Bromeliad Plants

Bromeliad plants are tropical American flowering plants that are increasingly popular for use in the home or office. Because of their heartiness, bromeliad plants have successfully made the unlikely transition from exotic tropical plant to common house plant. But how did they get there?

History of Bromeliad Plants

Bromeliad plants were originally found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Americas. In their natural state, they attach themselves to the branches or trunks of larger plants and trees. Some people mistakenly call them parasites, but since they get their nutrients from rain and moisture in the air, this isn't technically correct.

Bromeliad plants are very good adapters, a characteristic which has greatly facilitated their transformation into potted house plants. They are able to survive in a wide variety of environments, and can thrive on different amounts of moisture and sunlight. Since they're relatively easy to care for (and very easy on the eye) people began using them for indoor decoration many years ago.

Bromeliads come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors, but most of those used indoors have a few recognizable features. The plants typically have rows of thick, greenish-grey leaves arranged in a star pattern around the base. At the top (and this is the feature that creates their striking appearance) they carry a large spike-shaped flower. The flower can be red, orange, yellow, or any shade in between. You can even find bromeliads with tantalizingly striped flowers!