“Conifer Animals
The existence of succulents is one of the best-kept mysteries among fans of succulents.
bromeliads. I’ve looked at a couple of the books on this topic, and I at least get the feeling that
succulents. The fact that many writers give them very little attention, if any, suggests that
demonstrates a certain lack of allure. They don’t have as spectacular of blossoms as mesembryanthemums.
They lack elephantine caudexes and are incapable of having an extreme form.
contrast with the alien inhabitants of the African desert. They do, however, have an
their own inherent attraction. This attraction has been improved by hybridizers, and there are now a
There are several attractive hybrids on the market. They are often quite resilient, drought
tolerant plants that (when properly acclimated) can be placed indoors as good houseplants
summertime without worrying about sun damage. The sentences that follow will introduce a
them moved up into the trees in an effort to find light, leaving the dark forest floor, or
onto an area of open rock with no opposition. Assuming this epiphytic (or
they created a reservoir or “tank” in the middle of their saxicolous) way of existence.
their rosettes, where they kept water between downpours. They started to rely more on
To obtain water and nutrients, their leaves are more dependent than their roots. The
Some plants, like Spanish moss, ceased developing roots at a certain age to act as a holdfast on bark or stone.
all within typical conditions. Certainly, some bromeliads were content with their
flora on the woodland floor. The lovely earth stars (cryptanthus) grew well in the moist and
a heavily shaded setting. They had no need for a tank, so they didn’t create one. One
C. warasii, a member of the cryptanthus species, was compelled to acclimate to a more rough way of life.
life. In arid and sunny conditions that would have soon killed other organisms, C. warasii survived.
any of its relatives from the rain forest. As an adaptation, it grew thicker leaves (a tank).
It had a water reservoir and fangs to defend itself, making it pointless to have one.
It produces new offshoots in the leaf axils out of several leaves coiled around the primary axis.
quickly clumping together. When it is not in flower, people could mistake it for an agave or an aloe.
But instead of being raised on a tall scape, its blossoms are tucked away in the middle.
cryptanthus, a rosette-like plant, is. Similar to C. warasii, succulent bromeliads frequently
resemble a haworthia, agave, or aloe. The leaf surface is one area of distinction. The balances
(Trichomes), which result in the characteristic silver striping and frequently velvety surface
Succulent bromeliads are among the many bromeliads that can be found. Despite its, C. warasii
The appearance, while intimidating, is velvety to the touch. The edges of the leaves of C. warasii are
good-looking teeth (cf. the fine teeth of its rain forest relatives). Leafy parts of
require good-sized pots to grow successfully and to create a massive root system. Many
many of them can stand the sun. Despite being succulent, they need a lot of water.
during the time of harvest. Like other succulents, they do best when stored on shelves over the winter.
at colder temperatures, the dry side. Several plants can survive the winter without watering, although
Most require occasional hydration, particularly if they exhibit signs of dehydration. They
Although sparingly, like other succulents, fertilizer may be applied during the growing season. Their
Only succulent terrestrial bromeliad species that can grow are included in the list below.
similar environmental circumstances to cactus and other desert succulents, frequently growing alongside
Abromeitiella: No name given. The genus recently received new assignments for its four species.
Succulents from the 32 species of Earth Stars are an exception, according to Cryptanthus: C.
warasii, as already mentioned, and C. bahianus, which, while less scrumptious than warasii,
There are 14 species of Deuterocohnia. D. lorentziana and brevifolia (formerly Abromeitiella)
In the Andes of Argentina and Bolivia, tiny rosettes form enormous mats or cushions. Their
The scape will bloom again in subsequent years if it is left uncut (unique among bromeliads!).
Native to Brazil’s arid regions, it can also be found in southwest adjacent nations.
Wintertime lows in the 40s are common. producing a mat or clump with tiny yellow, orange, or
29 species of native Encholirium can be found in northeast Brazil’s arid regions. the same as Dyckia in
habit. green or yellow-green flowers. Due to its spectabile inflorescence, E.”
found in Guatemala, Honduras, and the southern U.S. as well. branching inflorescence in a complex way
held on a long stem. Flowers come in white, pink, and yellow-green. The blossoming shoot endures.
immediately following flowering This results in a significant cluster along with prolific pupping:
12) Hechtia tillandsiodes “diam.) has delicate gray leaves that resemble tillandsias.
since (in certain species) the stem bearing the leaves becomes straight at maturity (ortho+phytum=straight plant),
Tall scapes do not grow on O. saxicola. It covers the rock with 4-6-inch mats “rosettes,
How is a bromeliad plant cared for?
