i think the leaf clutter is the problem, i do water them, but around them, not in the cup. we have alot of them and kinda just stick them anywhere. your garden is incredible!

For the most part the thicker the leaves and more thorns they have the more sun they will take. The thiner the leaves the less sun. I don't do much to mine except weed out the dead ones and spinkle used coffee grounds in the cups to keep away the mosquitoes. The used grounds I save in an old coffee container and when I have enough just walk around and sprinkle. Easy Peasy.

Once they flower they will die off, some takes years to flower. They will also make pups, so the mother plant shouldn't be removed too soon. The pups need to be almost as big as the mom to be removed to start a new plant else where. I've found mine do better in the ground then in pots for the most part.

Hi Anna,
Since you can grow everything so beautifully, I can't imagine you having trouble with bromeliads!
I think the key is as mentioned above- don't overwater or fuss at them! You know I have lots and I never do anything but maybe water a little during the early spring drought. If I'm feeling energetic, I might clean out some leaves. If we have lots of rain, I will wash out the standing water as it will be a happy place for mosquitoes and sometimes rot.
BTW, did everything survive the cold weather? My garden is looking sad with yellow leaves (those that are left!) but thankfully, I didn't lose much.
Hope all is well with you,
Hester

I grew mine under oak trees for years. Actually, the oak leaves that fall into the cups feed the mother plant while she is making pups. A little BT in the cups keep the mosquitoes out, especially on the larger ones. If the pups aren't getting as large as the mother plant, that may be because you aren't fertilizing them. They don't need much, but I always tossed a little citrus fertilizer around them twice a year. Mine always did great.

I agree with "don't water them." I used to think I had to keep water in the cups at all times, but that only applies to growing them indoors. They thrive on neglect.

Lets start with...what kind of bromeliads are you trying to grow? I have no problems with aechmea and neoregelia broms. They grow under my oaks and,agreeing with dirtygardener, the oak leaves in the cup are a good thing.
Gusmania and Vriesea-the kind from HD are a little different. I grow those in wire hanging baskets w/fiber liners. They hang from the oak tree. I was fighting scale on some billbergias but hopefully that's in check.
So what kind are you growing?

Thanks for all the suggestions. However, I am still perplexed!!! These are all neoregelias I think. Ricky, are the Martin ones neoregelias? I don't ever water them, I'm too lazy. Some are where sprinklers hit them, some aren't. I think all are under trees in filtered light, and now most have leaves and/or acorns in them. I don't fertilize them, again, see above (I'm too lazy). I have a few aechmeas that do great in same conditions. I have never seen scale or any other insect pests. What seems to happen is that the mom rots from the cup way before she's supposed to die. Maybe it's the sprinklers hitting some of them, but what about the ones that don't get sprinkled? Do you all put your bromeliads where they won't get hit by sprinklers? Should I be fertilizing them? I thought they didn't need much fertilizer. I hardly fertilize anything, and I never thought they needed it because our soil is pretty good. Still perplexed.

Anna

Anna - Yes. Neo "Martin".

Two shots of a partially renovated bed that I did last week. The area with the mulch and large pink Bromeliads had two huge Agave americana that I finally yanked out of the ground and trashed along with all the pups. The fuller areas are Neo "Fireball" and Neo "Martin", planted at least 10 years ago. Also a bunch of Bromeliads in pots (that you can't really see, not the succulents in the foreground) and one large "Little Harv" jammed into the multiple trunks of a False Aralia.

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A pathway lined with Neo "Martin", something I think is called "409", Neo "Kahala Dawn", and a couple of others whose names I forget. Both of these areas are on the north side of my garden, fully exposed to cold winds across the lake. They get irrigation from a couple of rotor heads three times a week. Minimal water.

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Oh wow, Ricky, that's absolutely gorgeous! I love the mass planting effect and how you put the Little Harv between the trunks of the false aralia. Thanks for showing me. Even my neo. fireballs wither away. I don't know why for the life of me. The Martins that I've had a couple of years just have tiny tufts left. You said there are sprinkler heads there that water three times a week, but there is minimal water? My sprinkler head gives a good amount of water but once weekly. What do you think? It is not close to the areas, kind of at a reach. Do you fertilize them?

