A few questions have come my way about this topic so I want to share with you tips for bromeliad watering, specifically, how to water bromeliad plants indoors.
I’ve been growing bromeliads for many years, both outdoors and as houseplants. They did beautifully in my Santa Barbara garden happily growing 7 blocks away from the ocean where they relished the moisture from the coastal fog. I’ve grown them in my homes in New York City, San Francisco, and now Tucson where I currently live.
Bromeliad plants are easy to care for both indoors and out. If you’re new to the world of houseplant gardening, be sure to give one a go and you’ll be hooked in no time. Even though these pineapple relatives are native to the tropics and subtropics, they tolerate dry air in our homes just fine.
Be sure to scroll to the end. You’ll find commonly asked bromeliad FAQs along with answers.
Bromeliad Care posts & videos you’ll find helpful:
- Bromeliads 101
- Guzmania Care
- Aechmea Care
- Neoregelia Care
- Vriesea Care
- Pink Quill Plant Care
- Cryptanthus Care
- Air Plant Care (Air Plants are bromeliads. I care for them in a different manner.)
Note: This post was originally published on 2/20/2018. It was updated 11/27/2021 with more info & new images.
Bromeliad Watering
In a nutshell, I water my bromeliads every month. Here’s what I do:
I run water through the planting medium, whether it be moss, bark, coir, or a bromeliad planting mix. Let all the excess water run out of the drainage holes. You don’t want the base of the plant to sit in water. Make sure all water has drained out before putting it back in the decorative pot and/or saucer.
Summers are very hot and dry here in the Arizona desert. I water my bromeliads every 2-4 weeks at this time. You may need to water yours less often depending on the temperatures/humidity.
The tank (cup, urn, or vase) is the core of the bromeliad and is usually the center of the plant. It’s how the plant collects and stores water in nature. It gets thoroughly flushed out every 3-4 weeks to prevent any fungus or “funk” from building up.
If you’re unsure of how much water to put in the tank, it’s better to go with little water rather than too much.
After 1-3 flushes, I put a couple of tablespoons of water in the urn – just enough to keep it slightly moist in the winter. In the warmer months, I keep it about 3/4 of the way full and it dries out in about 5 days. For your bromeliads, 1/4 of the way full may be plenty determined by your environmental conditions.
I let the water run over the leaves for 10 seconds or so. It cleans the foliage and boosts the moisture and humidity factor, at least for a few minutes!
Here’s the watering can that I was using in the video. I have a larger watering can and a smaller one but this is a nice in-between size. The long neck makes it easy to get the water to where you want it to go.
How to Water Bromeliad Plants Indoors
Spraying / Misting Bromeliads
Bromeliads love humidity so misting or spraying is something they’d enjoy. I spray mine in the kitchen sink or outdoors every few weeks.
In the winter months and/or if your light levels are low, simply misting or spraying the tank and the leaves every 2-4 weeks might be enough.
Best Water to Use
Of course, rainwater is best and what they prefer. That’s not what the majority of us use to water our houseplants (me included) and most often, tap water is fine.
Water quality can however play a factor. If a white ring is building up in the tank, that’s a sign of high mineral content.
My tap water is high in minerals. I have a tankless R/O system that remineralizes (with the good stuff!) for my drinking water. That’s what I use for watering my indoor plants.
Some people use distilled or spring water when watering their bromeliads.
Bromeliad Watering in Water
In winter, the light levels are lower and the air is cooler. Your houseplants, bromeliads included, will need watering less often at this time.
I water the potting mix every 4-6 weeks at this time. Instead of keeping the tank almost topped off, I keep it about 1/4 – 1/2 full.
Adjust the watering schedule/amounts to fit your home’s environment in the winter months.
Good to Know About Bromeliad Watering Indoors:
Just know that it’s much better to keep bromeliads indoors on the dry side rather than consistently wet. This applies to both the soil and the tank. Rot will be their demise faster than you can say “Aechmea fasciata“!
You want to flush a bromeliad’s tank out because “funk” can build up in there. That water is stagnant after all. In nature, the tropical rains flush out the tanks.
If the tank looks like it had any funk build-up, let it dry out for 2-7 days before putting any water back in.
Bromeliads in small pots (4″) usually need watering more often than those in 6″ or 8″ pots.
If your light levels are lower and when temps are cooler, you’ll want to keep the tank dry or almost dry. Keeping it full in these conditions can lead to rot.
In the case of the above, simply misting or spraying the tank and the leaves will probably be enough. And don’t water the planting medium too often; every 4-6 weeks should be plenty.
Your bromeliad may have pups (babies) growing off it. When they get big enough, put a little water in their tanks too.
Bromeliads are susceptible to high contents of salts and minerals in tap water. You may have to use distilled water or rainwater.
Speaking of rainwater, when the monsoon season arrives here in Tucson, I put my bromeliads out to get a nice dose of rainwater. It cleans them off, thoroughly flushes the cup out and they love it. I snatch them back in before the intense summer sun comes shining because they’d fry.
