Bromeliads

Coming from the tropics, I love colour and a lush green look. Many tick these boxes, but I have found Bromeliads to be the most versatile. They have varied textures, from soft to hard/serrated, and come in all sorts of colours and fun patterns, such as spots! It has been fun learning about them over the years and implementing them in my garden designs. I found them easy to incorporate into many garden types and styles, and, best of all, fuss-free. Of course, like any other plant, it does need a little TLC[1] over time, but which plant doesn’t? There aren’t subtle tricks of the trade like getting them to flower when the conditions aren’t right, but aren’t simple enough to be a remedy.

So what are wonderful bromeliads?

Bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae. The family contains over 3,000 described species in approximately 56 genera [2]. One of its members is my all-time favourite fruit, the pineapple!  Ananas Comosus … YUM!!!  The family contains a wide range of plants, including some very un-pineapple-like members, such as Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides). Other members resemble aloes or yuccas (e.g., Dyckias and Hechtias) while still others look like green, leafy grasses (e.g., Pitcairnias).

They are found in a variety of growing situations:

Terrestrial species are found growing in the ground, either in bright sun along sandy beaches or in the shady understory of a forest.

Saxicolous species are found growing on rocks or on sheer cliff faces.

Epiphytic species are found growing on other plants, such as trees, shrubs, or cacti, or on artificial objects, such as telephone poles or telephone lines! The latter type takes its nutrition and moisture from the atmosphere and is hence aptly named “Air Plants”.

Versatile plants

So you get the idea that they are very versatile and well-suited to Melbourne’s fickle weather. The trick, though, is to use the right type for the right conditions, and then you’ll have a low-maintenance plant to add interest to your outdoor or indoor garden. For example, I’ve found [3] tbest in the sun whilst bilbergia’s anaechmea’s stems tend to take partial shade and shade better. Guzmania’s need she Guzmania’snds especially cold and/or frosty conditions, but if you do manage to succeed with them[5], the flower bracts are well worth it, as they are AMAZING!!

I’ve found bromeliads to be a good companion plant, to just that little something more visual in the garden – and the bonus is that they are not as short-lived as some tropical plants and are there for you to enjoy all year round, unlike perennials.

An example

Here’s a photo of a tropical garden I’ve put together to remind me of my parents’ own garden when I was growing up. They were keen gardeners, so I remember their garden as haphazard at best but full of interesting plants and textures. Eye candy for me! This particular patch faces the children’s bedroom window; they have a birds-eye view of it when they get up in the morning.

As you can see, there is a heavy emphasis on foliage shape and colour.[6]  I have always had a fondness for foliage plants, particularly variegated, random coloured, etc. It always pays to have a little fun and, in your planning, add a seasonal flair so the garden doesn’t end up looking the same every season! Don’t be afraid to experiment, though. If it looks and feels right, then stick with what you’ve put together. However, you do need to consider the maintenance and nutrition requirements of your pairings, as you don’t want to end up pairing plants of opposite sides of the spectrum together. You might end up losing both![7]

Check out the following examples of what broms are available out there:

With rare exceptions, bromeliads only flower a single time – once the plant stops producing leaves and produces its flower, it will not start making leaves again. It will, however, vegetatively produce new plantlets called “offsets” or “pups”, i.e., ‘free’ plants, therefore allowing you to expand your garden, slowly, on a budget! These plants will feed on the “mother” plant until they are large enough to set roots of their own and survive as separate plants. The mother may sometimes survive a generation or two before finally dying off. Pups are usually produced near the base of the plant – inside the sheath of a leaf.[8]

Maintenance guide

I’ve put together a quick maintenance guide for my clients, which I thought I’d share here in case I’ve tempted you to experiment with broms!:

Hope you have fun gardening and enjoy the outdoors. Nature is beautiful and in a ring. Feel free to drop me a line below if you’re as passionate about plants as I am!

Notes:

[1] Tender Loving Care

[2] So I’ll only mention a few popular ones here!

[3] General statement – not all variants!

[4] Some thought like the sun.  Be sure to re-up on the plant before you buy and plant!

[5] Best indoors in Melbourne, although I have successfully planted them outdoors near a sheltered north-facing wall.

[6] The bromeliads I’ve used here are commonly known as matchstick bromeliads.  The neor eli is in the picture to the right.

[7] For example, pairing a bromeliad with a heavy feeder.

[8] Sometimes, however, pups may be produced on long stolons or atop the inflorescence (flower spike) of the mother plant.  The green leafy top of a pineapple is, in fact, a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.

Some useful links!

Bromeliad plant care

Our other write-ups of interest are faux plants and proteas.

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