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| Bromeliads |
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Bromeliads are members of the lily family, and are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world where they have adapted themselves to make the most of their surroundings.
For instance, many bromeliads have adapted their root system for holding onto branches of host trees, and not for gathering moisture and nutrients as most plants do.
Some have developed the ability to absorb nutrients from rainwater captured in the central rosette of their leaves, and others trap moisture from the air and gather nutrients from any pieces of debris that fall around them.
Most prefer bright filtered light, but not direct sun.
Potted bromeliads prefer a relatively coarse peat-based potting soil, or a purpose blended orchid mix.
Most bromeliads do not become root bound, making it unnecessary to re-pot them.
However, when they finish blooming, the parent rosettes die off, and the offsets formed at the base of the parent plant can be re-potted separately to make more plants.
They must not be detached until their rosette is several months old and has developed the shape of the adult.
Take them, with some roots and pot them shallowly in a coarse, peat-based potting compost or specialist orchid mix.
Do not keep them too wet, allow the surface to dry to the touch before watering.
It may take several years for them to reach blooming size.
Watering; Types with a rosette of foliage, should have the rosette kept full of water at all times.
Empty the rosette every couple of months and refill it.
Those without water-holding rosettes should have the soil kept moist but not wet.
Water the soil in the pot only when it becomes dry.
When watering it is better to use distilled water, rainwater or snowmelt water and not tap water.
Air plants such as Tillandsia, i.e. those that are grown attached to something like a piece of wood rather than potted up, should be misted several times a week.
During the winter months when the central heating system tends to dry the surrounding atmosphere spray more frequently.
Alternatively stand them on a humidity tray, or support with a moss covered pole.
Bromeliads like the temperatures of around, 21°-24°C (70-75ºF).
They may require higher temperatures to make them into bloom,
They can tolerate temperatures down to 10°C (50º.F)
As mentioned above, they get all their nutrients from the air; however it is good to spray them with half-strength liquid fertilizer several times in the summer.
n.b. mix the fertilizer with distilled water, not tap water.
If the plant doesn't seem to want to bloom, try triggering the process by enclosing it in a plastic bag with a ripe apple.
The ripe apple will release ethylene, a gas that encourages ripening or blooming.
Keep it out of the direct sun for a week.
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