Each Bromeliad grower will have their own tips and tricks but we’ve chosen a few ideas for a novice Brom fancier.
You will probably choose your bromeliad based on its size, foliage and flower. You could buy your plant from nurseries, online groups, local growers’ open days or specialist shows.
Some Broms ‘flush’ just prior to flowering. This burst of colour in the cup of the plant can be as attractive as the flower. The flush extends the decorative value of the plant by several months.
Once your plant has flowered though, it will grow some offspring called pups, and then languish.
Its flower will last several months so you’ll have time to think about whether you consign this one to the green waste or have a go at replicating your mother plant.
It makes sense to have a go at potting up your pups if the mother plant was expensive to buy.
Broms can be propagated with seed, tissue culture or pups.
Some Broms are long-lived and you’ll probably become quite fond of your mother plant, and even fonder of your ‘old mother’.
Bromeliads are epiphytic meaning they don’t need to grow in fertile soil. They will get their nutrients from air, water and decaying leaf matter.
Potting media vary but some local growers use either commercial orchid mix, or make their own with fine pine bark, coir and perlite.
To make a garden display, some gardeners put their potted Broms partially in or on the ground and surround them with bark chips.
Broms don’t need too much fertiliser. Some use slow-release beads such as Osmocote, or Seasol, but, whatever you choose, dilute it a lot.
Too much fertiliser could burn the plant or cause it to grow strappy leaves.
Too much shade can also cause strappy leaves.
If your leaves have dry ends, look for a reason.
Broms are pretty tough but they can be susceptible to flyspot and scale. Some problems are caused by the Broms being too wet or not having enough air around their roots.
Deleaf older plants from underneath to improve the plant’s appearance and to discourage bugs.
Mention Bromeliads in Gympie region and gardeners will rattle off quite a list of names of growers who have made keeping marvellous Broms and perhaps breeding new hybrids an art form.
If you need to get more specific advice, we suggest contacting the Gympie Bromeliad Friendship Group which meets on the last Sunday of each month, 2pm in selected gardens. For more details, contact Kerry 0448 823 222.
