How Long Can Potted Bromeliad Live?

Bromeliads are easy-care houseplants.

Bromeliads are easy-care houseplants.

Bromeliads, more than 3,000 plants in the Bromeliaceae family, provide color and a decorative air to a home. Originally from the tropics of South America, Central America and Africa, these plants are easy to care for and are easy on the pocketbook. The most common variety of bromeliads, the flowering guzmania (Guzmania spp.), last for two to three years. To get the best out of those years, give your bromeliad the care it needs.

Potting and Soil

Most bromeliads sold don’t have huge root systems, so small pots work well. There is no need to repot the plant until the roots completely take over the container. Plastic pots retain more water, so be careful -- root rot is more frequent in plastic-potted plants. Terrestrial bromeliads -- those that grow in dirt -- grow best in light soil that drains quickly. Choose a potting mix that has perlite, vermiculite or bark nuggets to help with aeration and drainage.

Water Sparingly

Bromeliads are tropical plants that don’t need much water. Water when the potting soil is dry to the touch. Soak the root system, but don’t drown it. If the water puddles on the top of the container, you’ve watered too much. This can cause root rot and kill the plant. If it’s drier or hotter than normal, water more often. Air bromeliads -- those who have exposed root systems and don’t need soil to grow -- need to be misted about once a week, more often when it is drier or hotter than normal.

Fertilizer and Pesticide

You don't need to fertilize bromeliads because they have a short life span and you don't want to speed that up. If you do choose to fertilize, make sure that it is at one-fourth or one-half the strength called for by the manufacturer’s directions. Bromeliads are almost pest-proof, so you're unlikely to need insecticides. Scale insects and mealybugs are the most common pests and are easily wiped off with a rag soaked with rubbing alcohol or dishwashing soap. If you do use an insecticide, make sure it is not oil-based because it will clog the pores of the plant and kill it.

Flowering and Death

Fortunately, bromeliads die in a quite lovely manner. Flowering is the end of the life cycle of a bromeliad, but that flower can last up to a year during the dying process. When they start to die, they also develop offshoots, called pups. These pups continue grow as the parent plant dies, giving you a host of new plants to break off and plant independently when the pup is about half the size of the parent. Leaving the pups attached to the parent plant is possible, creating a large colorful clump, but it may prove a bit more difficult to detach the second generation of pups because of crowding.

About the Author

Bannerman Westcott has been writing professionally since 1996. She has covered weddings, parenting, education, travel and employment. With a Master of Arts in history from Northern Arizona University, Westcott teaches secondary and college students in both history and English.

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