by Jennifer Poindexter
Have you ever heard of the aechmea bromeliad plant? It’s a unique houseplant that some people really enjoy having around their home. It has dusty green foliage which produces a vibrant bloom. The flower comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Though, they tend to all have a spiky appearance.
The plant definitely adds a statement to the area it’s decorating. If you’d like to try growing this plant, you may be wondering how to care for it.
Don’t worry about these details because you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you should know when caring for the aechmea bromeliad plant.
1. Create the Right Grow Space for the Aechmea Bromeliad
The right growing space for an aechmea bromeliad is versatile in some areas, but there are certain requirements which must be met.
First, this houseplant can either be grown in a container, or it can be attached to rocks or trees. In nature, the plant grows on rocks or trees. Therefore, you can recreate this in the growing area within your home.
Once you’ve decided how the plant will grow indoors, be intentional about the type of soil you use.
Planting this houseplant in a container, using a soil mixture that’s appropriate for orchids, is your best option.
If using a container, ensure it’s sturdy. This plant can grow to become quite large. If the pot can’t support the plant, it might topple over.
Realize that this houseplant won’t need to be repotted. The root system isn’t very intricate. Therefore, where you plant it is where it should remain.
The final things you must provide in a growing space is the right lighting and the right temperature. This plant prefers indirect sunlight and temperatures which are 55-degrees Fahrenheit or greater.
Provide these necessities to give your aechmea bromeliad the proper start.
2. Water the Aechmea Bromeliad Properly
There are two different portions of this plant that must remain watered to care for it adequately. The first place to add water is in the middle of the plant.
In the center, where the flower emerges, there’s an area which forms a cup. Fill the cup approximately halfway with water.
Be mindful not to overfill the cup because it will encourage the plant to rot. Every two months, dump the water from the cup and replenish it.
The other place you must water is the soil. It should only be watered once per month, and allow the soil to dry out completely between watering sessions.
It’s wise to use the deep watering method when applying water to this plant. Place the plant outdoors or in your kitchen sink when watering.
Apply water until it’s running from the bottom of the container. When this occurs, stop applying water, and allow the container to drain fully.
When this happens, you can place the planter back in its growing location. Be sure to test the soil before applying any more water.
You can test the soil, before the next watering session, by inserting your finger into the dirt. If it’s dry to your second knuckle, the plant is ready to receive more water.
Once winter arrives, reduce the amount of water being applied to the plant. The soil should remain dry over winter as this is the dormant stage.
Follow these steps to ensure the plant receives the right amount of water, in the right places, and at the right times.
3. Rinse and Fertilize the Aechmea Bromeliad at the Right Times
Some houseplants thrive from regular feedings and other house plants prefer to be left alone. The aechmea bromeliad is one which likes to be fed regularly.
You should fertilize this plant once every two months. Only apply fertilizer to your houseplant during the spring and summer months, while the plant is growing.
Use a water-soluble fertilizer which has been diluted by 75%. When applying to the plant, be sure you don’t get any in the vase. This is another name for the area in the center of the plant where you apply water.
Fertilizer has too much salt for the vase to handle. Therefore, it’ll bring damage to your plant. After you achieve the right schedule for fertilizing plants, you should also care for the foliage.
Use a spray bottle to spritz the leaves. It will rinse them to avoid any residue build-up. You only need to do this one time per year.
By feeding your plant regularly and caring for the foliage, you’re giving it what it needs to reach its full potential and remain healthy.
4. Propagate the Aechmea Bromeliad
Once you get the hang of caring for aechmea bromeliad, you might decide you want more of this plant. You don’t need to buy more of them.
Instead, you can use what the plant produces to propagate without spending extra money.
This house plant produces pups. These are babies from the mature plant. When the plant begins producing pups, the stem and flower will start to turn brown.
Every plant has a life cycle, and this is signaling that the mature plant is entering the end of its life. When the plant begins to brown, you can cut the flower off and the stem down.
By doing this, you’re making room for the pups to grow within the same container. However, you may wish to use a different container for your new plants.
If so, wait until the pups reach a half foot in height. When this occurs, dig up the entire root system, and transplant the pups into new containers.
Ensure the containers meet all of the stipulations the plant requires in its growing conditions. This was mentioned previously in this article.
This is how you can keep a continuous cycle of aechmea bromeliad forming in your household. Take care of the mature plants, and you shouldn’t need to purchase anymore moving forward.
5. Keep the Airflow and Humidity Accurate
The last thing you must know, when caring for the aechmea bromeliad plant, is how to keep the plant happy within its growing space.
You may plant the houseplant in the right container, with the right temperatures, provide the right amount of nutrients and water, and supply adequate lighting.
However, if your plants don’t have the right amount of airflow and humidity, they still won’t be happy. You can provide the right amount of airflow by ensuring the plant has room to breathe.
Don’t clutter up the space around it and leaving a fan circulating in the room, where the plant is, will help with air circulation. The foliage shouldn’t cause issues with hindering airflow.
Some homes are more humid than others. If your home is high in humidity, you may not need this next step.
Also, if you’re growing the aechmea bromeliad plant in a naturally humid room in your home, such as a bathroom or kitchen, your plants may not need additional humidity.
For everyone else, it might be a good idea to spritz your plant with a spray bottle one time per week. This will help increase humidity around your plant.
If the foliage of the plant ever begins to turn brown, increasing the humidity might help the plant to recover.
This completes our discussion on how to care for aechmea bromeliad. It’s an interesting houseplant with very basic needs.
The only curveball the plant might throw is the application of water. This is unique to the plant, but if you want to grow plants with an interesting appearance, you must learn how to meet their specifications to ensure they grow well in your care.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to have a wonderful growing experience with this houseplant as it adds beauty, and a statement, to your home.
Learn More About Growing Aechmea Bromeliad
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/fp014
Leave a Reply