My Accidental Bromeliad Collection

I began collecting bromeliads almost by accident one summer when somebody offered me one that wasn’t flowering. Though the plant was unremarkable with its sturdy light green and silver leaves, I never say no to strays, so I took it in and stuck it under my plum tree.

As I approached the tree one morning that fall, I was delighted to see that a stunning pink flower had risen out of those unassuming leaves.

Since then, I’ve added several bromeliads to my garden, including tillandsias, which hang from my trees.

Bromeliads Are Gaining Popularity

Uncommon and even rare just a few years ago, bromeliads are quickly gaining popularity. Most nurseries carry at least one or two varieties, and you can sometimes find them in the supermarket. They’ve been traditionally grown as an indoor houseplant and make great holiday gifts, but most varieties also thrive outdoors in our mild climate.

“Gardeners are discovering that they can’t go wrong with bromeliads because they’re undemanding plants that can flower for as long as 16 weeks,” says Michael Kent, who with his family runs Kent’s Bromeliad Nursery Inc., a wholesale nursery in Vista.

“There are also a huge number of color and leaf variations in bromeliads,” he says. “The plants are structurally very different looking than anything else in the garden. They really give the landscape an exotic, tropical look.”

Easy to Care For

Bromeliads are also very easy to care for. They need water only every 10 days, and they don’t require fertilizing.

Origins and Growth Habits

Bromeliads are native to South America but tolerant of many climates. There are a number of varieties, the most famous being the pineapple. Most are epiphytic by nature, meaning they like to grow suspended from trees or other vertical objects, though there are many types that can be grown in soil.

Tillandsias thrive suspended from trees, while others do well in containers. There are bromeliads with tall, elegant flowers, such as the guzmanias, and others with colorful leaves, such as the neoregelias.

Bromeliads tend to bloom in spring and fall outdoors, but you can find them flowering in stores throughout the year.

Take home a bromeliad now, and it will continue to bloom for several weeks—maybe months—indoors or outdoors. Once the bloom fades, that portion of the plant will eventually die, but not before it creates a whole new plant that is ready to bloom.

In nature, bromeliads receive nourishment from the air or from liquid and debris that collect in the cup that forms at the center of their leaves. It is from this cup that each plant’s showy flowers usually emerge.

Why People Love Bromeliads

Those who grow bromeliads tend to do so because of the unusual look they give to the garden.

Archeologist Sylvia Meluzin of Placentia collects tillandsias and neoregelias because her odd-shaped garden calls for vertical landscaping.

“The idea of growing plants on trees and other suspended objects really struck my fancy,” says Meluzin, a member of the Orange County Bromeliad Society. “The silhouette of an epiphytic plant is different depending on the angle from which you view it. My hanging bromeliads give the garden a sculptural, three-dimensional look.”

Tips for Growing Bromeliads

• Water properly: Water the flower cup and soil, then allow the flower cup to dry before watering again. Constant water in the flower cup can lead to rot.
• Use well-draining pots: Potted bromeliads need excellent drainage or they may rot.
• Protect from excessive rain: Some varieties like Tillandsia tectorum may rot with repeated downpours. Consider covering them with plastic after the first rain.
• Provide filtered sunlight: Most bromeliads prefer filtered sun. Direct sunlight can yellow the leaves and brown the flowers.
• Protect from dry weather: During hot summer days or Santa Ana winds, mist twice daily to prevent dehydration.
• Use containers: Bromeliads grow well in pots or hanging from trees. They do not require a lot of space.
• Repot when needed: Repot when there is no lateral room for new growth.
• Secure hanging types: Use plastic 20-pound-weight fishing twine to suspend tillandsias. Loosen or reattach as branches grow.
• Prune sparingly: No regular pruning needed, but remove old flower stalks and leaves when they become unsightly.
• Don’t over-care: “Bromeliads do best when you don’t love them to death,” says Kent.

Join the Community

The Orange County Bromeliad Society meets every third Saturday of the month (except in December) from 10 a.m. to noon at 1621 E. Lambert Road, La Habra. For more info, call (562) 943-9829.