I want to correct a common misunderstanding about keeping Bromeliad cups filled with water. In nature, where these plants have roots that cling to the bark of tree branches (they are called epiphytes because they do not grow in the ground as terrestrials do), the cups do serve to store water. However, when we pot up Bromeliads we change the root structure and the water dynamic. The potting mix serves to hold a supply of water that is absorbed by the roots. That makes the storage of water in the cups extraneous. Indeed, in home environments where air circulation is minimal, keeping the cups filled with water can lead to the leaves that are in constant contact with water to rot. Professional interior landscapers understand this and water only the soil and never the cups.
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
