When Does the Bromeliad Bloom? An Introduction to Its Flowering Season
The bromeliad does not bloom in a fixed season; flowering generally depends on growth time and care. As long as the plant has been growing for more than 8 months (the time required varies by variety, ranging from 8 months to several years) and the plant is robust and large enough (including dead old leaves, it should have more than 20 leaves), it may bloom. Let's take a look below at when the bromeliad blooms!
When Does the Bromeliad Bloom?
When a bromeliad has grown more than 30 leaves under natural conditions, it can bloom on its own in a suitable environment, mainly in late spring and early summer. To make ornamental bromeliads bloom as soon as possible, artificial forcing is often used. When holidays are approaching, people force the plants to bloom artificially so that people can see the colorful ornamental bromeliad flowers during the holiday.
Artificial Flower-Forcing Methods for Bromeliads
The most commonly used method for artificial flower forcing of bromeliads is treatment with a saturated acetylene solution. Connect an acetylene gas cylinder to a water storage bucket with a hose, and immerse the hose with air holes evenly in the water. Slowly release the acetylene gas from the cylinder into the water at a pressure of 0.5 Pa; for 100 liters of water, the release time should be at least 45 minutes. When the water flowing out of the container has a strong odor, it can be used for flower forcing. Pour the acetylene aqueous solution into the bromeliad's drained "leaf cup," using just enough to fill the "leaf cup." Repeat 3 times with an interval of 2-3 days each time. Generally, flowering occurs 3-4 months after treatment.
Precautions for Forcing Bromeliads to Bloom
1. Choose plants that have completed the vegetative growth stage, with at least 20 fully developed leaves, including withered old leaves, so that sufficient nutrients have accumulated. If there are too few leaves and nutrients are insufficient, even if flower forcing succeeds, the flowers will not reach ornamental standards.
2. It should generally be done at a room temperature of about 20°C. The higher the temperature, the shorter the forcing time; the lower the temperature, the longer the forcing time. However, if the daily absolute low temperature is below 15°C, forcing is unlikely to succeed.
3. Stop fertilizing two weeks before flower forcing treatment and apply only clear water. Start fertilizing two weeks after the forcing treatment, applying less nitrogen fertilizer and more potassium fertilizer. This can prevent the formation of green flower spikes.
4. Do not close the acetylene gas valve during flower forcing, because acetylene gas easily evaporates from the water. If the valve is closed, the acetylene concentration in the water will gradually decrease, affecting the flower forcing effect.