The majority of bromeliads only blossom once in their lifetime. Bracts, a leaf-like structure from which an inflorescence may arise, are the vibrantly colored leaves that are frequently mistaken for flowers. A bromeliad expands by adding fresh leaves to its center. The core will eventually fill up, making it impossible for new leaves to grow. The bromeliad will now concentrate its attention on creating pups, often referred to as offsets. A bromeliad’s bloom and vibrant bracts can both linger for several months. Once the blossom starts to seem unattractive, you can trim it back. Cut the spike as far as you can without harming the rest of the plant using a sharp, sterile implement. The mother plant will sadly finally pass away. Hopefully not before having descendants to carry on its legacy. Check out our free Beginner’s Guide to Bromeliad Pups to learn more about puppies.
You can continue to enjoy bromeliads both inside and outside for multiple seasons by following a few easy instructions.
- Luminous illumination without exposure to the sun
- uphold ideal humidity
- Maintain airflow around the plants.
- Make that the plants are kept moist but not drenched.
- Drainage has to be addressed
- sparingly fertilize
Always read the instructions that come with your specific type of bromeliad. The needs for caring for bromeliads might vary, and you might need to make some adjustments for best growth, such as how much light they receive or how often they are watered.
Can bromeliads be grown in cactus soil?
You’ve consumed a bromeliad’s fruit if you’ve ever eaten a pineapple. Ever been to Savannah or Charleston? Another kind of bromeliad is the Spanish moss that drips from the trees and gives those towns their distinctive appearance! While you could attempt growing your own Spanish moss or pineapples, the bromeliads that gardeners find most interesting tend to be more like houseplants while still looking just as exotic. With their wild red and yellow leaves or perhaps even a large pink bloom in the center, you can frequently find them for sale at grocery shops or garden centers. (Air plants are also bromeliads, but we won’t discuss them here because they require entirely different maintenance.)
Although some fortunate Floridians, Californians, and others living in frost-free locations can grow them outside year-round, bromeliads make excellent interior plants. The following information will help you grow bromeliads.
How to Choose Bromeliads
Since there won’t be much to choose from in northern areas, you’ll essentially have to take what you can find. However, there will be more options in the South and West. They are all stunning, so don’t worry; just pick the one that grabs your attention.
Where to Grow Bromeliads
Bright, indirect light is ideal for bromeliad growth both inside and outside. They shouldn’t be placed where the afternoon sun will directly hit their leaves because that could cause them to burn, but they also shouldn’t be placed in a dim area. Lack of light causes bromeliads to develop long, floppy, green leaves that lack their distinctive hue. Simply transfer them to a brighter area if you see that is happening, and the color will return.
Move a bromeliad you’ve been cultivating indoors outside for the summer after overnight lows in your location are routinely above 60 degrees. For a few days, keep them in a safe, protected location. This process, known as “hardening off,” will assist plants in adjusting to their new habitat. You can relocate them further away from the house after a few days. They won’t suffer from morning sun, but they’ll need protection from the intense afternoon sun.
How to Plant Bromeliads in Containers
- Look for a pot with many of drainage holes that is no bigger than 1/3 the size of the root ball of the bromeliad you want to plant.
- Fill the pot with Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, which is especially formulated for low-water plants, to a depth of 1/3 since healthy bromeliads require well-drained soil. Alternately, try Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix if you frequently struggle with fungus gnats around houseplants. There is no compost or bark in it, neither of which may serve as a bug haven.
- Placing your bromeliad will allow the top of the root ball to be between 3/4 and 1 inch below the container rim (to leave space for watering).
- More potting mix should be added to the area around the root ball.
- Set the pot on a catch tray or saucer, water your new plant in the cup formed by its leaves (more on that below), and transport it to its new location.