Anna

Anna - even though they need minimal water, they should always have a bit of water in the cup. It's entirely possible that yours are drying out. No fertilizer.

Gosh, I'm in 8b and mine have been under a live Oak, in a 25-gallon nursery pot, forgotten about for 90% of the time - I remember they are there when I see them blooming. They don't get much water, because the tree is so dense.

I don't know how they survive, but they've been outdoors, year around, for 3 and 1/2 years, with no help from me. I guess it's just dumb luck, 'cause I sure can't grow them in a pot, where I remember to 'take care of' them!

Ricky, they are definitely not drying out. They all have water in the cup. I'm thinking maybe too much shade? Anyways, I guess I'll just have to observe and maybe switch them around this spring if they're still alive.

Kay, that's what I've been expecting from my bromeliads. Guess somethings not quite right for mine. I'll keep trying.

Thanks, everyone.

Anna

all mine are under deciduous trees and fill up with leaves and such. Sooooo..whenever I blow off the patio (which is probably not that often except in fall) I use the blower on them to blow the cups clean. I don't aim it at every cup, I just sorta blow over the area and the leaves come out.
My main reason is not to clean the cups, but to be able to see the flowers.
Lori

I began growing bromeliads about a year ago
My situation is a little different being I am one of those snowbirds
12 years I have been living here winters and getting the hang of things somewhat
But I am so pleased with bromeliads and yes when I am up north they receive very little if any care.
This is my first full year of having them in the garden and so many are in bloom I can not believe that I didn't try these plants years ago down in Florida

Just thought they would be so difficult to deal with
Some are in shade and others in full hot sun
I have not really become familiar with names and such
Did join the Bromeliad society in Ft. Myers One of the best garden clubs I have ever attended.

Thanks for the information I did fertilize some of the plants with epson salts just thrown in to the containers Most of mine are in containers.
don't know if it will be any harm hope not

While most people say not to fertilize them, my neighbor sells them at plant sales and flea markets and he does. He says so do the growers he buys from, but not very much. I don't do mine on purpose but they do get fetilizer when I do the other plants. I use a slow release granual and can't avoid getting some on the bromeliads.

I was given a Queens Tears (Billbergia nutans) bromeliad for Christmas. It didn't come from a nursery - it came from someone's back yard - and there were actually three plants in a pot of sandy soil. And a tag that said "Christmas Cactus" LOL! I separated them today and planted all three them at the base of my oak in the back yard on the east side which will be almost all shade.

My question is about propping/staking them up. They don't have too many roots - and given all of the warnings above, I didn't water them - but they want to lay sideways. Is it normal or ok to stake broms upright until they are established?

Anna, I hope that your broms are doing well!

Thanks,
Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Google Images - Queens Tears Bromeliad

Are coffee grounds okay to spread around the soil where Bromelids are or would that be too acidic?

When I bought a bunch of large bromeliads at Tropiflora the woman there said to plant the pots directly in the ground. It helps support the plant. Obviously that won't work for you, but may in the future. I often support the bromeliads I get from yard sales and neighbors, if they need to be upright.

Carol B. in Sarasota

I sprinkle coffee grounds in the brom's cups, it keeps the moquitoes from laying eggs in the water. :o)

Carol, I've often used a stake of some sort to support the newly planted broms too.

Have your irrigation water tested. Copper kills bromeliads. If there is copper piping (corrosion within them), that means traces of Cu ions are reaching the bromeliads.

Thanks for the advice. I have each one supported with six little stakes around, holding it upright. That first day I planted them, it was so windy, I turned around and they had blown right out of their planting holes! Now they are "good". Thanks again!

Carol

Glad I checked in today! I have moved some more of my bromeliads to non-irrigated areas to see if they do better. I almost think they already do. Not sure.

Crueltyfree, I am way too lazy to blow the leaves out. They would die if I had to do that. You are obviously more disciplined than I.

Carol, I do secure them either with rhizome clips if they are bare root, or leaving them in pots. Gosh, haven't been to Tropiflora in so long. Should really try to go sometime soon.

Katkin, that's such a great idea about coffee grounds in the cup. Do you really feel it helps?

Thanks gusolie, I think our irrigation water was tested a couple of years back and it's very good actually.

Until I figure out if they are doing better, I am not buying anymore! Thanks everyone.

Anna