How to Take Care of a Bromeliad Plant

Overview

Bromeliads were introduced to Europeans by Columbus after his second voyage to the New World in 1493. These ornamentals, which include the pineapple, grow from the southwestern U.S. deserts to the equatorial rain forests. Bromeliads are tough, and they grow well as colorful, long-lasting houseplants.

Step 1

Choose a pot for your plant. Either clay or plastic will work. If your plant is quite large, choose a more stable clay pot. Use a potting soil made for tropical plants.

Step 2

Place your plant in an area that receives strong, filtered light. The room temperature should always be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3

Water well, and allow the soil to dry before watering again. Bromeliads in plastic pots will need to be watered less frequently than those in clay pots.

Step 4

Mist your plant every 3 to 4 days with water to keep up the humidity in the air. If you want to fertilize your plant, mist it with a light dose of bromeliad fertilizer (17-8-22) only during the summer growing season.

Step 5

Force your plant to flower by placing it inside a clear, airtight bag with an apple for two or three days. The bromeliad should bloom within 6 to 14 weeks. In most bromeliad subspecies, the parent plant will die after blooming, but offshoots (called "pups") will renew your plant.