The Complete Bromeliad Handbook

Bromeliads are an incredibly diverse group, ranging from colorful tropical rosettes and spectacular flowering plants to unusual air plants and hardy terrestrial species. With so many genera, species, varieties, and hybrids available, knowing how to select the right plant and provide the correct growing conditions can make all the difference.
This book brings together essential information in one convenient guide, helping readers understand bromeliads from their basic biology and classification through cultivation, propagation, and long-term management.
Inside, you will learn about:

• The Bromeliaceae family and the fascinating characteristics of bromeliads
• Major bromeliad genera and important species
• Aechmea, Alcantarea, Ananas, Billbergia, Bromelia, Cryptanthus, Dyckia, Guzmania, Neoregelia, Nidularium, Pitcairnia, Puya, Tillandsia, Vriesea, and other important genera
• Bromeliad roots, leaves, rosettes, trichomes, tanks, flowers, bracts, and pups
• How to identify different types of bromeliads
• How to choose healthy plants, pups, and seeds
• Light, temperature, humidity, and air-circulation requirements
• Proper watering techniques for tank, terrestrial, epiphytic, and air-plant bromeliads
• Water quality and the use of rainwater and filtered water
• How to create suitable bromeliad growing media
• Orchid bark, sphagnum moss, coco coir, perlite, pumice, charcoal, sand, and organic materials
• Practical potting-mix recipes for different bromeliad groups
• Choosing the right containers and container sizes
• Potting epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliads
• Mounting bromeliads on wood, cork, and other suitable supports
• Hanging bromeliads and creating attractive displays
• Repotting and managing established plants
• Propagating bromeliads through pups, offsets, division, and seeds
• Collecting, sowing, and germinating bromeliad seeds
• Caring for young seedlings and newly separated pups
• Adjusting growing conditions for different climates
• Recognizing and correcting common cultivation problems
• Practical approaches to maintaining healthy bromeliad collections