Methods and precautions for cultivating bromeliads at home

Maintenance tips for bromeliads

Temperature Management

The suitable temperature for the growth of bromeliad is around 30℃. In winter, the growing environment should be maintained at 12℃-20℃. In summer, it should be placed in a cool place. Indoors, it can be placed next to a south-facing window to absorb scattered light.

Humidity Management

Bromeliads require the air humidity of their growing environment to be above 65%, so during the peak growing season, it is advisable to water them more often and increase the humidity (spray water around or on the ground). Be careful not to spray water on the leaf clusters, otherwise it will cause the leaves to rot. When the humidity is too high, proper ventilation is needed to increase air circulation.

Soil management

When potting bromeliads, there should be ventilation holes in the pot and mixed culture soil should be used (a mixture of leaf mold or sawdust, soot ash, river sand and garden soil). Clean the upper part every two to three years, remove old leaves and maintain the underground rhizomes.

Fertilizer and water management

Bromeliad has high requirements for fertilizer and water, but be careful not to apply fertilizer casually, over-fertilize, or apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers excessively. When applying fertilizer, follow the principle of "apply light fertilizer frequently, small amounts, and many times."

Pest and disease management

Bromeliads are susceptible to anthracnose, gray mold, middle spot, stem rot, wilt, mealybugs and scale insects, so you need to be more careful when dealing with them. The prevention and control of anthracnose requires 500 times dilution of 25% Carbon Trane wettable powder or 600 times dilution of 27% Copper Gaoshang suspension in a 1:1:160 ratio of Bordeaux mixture. Do it once every half a month, for a total of 2-3 times.

How to propagate bromeliads

There are three methods for propagating bromeliads: sowing, cutting and division.

Seeding method

The seeds of bromeliad can only be obtained through artificial pollination, and the most suitable sowing time is from late April to mid-May.

Cutting method

Cut the leaf axes growing next to the main plant from the base, retain 3 small leaves at the tip, insert them into the sand bed, place them in a cool place for maintenance, and keep the environment at around 30℃ and within a relatively high humidity range. Bromeliads can take root within three weeks and can be transplanted within seven weeks.

Division method

This is a commonly used method for propagating bromeliads. It is carried out when repotting in spring. The suckers between the leaves of the bromeliad are separated, and they are planted after being cut with the rhizomes. They should also be placed in a cool place. The advantage of this method is that the transplanted bromeliads are very easy to survive.