Bromeliad Watering FAQs
It depends on the size of the bromeliad & your environment. Use this post as a guide & adjust. Just remember, I live in the Arizona desert. When I lived in coastal California, I didn’t water my bromeliads as often.
As I said, it’s best to keep them on the dry side when growing indoors. If the leaves are looking brown & “crispy”, that’s a sign they’re too dry.
In their natural habitats (tropical rainforests), they get it from rainfall. Most bromeliads are epiphytic (they grow on other plants) so that’s where the tank comes into play. Their root systems aren’t extensive & serve the purpose of anchoring a bromeliad to another plant.
Cryptanthus’ (Earth Star Bromeliads) are terrestrial bromeliads. I water the potting medium of mine more often than I do the epiphytic bromeliads.
It’s hard to give an exact quantity. See the answer to the first question!
The best way depends on your conditions & the type & size of the bromeliad. Keeping water in the tank, watering the potting medium, spraying & misting are all ways to water a bromeliad.
No. The majority of bromeliads sold in the houseplant trade are epiphytic. They don’t grow in soil in nature so keeping the soil constantly moist leads to their demise.
Yes, you sure can. Keeping the potting mix wet & the tank full of water at all times will cause it.
It could possibly lead to rot depending on long it’s been kept too wet. Try changing the potting medium & let it dry out along with the tank.
They sure do! Their native habitat is the humid tropics.
Not that I know of. The only bromeliad I’ve seen growing in water is the top of a pineapple plant & I’m not sure how long you can keep it in water. And yes, pineapples are terrestrial bromeliads.
Because most of the bromeliad houseplants are epiphytic, my answer would be no.
If you leave it in with the mother, the watering of potting medium is taken care of. Once the pups get big enough, I keep a bit of water in the tanks.
If you separate & plant the pups in a new pot, you may have to water them a bit more often while they’re establishing.
I threw this one in just for fun. Along with watering, it’s a big part of bromeliad care. In their natural habitats, they grow under other plants. They receive very little direct sunlight, but the light is bright.
Indoor they do best in bright, natural light out of any direct sunlight or hot sun. I’ve done many care posts on bromeliads. You can find the links at the beginning of this post.
Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference:
- Beginner’s Guide To Repotting Plants
- 3 Ways To Successfully Fertilize Indoor Plants
- How to Clean Houseplants
- Winter Houseplant Care Guide
- Plant Humidity: How I Increase Humidity For Houseplants
- Buying Houseplants: 14 Tips For Indoor Gardening Newbies
- 11 Pet-Friendly Houseplants
There are varying opinions regarding watering bromeliads. Some camps say to keep the urn full of water, some say to keep it dry, others say to water the medium every 1-2 weeks and others say every 1-2 months.
It can be confusing so I just wanted to share with you what works for me. And I’m hoping it’ll work for you too. Just remember, make adjustments for whatever season it is, and for your home’s environment.
Bromeliads are colorful blooming houseplants. You can enjoy their beauty at any time of year!
Happy gardening,
Loving houseplants lately? You may also enjoy these articles!
- 15 Easy To Grow Houseplants
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- Easy Care Office Plants For Your Desk
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I’m a life-long gardener who still to this day gets giddy at the thought of a trip to one of the local nurseries. Yes, I actually studied landscape and environmental horticulture and the practical experience I have garnered through the years has served me well. Childhood memories of chicken manure “tea” still float through my olfactory senses to this day. I have always been an organic gardener and always will be. From the Earth … To the Earth. I was born and raised in rural, bucolic Litchfield County, Connecticut and now joyfully live a few blocks from the ocean in beautiful Santa Barbara, California.
Hi Nell. Thanks for this information. I water my bromeliad essentially the same. Good to know I’m in line with you. I would like to know how you handle the well when it flowers. I tend to use less water so it doesn’t rot. Do you agree? I also think it’s important to let newbies to bromeliads know that the plant only blooms once, but it will have a baby that will eventually flower. I had a plant for over 20 years. The plants that no longer flowered were still attractive since the leaves are so striking. You can use them as accents to other flowering plants in a grouping. Love bromeliads!
I probably should have said I live in Manteca, California. We’re in the Central Valley. Temps get down to the low 30s (at night), 40s – 50s (during the day) during the winter. As high as 110 during the summer. I leave mine outside all year, but it’s on my covered deck and protected.
I have a Bromeliad that has long variegated light & dark green leaves. The leaves are curling up. I have been misting it often but that is not helping. Is the plant dying or is there a way I can get the leaves to open flat again?
Hi Connie – You might have a Vriesea. The leaves of a bromeliad tend to curl, lighten & yellow as the mother plant is dying. It sounds like the mother plant is dying. Nell
Great information on watering techniques thankyou!
You’re very welcome Chrissie! Nell
I’m new to bromeliads. I have one that is sitting in regular potting soil. Should I repot with moss? Also, I live in central Texas where it is sunny and humid. How often would you water the urn given those conditions?
Natalie – I grow mine in a mix of orchid bark & succulent & cactus mix. If it’s flowering, don’t repot it. In your conditions, I’d keep about 1/4′ of water in the urn. You don’t want it to rot out. Nell