A terrarium with bromeliads and poison frogs can be a beautiful sight. But to maintain the color, shape and markings of the plants, extra care is needed. In this article, you will learn how to properly care for bromeliads in a terrarium so that they remain the ultimate eye-catchers of your terrarium.

Ideal Conditions for Bromeliads.

Bromeliads are grown and kept in nurseries in Asia under ideal conditions. Unfortunately, weather conditions in Asia are difficult to simulate in a 50 x 50 x 50 terrarium. The sun, humidity, heat and wind all play a crucial role and cannot be replicated. Still, with proper care, you can maintain the color, shape and markings of bromeliads.

Light: An Important Component for the Wellness of Bromeliads

Light is one of the most important components for the well-being of bromeliads. It is essential to provide a well-balanced color spectrum with sufficient red and blue light to stimulate growth and flowering and activate the phytochromes in plant leaves.

Invest in Skylight LEDs

There are many LED lamps on the market, but often it seems to revolve only around the highest Lumen output. Your terrarium will be lit so brightly that hardly any contrast or shadow can be detected. Leaves may get brown/yellow spots and edges because of the unfiltered bright light. There is too much yellow in the spectrum that does almost nothing for the well-being of your bromeliads and other plants.

Is it wise to invest in Skylight LEDs? Yes indeed! Skylight has the ideal color spectrum (high in red, green and blue) for plants under terrarium conditions. It provides filtered, diffused light and has enough power to grow your plants without burning them. This is exactly why we only sell terrarium lighting from this brand.

Proper Temperature

In addition to the right light, the right temperature is very important. Bromeliads grow best at a temperature between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius. Therefore, make sure the temperature in the terrarium is always within this range.

Humidity

Bromeliads need high humidity to grow and thrive. Make sure the humidity during the day is between 50 and 75%. You can achieve this by spraying regularly and by using a humidifier.

Ventilation

Ventilation is one of the most important factors in successfully keeping bromeliads. If there is insufficient ventilation, the temperature and humidity rise, which can lead to mold growth. Therefore, make sure there is adequate ventilation in your terrarium by installing ventilation strips at the bottom and top of the terrarium.

Coils

It is important to flush your bromeliads regularly to prevent too many nutrients from being absorbed by the plant. Too many nutrients cause the plant to stretch and develop thin leaves from the core. Therefore, rinse your bromeliads once a month with fresh osmosis water to prevent them from absorbing too many nutrients.

Watering

Bromeliads do not need much water, but it is important to make sure the plant is always kept moist. Make sure there is always a layer of water in the center of the plant. The substrate in which the bromeliad grows must also be kept moist.

Growing your own

It is important to note that growing bromeliads from pups requires some time and patience. It takes about 9 to 12 months for a puppy to grow into an adult.

When the pup has reached about 1/3rd the size of the mother plant, you can safely cut it off. It is best to place the pup in Coco-husk, outside the terrarium. Make sure the pup gets enough light and humidity, between 45% and 60%. Spray with diluted plant food every 3 weeks for the first 3-4 months. After that, you don’t need to use any plant food and just spray with osmosis water. This helps the puppy develop its shape and color.

Always make sure there is a layer of water in the center of the plant to prevent drying out. If the bromeliad is crooked, it may grow asymmetrically. Don’t forget to water the substrate (Coco-husk) the bromeliad is sitting in from time to time. If the substrate dries out, you can water it again until it is completely saturated with water.

Growing bromeliads from pups is a challenging but rewarding process. Hopefully this information will help you properly care for your bromeliads and grow them into beautiful mature plants.

Good luck!