Story Ideas for Garden Writers (continued...)

Add Bromeliads to Attract Hummingbirds.

In upper reaches of tropical rain forests, the bromeliads 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. The water is stored in a tiny pool created by the plant's rosette of leaves. Here in the States bromeliads are popular with humming birds, who drink from the cup just as their tropical counterparts do. The colorful birds play a critical role as pollinators of bromeliads.

Festive addition to Holiday decorations.

For a decorative switch this Holiday season, arrange a bromeliad tree. The blooms can last throughout the season - up to 16 weeks - and are available in brilliant red hues. Once the bloom is gone, the plant will remain attractive for another year or two, surviving indoors or out with minimal care. To create a tree, simply stack the plants in pots in a tiered shape and let the festivities begin. Use individual bromeliads as a centerpiece to your holiday dinner table, or as accents throughout your home. Celebrate with style this year.

More than just a pretty plant...

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.

Forcing Bromeliad Blooms

Numerous factors contribute to bromeliad blooms; time, light, water and temperature are just a few. Fortunately, there's something that can bring a bromeliad to bloom even when other variables fall short: ethylene gas. Commercial ethylene products such as Florel do a wonderful job of forcing blooms. But some people may prefer a more primitive - yet still effective - approach that requires only an apple and a plastic bag. Simply place the apple and bromeliad inside the bag. Inflate the bag and tie the opening shut. Then set everything aside and leave it alone for a week. As the apple ripens inside the bag, it should give off enough ethylene gas to trigger a premature bloom in your bromeliad. If all goes well, the flower will appear within a couple of months.

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