Bromeliads In Pots
Which Bromeads Can Be Kept In Pots?
Many
bromeliads are kept as pot plants in a suitable growing media. As a
general rule all but grey leaf tillandsias can be kept in pots.What Are The Advantages Of Using Pots?
Pots are conveniently transportable allowing the bromeliad to be moved and protected from adverse weather conditions such as frost or hail. Being moveable you can bring the best specimens to better viewing positions as they reach their peak.
When planted out into gardens while in the pot the bromeliad can be held higher than the surrounding ground. In this way the lower leaves can receive good air flow and resist rot from touching damp soil.
Potted broms are also simpler to deal with regarding pup removal.
What Potting Mix For Potted Bromeliads?
The roots should be buried in an open well draining substrate. The media choice should be one with an open well draining character. Around 20% of the pot should be made up of small air pockets. General potting mix is typically a poor choice as it will be to fine or rapidly break down and become compact.
Substances used include bark, coarse sand, coir fibre, nut shell husks, sphagnum moss and perlite. Often a mix is concocted from these ingredients. Bromeliad growers often develop personal preferences and particular species can also favor one choice over another.
Coir fibre or coconut fiber is one of the more recent bromeliad medias to gain in popularity. It is available in loose bags or convenient compressed bails. These compressed coir blocks are doused with water to produce a volume of up to 70 litres from one 4.5kg block.
Ground dwelling bromeliads such as pineapples and puyas require a heavier mix than their tree dwelling cousins.
Bromeliad Pot Size and Shape
It is often said that bromeliads are best kept in small pots rather than giving them more room than needed. This practice can allow for better air flow through the root zone and a reduced chance or foot rot.
Squat shape pots have two advantages for the bromeliad keeper. They are likely to be more stable with taller bromeliad plants or during wind. Also squat pots provide more width which suits bromeliads with a tendency to grow roots horizontally.