How to Water Bromeliads
You should water bromeliad indoor plants from the middle “cup” that is formed by their leaves. As bromeliads might be sensitive to the minerals and contaminants in tap water, keep the cup full and use distilled water or rainwater. Water should be at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant. Replace the water in the plant with fresh water after every 10 days. (When the plant is in bloom, add a bit less water to prevent the flower spike from decaying.) To prevent the roots from drying out, the soil in the pot should be kept just slightly moist.
How to Feed Bromeliads
Bromeliads in the wild gather fragments of insects, leaves, petals, and other decaying matter that fall into their cups. However, at home, they will require serving of their meals. Use Miracle-Gro Ready-to-Use Orchid Plant Food Mist to feed your bromeliad a month after planting, making sure to follow all label instructions. Bromeliads are closely related to orchids and should be nourished in the same way as orchids, which is by wetting the leaves. Always make careful to heed the instructions on the label.
What to Do When if Your Bromeliad Blooms
Many bromeliads won’t blossom, but if one does, you must cut down the flowering stalk as close to the plant as you can once the bloom fades. The drawback of flowering is as follows: A bromeliad’s mother plant progressively starts to deteriorate after it has flowered. However, she will first give birth to pups, which are like miniature dogs. To replace the mother, you can either divide them up or leave them in the container. To do this, gently separate the puppies from the parent plant, dunk them in Miracle-Gro Fast Root1 Dry Powder Rooting Hormone, and then set each one in a tiny pot filled with Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix or Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix. After giving your new bromeliad family some gentle water, relax and get to know them!
Are cactus and bromeliads related?
What is the first shape that comes to mind when asked to conjure a plant? A tree with a colossal trunk and a green halo on top? Or perhaps a delicate stem emerging from a piece of ground with leaves spread wide to catch the sun. How about a cactus with fleshy ribs and a pattern of wooden spines, or an air plant with a spiral of mossy gray leaves that appear to have escaped the substrate needed by the majority of its botanical relatives? These distinct growth patterns are the result of two different but related evolutionary paths that enabled these lineages to flourish in arid environments, from open sandy habitats to a forest canopy to the windowsill or bookshelf in your home where watering can, well, be sparse. I wanted to give two accounts of what I think are fascinating floral oddballs in Florida for my final post as a UFBI fellow. Although they are not particularly closely related in terms of evolution, cacti and bromeliads are two lineages of Neotropical plants that have adapted to Florida’s climate and have survived by using peculiar life history strategies. Neotropical plants are those that originated in and are primarily found in the tropics of South, Central, and North America. Their distinctiveness is ultimately what has made them extremely sensitive to the various invasions of anthropogenic change.
By Land, By Sea: Living on the Edge
The distribution of these species likely expanded and contracted to meet the prevalent climatic conditions of the time as a result of the adaptations that allowed Harrisia to spread into arid regions (Franck, 2016). It is plausible that historically, H. fragrans and H. aboriginum would have jumped from one part of the landscape to another in search of their ideal home because they both need “goldilocks light levels” while coexisting in a dynamic matrix of other species. Furthermore, despite the fact that some of the environments that Harrisia inhabits are fire-adapted, the species itself cannot withstand burning. The long-term survival of these Harrisia species depended on diversifying their range of habitats, so that when one area’s environmental conditions were unsustainable for plants, other populations might survive until conditions improved once more in another site.
By Air: Attack of the Weevil
Although humans frequently associate forests with trees, a recent study examined this prejudice. They discovered that our tree-based sample drastically underestimates the richness found in the canopy and confuses the forest with the trees (Spicer et al, 2020). The persistence of other interconnected species is greatly aided by alternative growth forms, such as epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants), which are far more difficult to access yet make significant contributions to the diversity of forest ecosystems.
These varied epiphyte groups primarily developed under the canopies of wooded wetlands. These habitats were periodically or continuously flooded, which allowed atmospheric air plants to thrive at greater air moisture levels. In the past, groups of bromeliads, ferns, and orchids gathered near water sources to form a protective cocoon of warmth and humidity that allowed them to survive frost. 7 Not only did these distinctive communities need a lot of relative stability and time to develop, but also a wide variety of epiphytic flora and all of the related fauna.