Bromeliad

Love some color and tropical flair? A Bromeliad is your best bet for adding pretty plant power to a kitchen or bathroom shelf. These pretties love lots of humidity--but they require an eye on their water levels, so they make the best addition to the collection of an established enthusiast with a handle on regular plant care. 

CARE LEVEL: Casual Plant Enthusiast

CARE DETAILS:

Bromeliad plant care is easy and requires no special tools or fertilizers. Feed the plants with a half strength fertilizer every month in the growing season. Water needs are easily met by filling the cup at the base of the leaves. The water that collects in the pot should be emptied out weekly to remove debris and dead insects that stagnant water tends to lure into the cup. Set the pot in a saucer of gravel filled partially with water to increase humidity and help provide a moist atmosphere. Make sure the roots are not submerged in the water or this might invite rot. Some bromeliads grow well as “air plants,” which are glued or nested onto logs, moss or other non-soil organic items. You may have seen Tillandsia plants wired onto coconut shells with no soil. These plants collect all the food and moisture they need with their leaves but need a little help from you in the indoor setting.