Bromeliads are similar to a beautiful woman—stunning in a red dress, perfectly formed, graceful to behold… then gone. The bromeliad is stunning while in bloom, but with the exception of few types, bloom once and then it’s over.

Bromeliads in the wild are hardy and adaptable to a variety of climates from rainforests to deserts. Pineapples are bromeliads as are Spanish moss and air plants. To successfully cultivate, grow and bloom these stunning plants year after year requires a certain human-plant relationship and knowledge about the species. However, enjoying bromeliads is easy with a Plantique plant rental program because replacement after the bloom is guaranteed.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata) is one of the most popular. The Scarlet Star’s forest green foliage, bright red bracts and small white flowers is a spectacular centerpiece in any space. It’s the only plant that when its “urn” (the natural cavity in the middle of the plant) is filled with water all the time it will not rot.

Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae) show off a vivid pinkish red “blush” at its center point in season while shiny green foliage keep the interest going all year with white stripes along the edges of each leaf. Some varieties show off lavender, violet and white flowers, but once they bloom, re-flowering is unlikely.

Pink Quill Bromeliads (Tillandsia cyanea) are show stoppers with their spiky green leaves and stemless “rosettes” that are actually curvy, paddle-shaped spikes or bracts. Small purple flowers pair with pink bracts to produce an exotic, tropical look. The Pink Quill blooms disappear after about 3 months, making this plant a sensible choice for Plantique’s rental program.

Primera Bromeliads (Aechmea Fasciata) have wide, greenish silver variegated leaves with back curling spines and long-lasting flowering bracts in all hues of pink with smaller purple flowers following. They are easy to grow and fun to propagate. The little “plantlets” produced by the Primera can be cut off and replanted in small pots singularly or in clusters.

The bromeliad family is wide and varied. From needle-thin to broad and flat leaves, symmetrical to irregular, spiky to soft, vivid to subtle, the choices are plentiful. Interested in adding bromeliads to your plantscape? Call us to arrange an onsite visit to assess your humidity, light and soil conditions. If you have questions about bromeliads, please call us at (561) 641-0124.

Distinctive to humans, we face each day with an abundance of choices. We choose when we wake up, what we wear, when we leave the house, what we eat, what we say, even the mood we’re in. It’s all a matter a choice. Plants exist and survive instinctively. From their choice-less instincts, we can learn a few life lessons:

Plants set no limits for size. They eat what is available and grow as much as they can.
Humans choose either to overeat and become fat or diet and become skinny. We worry about our food intake and eat to regulate our weight. Books on dieting are best sellers.

Plants love struggle—it makes them stronger. A tree directly exposed to the wind and weather grows thicker roots and trunks to make them stronger and more stable than other trees growing in sheltered areas.
Humans avoid life struggles. Some take pills or drink to forget them. We avoid them whenever possible, and if unavoidable, complain.

Plants don’t needlessly suck all the resources out of the soil in which they are planted. They take what they need to grow, thrive and reproduce.
Humans are never satisfied. We farm, fish, mine, drink, and consume to depletion.

Plants track the sun with their flowers and/or leaves to make themselves a better, healthier plant.
Humans are fearful of the sun. We wear wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts to avoid a sunburn, and slather our children with lotion at the beach.

Plants change their routine to adapt. They shut down in winter, put out new growth in the spring, store food in summer, and shed leaves to conserve resources in the fall.
Humans keep the same life routine season-to-season. To adapt to changing temperatures, we just change clothes.

Plants purify the air as they breathe and some even neutralize pollutants through absorption.
Humans pollute the air with fuel exhaust and chemicals and become sick from breathing the air.

Plants in shady spots climb whatever they can find to absorb the sun’s energy. They grow their roots toward water to store it in their leaves.
Humans tend to let events or feelings prevent us from moving forward in life.

Plants focus on what they need to do to fulfill their own potential.
Humans compare themselves with others instead of focusing on our own potential.

Everything—even mountains, rivers, plants and trees—should be your teacher. —Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, the “Great Teacher”