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Feature Plant of the Month
Bromeliads
Bromeliaceae family
Bromeliads come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors and adjust to different growing conditions. They make wonderful interior plants but they grow outdoors depending on climate conditions.
Bromeliads are members of the Bromeliaceae family, which also includes pineapples and Spanish moss.
Biologists have cataloged more than 3,500 species of bromeliads,
with new ones being added all the time.
At least one-third of the species are air plants that grow on trees or rocks, using their roots only to hold themselves in place. They draw their water from clouds and fog, as well as from rainwater stored in the "tanks" formed by tight rosettes of leaves.
In upper reaches of tropical rain forests, these tanks serve as miniature ecosystems, providing a critical source of water for such diverse creatures as birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, snails, dragonflies, beetles, ants, butterflies, crabs, opossums and even other plants.
Scientific studies suggest bromeliads can help improve indoor air-quality as you sleep. In the photosynthetic process, most common indoor plants remove carbon dioxide while emitting oxygen and water vapors during the day. But research indicates that bromeliads behave differently during the day / night cycle, releasing oxygen and removing air pollutants at night. Data collected by the Plants for Clean Air Council suggest that when combined with foliage plants, bromeliads can help
provide around-the-clock indoor air purification.
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