Watering is the most important aspect of caring for your Bromeliad. Bromeliads take water through their leaves rather than through their root system. Most Bromeliads, with the exception of the small stiff leaved varieties such as tillandsias, have leaves which form cups in which they hold water. These cups are like mini reservoirs which the plant uses as needed. It is important to top up these reservoirs so they are fairly full most of the time. How often they need topping up will of course depend on the weather and where your Brom is situated.
Tillandsias and the other stiff leaved varieties do not have cups in which to store water and are therefore watered differently. They have small, silvery coloured hairs on their leaves which increase the plant’s surface area allowing it to absorb more water and moisture. Therefore, just wetting the leaves with a spray bottle two or three times a week is normally sufficient.
All Bromeliads prefer rainwater to tap water. Tap water can contain chemicals and sediments which can occasionally leave a residue on leaves. This can be rectified by popping your Brom out in the rain every now and then!
