Bromeliads are some of the most popular house plants, and with good reason. They come in a beautiful array of colors and foliage; they reproduce on their own, growing cute little baby bromeliads right in their very pots; and they will basically live forever with relatively low maintenance. Sometimes, though—every few months, if our specimen is typical—they need a little attention to their coiffure. Find out how to pamper them after the jump:
How To: Trim Your Bromeliads (and Enjoy It!)
Before
See those yucky brown tips? They aren’t a sign of poor health, just the natural dying off of the bromeliad’s older leaves. But let’s face it: they’re not so attractive. Fortunately, getting rid of them is easy. It takes us back to the days of cutting out shapes in grade school art class. It’s gleefully destructive, but also a nice hands-on outlet for our creativity.
First, get rid of any totally brown (aka dead) leaves around the base of the plant. You can just strip these right off.
Now comes the fun part. Use a regular old scissors—no gardening tool required. Cop a squat with your plant and hold the dying leaf just below the browned tip. Now shape the tip into a curved V, just like the other healthy leaf tips. You are using your scissors to replicate the natural shape of the healthy leaves. Amazingly, this causes no damage to your plant, as long as you don’t get carried away and start cutting healthy growth. Trust us, once you get started, it’s hard to hold yourself back!
After the Trim
When you’re finished, give your plant a nice bath, drawing a damp towel gently down the length of each leaf. And voila!
More bromeliad varieties: via San Francisco Foliage
Special thanks to our friend and horticultural guru Jason Dewees.
Comments (11)
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I was waiting at the airport and saw the plant guy go around and lovingly haircut the lobby plants like this! It was so fun to watch! And it solved the mystery of how plants in public spaces stay looking so nice.
view tam-tbag's profile
Thanks for this post! I've always been afraid to trim the leaves for fear that they would just brown where I cut them but now I know better.
view Monica's profile
Thanks for this! I thought those brown tips were a result of my equally brown thumb. I am feeling like a much better plant mom now!
view mistabelle's profile
This tip also works for snake plants.
view emmabemma's profile
Monica - Just to clarify, the tips of the browning leaves will indeed continue to brown and die back eventually, but this is how to keep them looking nice in the meantime!
Have fun!
view susiekn's profile
is that what kind of plant i have?
http://images45.fotki.com/v1423/photos/5/51621/6847793/IMG_1820-vi.jpg
the flower part of it was BRIGHT red when i first got it. for the past few weeks it's turned dingey and i thought it was dying. the green leaves are still green, it's watered, gets sunlight, etc so i thought i was taking care of it.
but you're saying the plant, including the flowery part, is supposed to do this? sorry if the questions are stupid, first plant i've owned! LOL!
Cheers,
M
view Matt. M's profile
brown tips can mean that the plant has gone too dry, (especially if you see it on newer growth), so if you notice this happeneing a lot, check the soil moisture.
also be sure to use sharp scissors or scarring can occur (especially with thick leaves, like snake plants- exactos actually work best for them since scissors crush as they cut).
view foodefafa's profile
better picture of what my plant looks like now:
http://images23.fotki.com/v826/photos/5/51621/223476/IMG_2296_1-vi.jpg
is this normal or is my plant actually dying? one or two of the red leaves is turning green which makes me think it's normal. but others are shriveling up. at first i was worried about over watering it, but now the leaves dry up quickly so maybe i'm over watering it now? i thought it was supposed to have water in it's 'cups'?
view Matt. M's profile
Matt -
It is normal for the flower to die back like that; you can just cut off the dead bloom. The rest of your plant looks healthy to me. Now that it has flowered, it should start sending out baby plants from the base (since the "mother" plant eventually dies too).
Anyone else have input for Matt?
- Susie
view susiekn's profile
thanks Susie. I should cut off the entire red part?! by the 'base' do you mean where the red bloom currently is another will grow once i cut it off?
Cheers,
M
view Matt. M's profile
cut it out as far down as you can (if it gets really dry, you can just pull it out). a bloom will not regrow out of the center. new sprouts will shoot out around the base of the plant and blooms may eventually come from those. these babies can be separated and repotted as individual plants, but this is tricky to do. the mother will continue to live as a green plant for quite a while if properly cared for.
tips on buying bromeliads:
- the longest lasting color varieties are those with the least distinct blooms (like the top right in that group of four).
- most varieties need to be kept out of direct sunlight. this can also cause browning of the leaves (like a sunburn on people). there are a few varieties that can take full sun, but the only one's I've seen have just been green.
- look for blooms that are very brightly colored. many will start to darken as they age. a bloom should last several months in excellent condition after you purchase it (four minimum, or you were sold an older plant).
view foodefafa's profile