Tropicals & Tender Perennials: PLEASE HELP SAVE A SUFFERING BROM!!!, 1 by weed_woman

weed_woman wrote:
Hi Cheyenne, and Sylvia, just dropped in on your conversation and wanted to add 2 cents. Re watering through your hot months, there are tropical bromeliads and cooler climate bromeliads, due to altitudes and countries of origin. http://www.baag.com.au/fsg_bromeliads.html
This site may help you choose a variety that best suits your hot summers.
I water mine in summer, where we get temps around 90 degreesF, about every two days. The secret to keeping them from rotting, is to use well draining potting mix (or soil if outdoors) Orchid mix is ideal. In winter, protection from frost is a must, and don't water much at all, as long as you can see some in the vase/tank in the centre of the plant, then it is ok. My temps go as low as 0 degress, but no frost. I haven't lost one over winter yet! So your low temps are quite acceptable.
If you want to keep them in a shade structure, try using a shade cloth of a cream colour, (to allow as much natural light) and about 70% UV block.
In the garden, plant the bromeliads on the morning sun side of overhanging foliage (such as palms and trees), so as to give them protection from the midday and afternoon sun.
Indoors, put them in the brightest, lightest spot you have, but NO direct sun. They don't mind some air circulation, so draughts are ok. Misting is not really nessecary, as Bromeliads have a complicated system where they can close off the cells of their leaves to reduce moisture loss.
I hope this helps with your next Bromeliad, and I'm very sorry for your loss *sigh* It's happened to all of us at one time or another, so get back on that horse gal, and get yourself a new plant!
Sue