plants. This Aechmea bromeliad is along with the foxtail fern for striking results. Inside you can use any mixture of bromeliads effectively in the base of a tall tropical shrub of any type, remembering the different watering needs of every species.
The Aechmea is among the most resilient and longest lasting of bromeliads. The big, beautiful plant features a stunning light-pink bract that can last up to half a year, and also the mother plant and her offspring could be relatively easy to keep for several years.
How to Take Care of Your Bromeliad
Infection: Bromeliads endure a wide range of temperatures, with an ideal range of 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 29 degrees Celsius).
Light: Bright, filtered or indirect sunlight is best, although the plants are usually tolerant of low-light ailments. Varieties with thick grayish leaves prefer bright light, while those with thin green leaves prefer lower light. The common houseplant varieties, Nidularium, Vrieseas and Guzmania are indigenous to the huge canopies of tropical rain forests and can survive in low-light ailments.
Water: The plants are extremely drought tolerant, though it’s best to keep the soil evenly moist or let it reach mostly dry between waterings. Do not overwater or permit the plant roots to stand in water. Tank-type bromeliads possess a natural reservoir that could hold water from the “cup” in the peak of the rosette or at the leaf axils in the base. To reduce stagnation and mineral salt buildup, should you supply water this way, flush those areas by pouring fresh water within the plant, inverting and filling again. If it seems hard, provide water through the dirt; your plant will not be quite as happy but will receive the water it needs. Water quality is important — use tap water to dirt watering, and rain, distilled or reverse-osmosis-filtered water for the tanks.
Soil: Nonalkaline, but most importantwell-draining, dirt is crucial to prevent root rot.
Feeding: Not necessary, though to speed the development of pups (see “propagation,” below), slow-release fertilizer is most efficient. A half-strength combination of liquid fertilizer can be put into the cup no more than once per month.
General: Blooms will last longest when the temperature is cool and light levels are low to moderate. Not all bromeliads grow well indoors, though many do. Beginners are advised to start with a mature and tolerant variety that is just beginning to blossom. After gaining experience, think about more difficult varieties and start propagating plants.
Propagation: Once flowering is complete, the mother plant will produce small puppy plants around the outer perimeter of its foundation. A bromeliad is a really slow-growing plant. The pups will take about six months to rise to about one-third the size of the mother plant. If the pups reach that dimension, separate them by the mother plant. Permit the young plants to grow for six more months, after that time they might be mature enough to blossom.
Other Factors
Air purification: While most ordinary indoor plants purify the atmosphere during the daytime, bromeliads release oxygen and eliminate air pollutants during the night time. When combined with foliage plants, bromeliads can help supply indoor air purification round the clock.
Cautions: None. Bromeliads are considered to be nontoxic.
Native environment: South America, from Mexico to Brazil.
Great tip for bromeliad enthusiasts: Bromeliads could be made to blossom by exposing them to ethylene gas. Place your bromeliad in a transparent plastic bag with a ripe apple. Seal the bag nicely and do not open or remove the plant for 2 weeks. The apple will give the ethylene gas, and also the bromeliad should flower in two to four weeks.