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Potting-Mix on bromeliads

bromeliads with potting-mix

What's Happening

Bromeliad roots evolved for anchoring on trees and rocks, not for absorbing water from dense soil. Standard potting mixes retain too much moisture, causing root rot. Cryptanthus (terrestrial) is the exception requiring sphagnum moss.

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    1. Use a mix of 1/3 coarse peat, 1/3 sponge rock (perlite), 1/3 vermiculite with a wetting agent

  2. 2

    2. For Aechmea and most genera: Well-draining, coarse mix that allows quick water passage

  3. 3

    3. For Cryptanthus only: Use sphagnum moss with frequent watering - they prefer terrestrial conditions

  4. 4

    4. Add slow-release fertilizer (14-12-14) at transplant: 1/2 tablespoon for 4" pot, 3/4 tablespoon for 6" pot, 1 tablespoon for gallon pot

  5. 5

    5. Plant bromeliad 1 inch above the root system start when transplanting

How to Prevent It

Use coarse, fast-draining mix for epiphytic bromeliads; reserve moisture-retentive media only for terrestrial Cryptanthus species.

Related Problems

View all bromeliads diagnoses →

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes potting-mix on my plant?
Bromeliad roots evolved for anchoring on trees and rocks, not for absorbing water from dense soil. Standard potting mixes retain too much moisture, causing root rot. Cryptanthus (terrestrial) is the e...
How do I fix potting-mix?
1. Use a mix of 1/3 coarse peat, 1/3 sponge rock (perlite), 1/3 vermiculite with a wetting agent. 2. For Aechmea and most genera: Well-draining, coarse mix that allows quick water passage.
How do I prevent potting-mix from happening again?
Use coarse, fast-draining mix for epiphytic bromeliads; reserve moisture-retentive media only for terrestrial Cryptanthus species.