Bromeliad Potting Mix (Yours?)

[Dartolution]

I was potting up a few bromeliads into some mixed planters, and a large bowl I have on my outdoor coffee table and wondered what everyone is using as a potting medium for their Bromeliads.

Specifically in this case various Neoregelia's. 

I use a simple 3 component mix of equal parts Pine Bark mini nuggets, All purpose potting mix (MG), and Pine fines (soil conditioner). The mix is chunky and airy but has some moisture retaining ability due to the peat in the potting mix.  Basically my go-to and all-purpose Bromeliad mix. 

 

What are your go-to's and recipes? 

 

[Billeb]

Funny you should inquire, I was just planting out some more Bromeliads I got from @Palmiz and thought to myself how much I neglect these things. I regularly dig a hole, throw the cutting in the ground and simply put the native soil right back in. Sometimes a throw a handful of pumice in there. I’ve found they don’t care much at all the medium they are in. I don’t irrigate the soil around them at all but ensure the cups are full every week or so. 
 

im sure they will be good whatever you put them in honestly. Couple pics  

-dale 

[Dartolution]

Not surprised by that for those Aechmea! Nice looking ones! 

I was really more interested in Neo's, Vriesea, and Guzmania. Anyone?  

[Tracy]

12 hours ago, Dartolution said:

Not surprised by that for those Aechmea! Nice looking ones! 

I was really more interested in Neo's, Vriesea, and Guzmania. Anyone?  

Same response as Dale's previous advice.  A lot of bromeliads can grow as epiphytes if their cups are kept full.  We had visitors in town over the weekend and took them to the San Diego Botanic Garden.  We walked bu the children's section and I pointed out the concrete play structure designed to mimic a tree stump.  The epiphytes they covered it with havre really filled in over the last several years.  You will see plenty of Neoreglia and Vriesea mounted on it, which just reinforces Dale's statement and experience.

[Silas_Sancona]

5 hours ago, Tracy said:

Same response as Dale's previous advice.  A lot of bromeliads can grow as epiphytes if their cups are kept full.  We had visitors in town over the weekend and took them to the San Diego Botanic Garden.  We walked bu the children's section and I pointed out the concrete play structure designed to mimic a tree stump.  The epiphytes they covered it with havre really filled in over the last several years.  You will see plenty of Neoreglia and Vriesea mounted on it, which just reinforces Dale's statement and experience.

Yep..  In FL. all the " cupped " Broms you'd see not hanging out in the crotch of a tree / perched on a tree branch, or on large rocks in someone's yard = tossed in a shallow hole scratched in the ground w/ some leaves mixed into it / piled around the plant ..or clump of plants.. after planting..

I'd do the same when potting up any offsets i'd take home off bigger clumps i'd divide / repot at work / offsets off anything interesting.  i'd find growing in abandoned lots, or bare root plants picked up at plant sales. 

As long as i kept them moist while they dug in, life in " native dirt " and some leaves didn't seem to bother any of em'

[Rivera]

Just a basic mix. If in a pot, lots of pumice or lava rock and a bit of coir or a handful of potting soil mixed in. Most of our epiphytes get the same treatment. Those that are easily adaptable to terrestrial conditions may just get the "Dale method" specified above.

For xeric broms in the landscape, I do make sure they have excellent drainage since our wet winter/dry summer rain cycle is out of sync with what they would naturally be accustomed to. Haven't had any problems. Temps are mild, but it's hard to forget the 6" of rain in 24 hours we got a couple years ago. 

This Racinae (Tillandsia) fraseri seems comfortable wedged between the deck and the concrete block wall with some gravel and organic bits filling the gaps. 

These Quesnelia liboniana are only recently planted in the ground without much special treatment. Just loosened up the top few inches of soil manually and mixed in more pumice.

Just a handful of spaghnum and a fibrous Dicksonia stem for this Aechmea racinae.

Here, heavier on the organics. Partially decomposed leaf and stem mulch from the garden, decomposed bark, some sand, gravel and pumice. But these Neos are still in somewhat elevated positions in this more moisture-retentive mix.