Bromeliads are tropical houseplants that thrive in low humidity environments, so at the start of the winter season growers often worry about whether bromeliads need to be propagated or if their bromeliads will survive that season, which is often classified as extreme weather.
The best season for a bromeliad is summer, so the transition from summer to winter in terms of bromeliad propagation can be difficult for growers. Do you have a bromeliad garden and are you worried about its survival in winter?
Read on to find out the fate of your bromeliads.
Contents
Can bromeliads be grown in winter?
In general, bromeliads thrive in low humidity environments, direct exposure to harsh winter conditions can be hard on your bromeliads. Unfortunately, if grown outdoors, your bromeliads cannot survive the winter.
Some types of bromeliads can survive in a cold environment, but once the weather drops below 50°F, the bromeliad will freeze and death is inevitable.
However, there are ways to circumvent this difficult season and protect your beautiful bromeliads; Certain measures and precautions would help sustain the life of your bromeliads. By following these precautions, your bromeliads can survive the winter season when grown indoors.
What happens to bromeliads when kept outside for the winter?
Your bromeliad is at high risk of dying if exposed to the harsh conditions of the winter season. The center of a bromeliad has a cup/reservoir that stores water to supply nutrients to the plant. If this water freezes, your plant’s growth will be affected.
Additionally, the soil for your bromeliad is often drier than normal in the winter, which can harm your plant. A sign that poor soil condition is affecting the plant is that the bromeliad’s bright colors will begin to fade, which means the appearance of the foliage has been compromised.
Humidifiers may not be as helpful right now. That is why it is recommended to change the environment of the plant during the winter season.
Protective measures for bromeliads in winter
Although bromeliads cannot survive if grown outdoors during the winter season, there are steps you can take during this season to protect the longevity of your bromeliads.
Take the following steps and your bromeliads will not only survive the winter season, but also bloom attractively.
- If your bromeliads are grown outdoors, you may grow them in pots or containers. This plays an important role in the conservation of your bromeliad; If your plants are grown outdoors but placed in pots and containers, you can move them indoors or to a more sheltered location, such as a heated garage or greenhouse.
- Bromeliad growers are encouraged to move their plants indoors during the winter season. If your bromeliads are grown on rocks or trees, use pots or containers to store them during the winter season.
- If you used old pots or containers, be sure to clean them before planting your bromeliads.
- Your bromeliads should be cleaned before moving them indoors. You can spray the leaves and then wipe them to repel insects. This is to prevent pests from spreading from the bromeliad to other houseplants in the room.
- When moving your bromeliads indoors, it’s important to separate outdoor bromeliads from indoor plants. This is to protect your other houseplant from being contaminated by your bromeliads.
- If you isolate them for a while, you can identify which plant is affected. This discovery will help him in his next action: remove the affected plants and isolate the other plants for longer.
- Be sure to move your bromeliads to a well-lit area; Bright light is essential for the growth of your bromeliad. You don’t have to worry about protecting your bromeliads from direct sunlight. Fluorescent bulbs or incandescent bulbs would help provide bright light inside.
- Because bromeliads thrive in areas with low humidity, you may need to use humidifiers to get the soil mix your bromeliads need, which should be moist but not soggy.
- If you have pets indoors, keep them away from your bromeliads. Pets tend to chew bromeliads, especially cats and dogs, although bromeliads are not poisonous to them, they can get sick or choke from chewing the leaves, especially if they are puppies or kittens. Repellent sprays are said to help keep your pets away from bromeliads.
And now after winter?
Taking the above steps to protect your bromeliads in winter will ensure full bromeliad blooms and even bromeliad pups at the end of the season.
At the end of the season, depending on your choice, you can decide to keep your bromeliads indoors or put them back outdoors. If you have bromeliad pups then your bromeliad garden is large, you may want to consider giving some of the pups to your neighbors.
conclusion
It is important to study the nature of the bromeliad plant you will be propagating to take into account its cold tolerance.
Despite this, it is recommended that you move your bromeliads to a low humidity environment during the winter to maintain and support the growth of your bromeliads. Your bromeliads are sure to flourish if you follow the suggested steps.