My Bromeliads

This blog is to showcase my bromeliads. I never thought of myself as having a "Green Thumb", but since I have been spending so much time at home, I have discovered that if you talk to your plants, they grow better. My mom asked me, "But what do you say to them?" And I replied, "Hello, you look like you need some water!"

In South Florida, inevitably you are given bromeliads. Bromeliads are deceptive because they usually have a big flower in the center when you receive them. Quickly the flower dries up and dies and you think you are a rotton gardener. My friend Nina (a real gardener) told me that bromeliads only bloom once and then have "pups" - little baby bromeliads - which then go on to have flowers of their own. Ah, the cycle of life!

Bromeliads are easy to care for, but they do need minimal attention! I killed my first bromeliad because I ignored it. They need moist soil and keep some water in the "cup" (although I have found they can survive without this, maybe that keeps the flower alive longer). They don't care for direct sunlight and do well indoors and out.

Here is my second bromeliad:



It is actually a hybrid called a Guzmania, but the same basic idea. I must have gotten it from a student a couple of years ago. I mistakenly thought it died and shoved the pot under a bush in the front yard. Next time I looked at it, it had sprouted pups! I trimmed off all the dry parts and, while it isn't the prettiest plant currently, considering everything, I think it's not bad!

Bromeliad #3:



I received this one as a baby gift (I'm not sure why, the baby never remember to water it). It nearly crisped from neglect at first, but has come back beautifully. It had two pups - seen below:




I have some other plants scattered around the house and they are all doing better since I started talking to (er...watering) them.