“How to transplant a bromeliad” is something flower lovers need to have knowledge about. These plants belong to a large and diverse family of flowering plants. In fact, they are a staple as houseplants all over the United States and other parts of the world.
In this article, you get to learn the A to Z of moving a bromeliad from one pot to another without damaging it.
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What Are Some Useful Factors That Help Transplant a Bromeliad?
🔥 Some useful factors that help transplant a bromeliad are waiting till spring season, using acidic soil that is well draining, and maintaining temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to water the bromeliads both before and after repotting them.
-Best Time to Transplant
Bromeliads, like the vriesea plant, should be transplanted from the early to late spring period. Trust us, there is no better time to move these plants from one pot to another. During spring, the weather is right, the roots have a lower chance of drying out, and the plant’s growth is at the right level.
Since these are flowering plants, we recommend that you finish the repotting business in early spring. Carry out the transplantation before new flower buds emerge so that the plant’s flowering is not affected. A bromeliad transplanted in early spring might produce fewer flowers that year, but it will still bloom on time.
– Fertilization
The ideal soil for splitting and repotting bromeliads is a well-draining and loose one. It needs to have the perfect balance of being able to retain moisture as well as drain the water out. You can ask your local nursery owner to give you a well-made mixture to pot bromeliad.
The looser the soil, the better the roots will be able to grow within it. These plants only grow in mildly acidic soils with pH around five to six. Adding peat or perlite to the soil has the dual advantage of making it both acidic and well-draining.
– Watering Requirements
Bromeliad plants are relatively drought-tolerant and can survive being underwatered occasionally. Consequently, they cannot tolerate water logging or overwatering conditions as their roots are highly susceptible to rot. During summertime, clean water the bromeliad mother plant every week or every other week.
This will make these plants healthy enough to survive transplanted in a new pot. It is okay to overwater this plant a day before taking it out of the pot so that the soil becomes soft. You should water the new soil as soon as the bromeliad has been repotted in it. Although they can tolerate various types of water, rainwater or filtered water is the best choice for bromeliads.
– Temperature Requirements
These plants like to grow under mild to moderate weather conditions the best. 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the best range of temperature in which this flowering plant thrives. Whether you are transplanting a mother plant or a bromeliad pup, this is the perfect temperature range to do it.
That is why early spring is when you need to transplant these flowering plants like neoregelia. If your area has only moderately warm summers, transplantation can also occur. Winter temperatures are unsuitable for transplanting these plants because they are usually dormant and unable to survive repotting.
– Proper Pot
The perfect size of the new pot to replant bromeliads is no more than one-third larger than the root ball. Of course, you can only measure the exact size of the root ball once the plant has been dug out. All members of the family Bromeliaceae are sensitive to root rot when even mildly overwatered. The best pots for bromeliads have several medium-sized drainage holes at their bottom.
The pot can be made from any material, which doesn’t matter. It has been seen that bromeliads tend to last longer in clay or ceramic pots as compared to metal or plastic ones. Although it is not necessary, having your pots sterilized can help prevent the spread of infections during transplantation. Place something like filter paper over the drainage holes so the soil does not leak through them.
– Light Requirements
The thing that makes bromeliads the best houseplants is their low light requirements. Even if they do not get direct light at any time of the day, they can still carry on growing wonderfully. They can be grown in any brightly lit room where they receive partial or indirect light. Bromeliad varieties with soft leaves generally prefer conditions of low light.
Growing these plants in bright, direct light for most of the day is also possible. Bromeliads with thick, rigid leaves and bright colors like to grow under direct light. If such a plant has been growing under low light, then do not transplant it to a brightly lit place without proper acclimatization.
How Best to Transplant a Bromeliad by Yourself
To best transplant a bromeliad by yourself, use a shovel or a gardening knife to loosen the soil and take the plant out. Clear the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, pour some soil over the base of the pot, and place the plant in its new pot.
– Supplies You Will Need
Before you find out how to transplant a bromeliad in the ground or the pot, you must have all the right tools ready. This would make things go so much smoother and help prevent unwanted transplant shocks.
