Bromeliads make up on of the most diverse and unique families of plants, with 75 genera and nearly 4,000 species, almost all native to the tropical Americas. The family is made up of both Epiphytes and Terrestrial species, including Tillandsia (see their unique care guide here), tank Bromeliads and even Pineapples. The Bromeliad family is unique in the way that they drink, and there are many different unique ways that different species do this. Tillandsia take water in through their leaves, while many other Bromeliads store and absorb water in a 'tank' structure formed by the way their leaves overlap at the base of the plant. The best way to water a Bromeliad is to pour fresh water in the 'center cup'. If you were looking at most Bromeliads from above, there is a defined center cup that is formed because of the way the leaves grow in a rosette fashion. This area collects water and stores it, feeding the plant for weeks at a time. The excess water that does not fit in the cup, filters down through the leaves and waters the roots. In the wild tropics, rain water and condensation keeps this water fresh and prevents it from becoming stagnant and rotting the plant. In our homes, we must flush this water out, or change it once or twice a week. You can either dump the remaining water out in the sink and start fresh, or flush the older water out with clean, fresh water, to filter it down to the soil. Bottled, filtered, or even distilled water is usually best, to prevent too many chemicals or minerals from sitting inside the cup of the Bromeliad, leading to rot and dirty, stagnant water.
