My opinion on broms

You love them and you hate them. LOL
Went out yesterday to pot up some of the pups growing off of them and realized why I
wasn't a big fan of broms. THE SPINES ! ouch !

I love all plants and have a little of this and a little of that. I've always had a few broms around
and found that they need little or no care, but when it comes time to caring for them ..... watch out
don't stick your hand down to pick up a pot without looking first.

Right now I'm not a big fan , = (

I prefer the ones with out spines. = )
but in any event here are a few pix of some of my broms



Sylvia

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6
this was given to me a couple of months ago
and didnt have time to pot or plant so I stuck it in the ground
until I can .... and if flowered , LOL . the flowers last a long time.
its been weeks .

I like this one waiting for babies
this one doesnt look so good , it took a beating
from her house to mine and many of the leaves had broken off
or what leaves were left broke off. so it looks really sad now
but I look forward to some pups.

close up

Hi Sylvia, I have found if you can get some toe socks (socks with digits) cut the tips of the digits and use them as gloves. You can pull them up passed your elbows and this will make it a bit more comfortable when working with the spikey ones!
I must admit, I hate the spikes too, but always have multiple scratches up my arms!
I would guess that
#1 is Aechmea fasciata
#2 is Aechmea 'Lucky Stripes'
#3 is Vriesea splendens
#4 might be a Neoregelia 'Fireball' in which case a bit more light and less fertiliser will turn it fire engine red!
#5 also looks like neoregelia, with a hint of red also.
#6 could be a Portea? possible P. alatisepala
Very nice pics!
Sue

Sue ,
Thanks for the ID's on the broms.

what should I fertilize with? I never fertilize broms, so I have no idea what
to use.

Thanks again ,
Sylvia

Oh number 5 stays really small ,
doesnt grow very big and has babies like crazy but I've never seen a flower ?
any reason why?

I think, because it looks like a Neoregelia, that the flower is quite low in the centre of the plant, that you might not have noticed it. It probably gets tiny purple flowers in late spring/summer.
We have a granulated, pellet type product here, called Osmocote, or nutricote. I usually put a half teaspoon on the top of the soil in spring, being sure it doesn't touch the plant (I worry it might burn the foliage) Also a weak solution of liquid fertiliser is good in the warmer months, applied in the early morning to avoid burning the leaves. I use an orchid fertliser product. most department stores have them in the gardening department. Just follow the directions, and if in doubt, use less!
I really do feel that #4 & 5 will go bright red if you give them some early morning sun, increasing it to midday in winter! (but shade it at midday in summer of course)
I hope this has been some help.
Sue

Thanks much,
I'm going to try it


Sylvia

Sounds like I need to put my fire ball in more light. This summer I have none of my Bromeliads in bloom which I miss. Maybe later on.

I have been getting more Broms and at first didn't realize how sharp some of them are. I use my rose gloves when handling them but that doesn't stop me from getting cut on occasion when watering and moving other plants around. I think I need to organize mine in one area so they aren't spread out and mixed in with the other house plants.

The 6th bromeliad is Aechmea fulgo-ramosa--a beauty, sometimes called Aechmea 'Shining Light'.

heh heh... that is funny.

We have several thousands of bromeliads and my biggest bane is getting jabbed constantly by them. I finally decided to get smart and use gloves.

Oddly though, as much as I hate getting jabbed, I took an interest in what I call 'evil little murder plants' just because of their nasty, sharp huge barbs, DYCKIA.

I think of all the plants one can own, bromeliads have got to rank as my number one favorite plant of them all.

I never wanted to grow spiky plants until dyckias--I love them! Now, 3 yrs into collecting, I am looking at Neoregelias. But they take up so much room....and have to be moved inside for winter.....but.....

Best of luck performong an opino; og yourself... I FELT THAT HURT