You must have a pot of the right size and material ready beforehand. If the drainage at the bottom of the pot is inadequate, create additional holes yourself. The next is to go to a nursery and obtain the ingredients that you will need to make the perfect potting soil for this plant.
A small to moderately sized shovel will be needed to dig the bromeliads out of their old pots. If the size of your bromeliads is too large, then use a larger-sized shovel instead. A sharp knife helps detach the soil from the periphery of the old pot. Keep some support ready when transplanting these plants. The support can be in the form of sticks, pencils, or stakes, depending on the length of the main stem.
– Preparing the New Soil
Purchase two-thirds peat-based soil and one-third sand to make the perfect potting mix for bromeliads. Mix both these ingredients well and with time to properly introduce air into the mixture. You can also go for pre-made mixtures like orchid mixes, charcoal, and soilless mixtures. The pH of this soil should range from five to six because bromeliads grow well in acidic soils.
– Divide the Bromeliads if Necessary
If you want to know how to transplant a bromeliad pups, then this section is for you. The pup needs to be almost one-third as tall as the mother plant if it is to survive in the new pot. To break off the pups, hold the mature plant in one hand and rip the pups off with another. Take no more than one-third of the pups at one time; otherwise, the mature plant might not survive.
– Preparing the New Pot
Take the new pot and make sure that it is of the right size according to the plant. The drainage hole at the pot’s base should be of the right number size and be patentable. If they seem blocked, then push a screwdriver through them to open them up.
The sandy part of the soil often leaves the drainage holes along with the water. It is best to leave filter paper over the base of the pot on top of the holes. Pour a layer of reasonably-sized pebbles as the first layer of the new pot. Then, fill the pot with a two to three-inch thick layer of the soil that you have just prepared.
– Putting Bromeliads Inside
Keeping the plant’s main stem in a vertical position, place the roots evenly over the pebble and soil base. Spread the roots all over the base of the pot as gently as you can. If any of the roots look damaged or diseased, then it’s best to just cut it off at this point.
After spreading the roots in the pot, start pouring soil all around it in even layers. After each layer, gently tap with the shovel to prevent air pockets from forming inadvertently. Cover all the roots with the soil up to the rim of the pot, which is the point from which the roots emerge from the stem.
– Watering the New Plant
The first watering right after a plant transplant is essential and should not be taken lightly. The new soil is dry, and the plant roots are under a lot of stress. Take your time watering; pour an adequate quantity as soon as repotting is complete. These plants respond best when distilled water or water collected after a rain is used.
The quantity of water should be almost twice the volume of the new plant pot. Only dump some at a time over the soil, as it is quite ineffective. Instead, take your time and slowly pour water over the soil and wait until it begins to flow out the pot’s drainage holes. Take care not to water the bromeliads during this step because they might get fungal infections.
– Mulching the New Plant
Once the bromeliads have been planted in their new soil or pot, it is time to spread some mulch over them. This is not a strictly necessary step, but it really helps the roots establish themselves in their new home. Mulch has several benefits when applied correctly over most house plants after transplant.
Apply a layer only one to two inches thick over the soil covering the roots of the bromeliads. Organic mulch like wood chips or grass cuttings is the best because it breaks down over time and releases nutrients in the soil. Mulch also helps the newly mixed bromeliad soil to retain water, suppress unwanted weed growth, and regulate its temperature.
Conclusion
Here is a brief recap on growing bromeliads in the ground, as discussed in this article:
- Wait till the early spring period before the flower buds form to carry out a repotting.
- Go purchase a clay or ceramic pot that is well-draining and about two inches bigger than the plant’s root ball.
- Some bromeliads like growing in low lights, while others prefer direct sunlight. After transplanting, ensure that your particular variety’s light needs are fulfilled.
In this article, you learned about moving an overgrown bromeliad to a larger pot when right. Use our time-tested step-by-step guide to complete a successful transplant, even if it’s your first time trying it.