Bromeliads

This week we will take a historical trip back to 1976. Jim Miller shared with me an article published in the Wimberley View by his late Father-in-law, W.E. “Bubba” Lomax. The topic is Bromeliads. I have seen several different kinds of bromeliads for sale at the monthly Wimberley Market Days.

“Bromeliads are a group of plants kin to “Spanish moss” and to pineapples. In nature, bromeliads may grow on trees or in organic soil of forest floors. The tree-growing types are called Epiphytes (air plants) and maintain themselves by moisture in the atmosphere and nutrients in the rainwater.

The terrestrial bromeliads usually have a rosette of leathery leaves which form a natural vase in the center for collecting water and nutrients. The shapes of bromeliads run from peculiar to ridiculous. Some look like “ball” moss (which is a bromeliad) and others like heads of lettuce. The outer leaves forming the cup can be quite colorful.

Bromeliad blooms may be tiny and inconspicuous or they may be some of the most spectacular in the plant kingdom. The colors in the more showy blooms will be reds, blues, and pinks in almost fluorescent display.

The real beauty of bromeliads is in the fact that they make great care-free house plants. The epiphytes such as Tillandsias can be wired or stapled to driftwood and hung in your kitchen or bathroom. All they need is a daily moistening of the leaf surface and a reasonable amount of light.

The terrestrial varieties such as Billberglas and Gusmanias should be potted in a humusy mixture with good drainage. The terrestrials usually have a “vase” in the center of the leaves which should be kept full of water.” He goes on to point out that much of the year in Central Texas they can be grown outside.

Written by the late Bubba Lomax and contributed by Jim Miller