Bromelia
( broh - MEE - lee - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly called Heart of Flame, this genus of perennial plants requires full sun and regular water. They are relatives of the Pineapple plant, and are native to South America, Central America, and the West Indies. These plants are known for their large, colorful foliage and eye-catching flowering stems. Grow Bromeliads indoors, in greenhouses, or in protected areas of the garden as specimen plants.
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Bromelia species and varietals
The genus Bromelia is the type genus member of the plant family Bromeliaceae and includes around 70 species. The Bromelia genus is named for Swedish medical doctor and botanist Olof Bromelius. Bromelia plants grow well in zones 13, 19-24, H1 and H2, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. They are typically grown as indoor houseplants or in greenhouses in many areas around the world. For more growing information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Bromelia antiacantha This species is native to Brazil and Uruguay. and produces a large rosette of spiny foliage that ranges in color. Flower infloresences are conspicuous and pink to white, raising well above the foliage before fading to reveal edible, acidic-flavored fruits. These plants are capable of forming colonies via underground stolons, and can be grown either in pots or in the ground. |
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Bromelia balansae Reaching 4 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, these plants display beautiful green foliage that turns scarlet in spring or early summer. Pink flowers with white edges form on a spike. These plants are native to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and Paraguay. |
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Bromelia hieronymi Native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, this species of Bromelia is not self-fertile. Fruits are said to have anti-inflammatory properties. |
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Bromelia palmeri Endemic to southwestern Mexico, this perennial species produces a ground-level rosette of strappy, rigid blue-green foliage. Flower inflorescence rises above the foliage clump to showcase yellow flowers. |
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Bromelia pinguin This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America. It is very commonly seen in Jamaica. |
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Caring for Bromelia
Bromelia plants can be grown outdoors, though in climates that have cool winters, they are better when grown in containers so that they can be brought indoors or into a sheltered location during the coldest months of the year. They prefer temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and tend to develop issues when grown outside of this range. Choose an area that receives bright, filtered light but not direct sunlight. Afternoon sun will scorch foliage; morning or evening sun is best. Deep water about once every month or two, allowing all moisture to drain away from roots. Keep the central cup filled about halfway with fresh water, replacing the water every few weeks to avoid mosquito larvae from developing in it, and to discourage bacterial growth. Apply a dressing of compost around the base of plants yearly in springtime, working it into the soil a bit.
Growing Bromelia Indoors
These plants are commonly grown as indoor houseplants, or in greenhouses in order to better mimic their natural habitat. Place your plant in an area of the home that gets bright, indirect light but no direct sun. In their native environment, they will grow under the canopy of much larger plants, and can survive for a while in lower light but do need more to flower and initiate the bright foliage color they are prized for. Ensure that soil is well-draining and relatively light. A mixture of a succulent and cactus soil, orchid park, worm castings, and compost does well. Water deeply every month, soaking the entire pot and then allowing it to fully drain. Keep the cup (the center part of the plant) halfway filled with water, flushing out the cup every few weeks to discourage bacteria and pests. In cooler months, when the plant is dormant, keep the cup filled a quarter of the way and reduce deep waterings to once every two months. Plan on repotting Bromelia grown in containers about once every four to five years. They have small root systems, and are typically epiphytic in their native environments, and therefore do not have demanding root systems. The best time to repot them is in springtime.
Growing Bromelia Indoors
These plants are commonly grown as indoor houseplants, or in greenhouses in order to better mimic their natural habitat. Place your plant in an area of the home that gets bright, indirect light but no direct sun. In their native environment, they will grow under the canopy of much larger plants, and can survive for a while in lower light but do need more to flower and initiate the bright foliage color they are prized for. Ensure that soil is well-draining and relatively light. A mixture of a succulent and cactus soil, orchid park, worm castings, and compost does well. Water deeply every month, soaking the entire pot and then allowing it to fully drain. Keep the cup (the center part of the plant) halfway filled with water, flushing out the cup every few weeks to discourage bacteria and pests. In cooler months, when the plant is dormant, keep the cup filled a quarter of the way and reduce deep waterings to once every two months. Plan on repotting Bromelia grown in containers about once every four to five years. They have small root systems, and are typically epiphytic in their native environments, and therefore do not have demanding root systems. The best time to repot them is in springtime.
Propagation
There are two main ways to propagate Bromelia: by pup (volunteer) and by seed. The easiest way is through pup, or volunteer plants, because it requires the least amount of disruption to the parent plant and ensures that you will get an exact clone, which is something not guaranteed by the seed propagation method. Peruse the propagation methods for Bromelias below:
Propagation of Bromelia By Volunteer Pup
The easiest way to propagate Bromelia plants is by cutting off their pups and replanting them where you'd like your new plant to be. Pups are best propagated after they've had adequate time to grow alongside their mother. The larger the pup, the more likely it will be able to make it on its own. The best time to remove pups is when they are between 1/3 and 1/2 the size of their mother. To propagate your plant by pups, you'll need a clean blade, trowel and a pot filled with soil half amended with gritty sand (or filled with cactus mix; dealer's choice). Once you've gathered your materials, follow these steps:
Propagating Bromelia by Seed
Propagation of Bromelia By Volunteer Pup
The easiest way to propagate Bromelia plants is by cutting off their pups and replanting them where you'd like your new plant to be. Pups are best propagated after they've had adequate time to grow alongside their mother. The larger the pup, the more likely it will be able to make it on its own. The best time to remove pups is when they are between 1/3 and 1/2 the size of their mother. To propagate your plant by pups, you'll need a clean blade, trowel and a pot filled with soil half amended with gritty sand (or filled with cactus mix; dealer's choice). Once you've gathered your materials, follow these steps:
- Loosen the soil around the bottom of your plant where the pup has formed and locate the root that is connecting it to the parent plant. Cut the attachment with a sharp trowel. Take care to not cut off any of the other roots that are coming out of your pup.
- Gently dig up the pup, keeping as many roots attached as possible. Then, place your pup in a shaded, dry area that receives good ventilation for a few days, until it forms a callous where it was cut from the parent plant.
- Plant your pup in your pot filled with potting mix and lightly moisten the soil, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the container in an area that receives bright light and stays relatively warm.
- Give the pup water every time the top inch or two of soil dry out, but don't saturate the soil. After a few weeks of this watering schedule, the pup should be ready to be planted outside in its permanent home. Then, follow the instructions in the care section to grow your pup into an adult plant.
Propagating Bromelia by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Remove the feathery material from seeds before sowing.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Bromelia produces pups, or offshoots, that can be removed from the parent plant and replanted on their own.
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Bromelia seed pods contain small seeds attached to feathery material.
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Problems and Pests
Bromelia plants can have issues with the following pests and diseases:
- Spider Mites
- Root Rot
- Crown Rot
- Leaf Spot
- Rust
- Aphids
- Mosquitos
Gallery
Bromelia can be grown outdoors in warm, tropical climates.
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These plants are commonly paired up with succulents in the landscape.
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Many gardeners first encounter Bromelia plants in nurseries or grocery stores; they are commonly gifted.
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Videos
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All about plants in the Bromeliad family.
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How to care for gifted Bromelias like a pro.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 204, Bromelia balansae
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