Why Did My Bromeliad Rot????

Why Did My Bromelia Rot???? In this weeks Brom Vlog we'll take a look at rotting in our bromeliads, and find out why it can happen and what we can do to prevent it! Growing healthy bromeliads is really easy, so come on everybody, "Let's get growing and have some fun!"

[@miamiman196]

I put my bromeliads in empty pots with no soil at all. Just the pot, air and the bromeliad and they are super healthy and multiply profusively. Bromeliads do not need any soil or fertilizer at all. They are air plants.

[@stephaniebeliveau9352]

I just got my first Bromeliad from a half off rack at Lowes. It looks like it's been sitting in some water. Other than that it looks good. Being the crazy researcher that I am, I came across your channel. So much great info! Thanks for sharing.

[@ivorysteele]

He is very good. When someone is experience and knows their stuff

[@AT-sq5sk]

Your videos are fantastic. We are learning so much from you. I am always looking forward to Friday because of your videos.🥰

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

I really appreciate you watching, thanks so much!

[@timothykrause2327]

It’s just overwatering, and not enough light. Tight soil is a good thing because it makes for better contact with the roots which leads to a much smaller root mass. All my plants are directly in ceramic with the drain holes caulked shut, and the soil packed in as tight as I can get it. It cuts water needs down by 90%, and 3x the amount of time before needing to repot them.

[@danny-taenzer]

The good old finger-in-soil test showing the density of potting mixture - excellent!! Thank youuu ☺

[@dynajay4106]

I love your videos about bromeliads. I really want to cover my front yard with them, especially on top of the winding live oak branches.

[@curlyjess3337]

This was very helpful thanks!

[@mikedwn]

Q: How would one determine if broms get too much water before it's too late with living in the tropics with monsoonal rains? I try to imagine mine living naturally in a rainforest of sorts...do they suffer the same demise or can they actually be ok with a cup full of water continually for weeks...surely they would have to become accustomed? They don't get emptied with human intervention like we do!

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

I don't know of any way to tell prior, they look good and it appears to happen all at once, but of course the rot is progressive. I have seen a big difference in rot depending on the substrate ... lava rock or leca, no rot, but in normal mix or in the ground it is more likely with a lot of wetness.

[@mikedwn]

@islandbreezetropicals1276 a soil mix even with coconut coir would act as a wicking agent in reverse...actually drawing moisture upwards rather than draining?

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

@@mikedwn Guessing true, and i have had much better luck with coir mixed with husk chips and sometimes commercial bagged mulch, anything to alter the size of the different constituents in the mix.

[@SamKing-m9i]

Thanks for the great information! Your videos always make me smile! 😁

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate you watching!

[@jamiewright9327]

Very timely for me, just found a rotten one. Is it possible to grow one in an orchard basket with some sphagnum moss or orchid bark?

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

I have never tried sphagnum, but who knows? I'm going to give it a try and see if there is any difference in results. Orchid bark will work nicely. thanks for watching!

[@EncinAdia]

Curious what were the results of your experiment? ​@@islandbreezetropicals1276

[@jakessx1121]

Thank you!!! The exact info I needed and I enjoyed listening to you :)

[@EncinAdia]

@islandbreezetropicals1276 Hi Rusty! This was good info! But you only showed 1 variation of rot on 1 type of bromeliad. Can you please make another video (or amend this one) to show us how to handle rotten broms that still have their roots? I have several that I recently discovered were dying because of rot, but none broke off at the base, they all still have roots (and I don't know how to tell if the roots are alive or dead and what to do with the roots in both scenarios?) Also, how do we handle rot in stoloniferous type broms? I have a Neo Donger that is badly rotted and I'm desperate for solution to save it. My Skotak's Tiger and Neo High Voltage are in dreadful shape as well and I'm distraught and depressed. Please help ♥

[@QonnyWolf]

Thanks for your video! May i ask you some questions? I try to keep bromeliads in my reptile enclosures. They eather rot or dry out. Why would they rot without soil? Also… why would you keep some in soil and others not? I thought their roots are just for holding on to wood etc? But i see them in pots very often. When it comes to reptile enclosures some people wrap them in sphagnum moss and some just bind them onto a piece of wood. I‘m confused 😥

[@buffalosoldat]

Apart from rocks or other additives to potting mix, humic acids are known for changing the structure soil and preventing soil getting muddy.

[@Rocketman0407]

Nutrients are not that important to these plants seeing that the substrate mixes people use usually have no nutrients?

[@JazzMeUinFLUSA]

Wow I loved those red bromeliads ❤😮

[@theweirdplantguy4873]

Great video Rusty. Very informative and helpful. So just to clarify, on the newly potted rotted plant, one shouldn’t water the soil until roots have formed~ the plant will pull up harder? So to speak. And the pup? I’m thinking obviously repot, but do you separate from the rotted mother plant Rhizome?

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

Watering the soil is okay, but needs to be monitored to make sure it doesn't get sloppy...moist is OK. I would leave the pup in place, just in case there is some remaining carbohydrate that it can use to grow before separating.

[@boyettemanalo2899]

Hi Sir Rusty, im Boyette from the Philippines. How do i plant these pups which do not have a straight meristem if thats the right term?

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

Firstly, very sorry about the late reply! Now, I try to 'split the difference" and angle the tank so it will hold water. so the roots will contact substrate.. but as long as the root initiation zone is in the substrate all will work. Staking the plant until the roots can hold the plant without it constantly tipping often works. Thanks so much for watching!

[@matthewglasgow4085]

Wish I knew this last year 😅

[@ednaabella6575]

😊 4:54 😊

[@dakistle]

This is exactly what I was hoping to find as a hobbyist collector of the sort.

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@danreynolds8028]

YOU REPEAT YOUR SELF TOO MUCH. 16min video could easily and should be half as long. Try getting to the point faster.

[@islandbreezetropicals1276]

Thanks for your input.

[@dianemccarter8452]

I had one simple question, why did my bromeliad rot? I didn’t need a 16 minute lesson in biology. I had one simple question I wanted one simple answer! I did not find it here.!!!

[@musicforpresident4614]

But fr tho knowing more helps either way

[@catherinelamb8210]

He gave several reasons it rotted

[@cd9913]

Your answer was there, it's your soil or water amount. He also gave solutions. 16min video, hours of editing, free information and yet you were still ungrateful 🤷‍♀️

[@I-serve-you-tea]

It was dragged out