Re: Bromeliads

Adding orchid bark is a good idea. Many [most?] bromeliads are epiphytes and only need to be potted or planted in the ground so they'll have some place to grow. I wouldn't use any potting mix; I suspect it's used commercially to reduce plant maintenance [fewer waterings]. None of the bromeliads at Selby--that I can recall--are planted in soil. Those in hanging baskets are growing in bark, but most are growing in nothing on tree limbs, "driftwood," and big rocks.

On May 13, 2006, at 7:08 AM, Andrea Hodges wrote:

Because it stays so humid here most of the time, I was thinking of adding some orchid bark to the potting mix to help with drainage. I use Fafard, but the particular one I have is not as coarse as I'd like. What do you think? Do you discard the mother plant because it won't bloom again on that particular "part"? I have some keikis, but truthfully I discarded a few due to rot. One plant I just tossed out completely. Dry shade I can do. I can put them with the begonias.
A
----- Original Message ----- From: "Cathy Carpenter" <cathy.c@insightbb.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 11:49 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Bromeliads


Mine like it on the dry side, and are not particularly pot bound.
When they finish blooming, I wait for off shoots to appear, then
divide the plants, repotting the keikis and discarding the "mother
plant". I use a general purpose potting mix, however, that said, I
have had a bad experience with cut rate potting mix - found it mucky
and very slow to drain. Thank God I discovered the issue before I
bought more than two bags.

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On May 12, 2006, at 7:54 PM, Andrea Hodges wrote:


Hi all! I haven't been keeping up too much with Chat lately. I hope
everyone
is doing well. I'm finished with my classes for the semester.
Hallelujah!

I have inherited several bromeliads from the nursery I work for
since they
were no longer retail quality. I know nothing about them except
they like
water in their cups. My question is, how do I take care of them?
All of them
have leaves with dead portions, and they were planted in some
horrible mucky
media. Some rot, definitely some anaerobic conditions going on.
Some of them I
just yanked out of their pots and spread the roots out and left
lying there
the smell was so bad. I thought I was going to gag, and I'm usually
not that
weak stomached.

What do they like? Shade I know, but what kind of potting media?
How big of a
pot? How much water? These were saturated. I turned them upside
down to let
all the gunk out. Where do I go now?
I know I can look it up but I'd like to hear from some of you who
are good at
them.
A
Andrea Hodges
Beaufort, SC
Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue
www.blueridgeboxerrescue.com

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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

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