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Can Bromeliads Grow in Sun or Shade? (All You Need to Know)

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Some indoor plants grow well under full bright sunlight whereas some indoor plants thrive well in shade or partial sun and are intolerant to night sunlight.

As a result, since Bromeliad is also an incredibly popular houseplant, before bringing a Bromeliad plant at home you certainly would want to learn can Bromeliad grow in sun or shade?

Therefore, let’s not make further ado and jump into breaking down the segments to learn the precise rationales concerning this topic.

Can Bromeliads grow in sun or shade?

Bromeliads can grow both in sun and shade, it depends on the varieties of Bromeliads and their ability of light tolerance. Most varieties of Bromeliads thrive well under indirect bright sunlight whereas some species of Bromeliads grow well in almost persistent shadowy places with partial sunlight.

Generally, in their tropical environments, the Bromeliad plant grows under the full spectrum of bright sunny spots.

However, since Bromeliad plants have quite a lot of species, so some varieties of Bromeliads grow in the sun, while the other varieties thrive better when they are in shade.

Simply to put, Bromeliads can grow both under bright sunlight and shadowy spots depending on their species and range of withstanding sunlight.

However, know that most varieties of Bromeliads, mainly the Bromeliads plants with stiff and hard leaves prefer an indirect full range of bright sunlight.

And the Bromeliad variety with soft, nimble, and spineless leaves thrive the best in shade. But even though these Bromeliad plants like shadowy places, they need to get exposed to medium to low sunlight for better growth.

So in cases of getting confused about whether a Bromeliad plant will grow in the sun or shade, just simply check the texture of the plant’s leaf, eventually, the light requirements will get uncovered.

Do Bromeliads Need Sun?

Bromeliad plants absolutely require the sun to survive healthily and grow well just like any other plant. As it’s well known by everyone that plants need sunlight for the photosynthesis process through which they get the strength to thrive.

So obviously it highly makes sense that Bromeliads also need sun as much as any other plant

Moreover, Bromeliad plants are born in the tropical regions of America, so as tropical plants, Bromeliads need bright tropical sunlight to grow and live healthily.

Thence, whether you keep the plant indoor or outdoor, you got to provide the plant with abundant filtered bright sunlight.

But you must keep Bromeliad plants away from direct harsh sunlight as direct sunlight can make these plants lose life as Bromeliads are intolerant to harsh direct sun.

Do Bromeliads Prefer Shade?

A few varieties of Bromeliad plants prefer shade and among these varieties, Tillandsias, Guzmania, andCryptanthus Bromeliads are the most common ones that prefer shade/semi-shade.

These plants are highly intolerable to the sun, so if they are exposed to a full spectrum of bright sunlight or in a sunny area, they begin to weaken away.

So, keep that Bromeliad plants under a shadowy place with medium to low sunlight so that they thrive in the best way. Moreover, if these Bromeliad plants are planted outside, then place them in a spot under constant shade such as under a tree.

What Type Of Lighting Do Bromeliads Need?

The tropical American native Bromeliad plants need a full spectrum of light. Most of the Bromeliad plants are seen to thrive fully in the natural environment that provides them indirect bright light so that these plants can grow healthily.

However, there is always some exceptional so do the Bromeliad plants have too. Some varieties of Bromeliad need partial sunlight. Because these plants grow well when they get low lighting.

Besides, if Bromeliads don’t get natural lighting, they require artificial lighting sources such as fluorescent lighting to grow.

Can Bromeliads Grow In Fluorescent Light?

Bromeliad plants can grow in fluorescent light. In fact, fluorescent light works as an alternative lighting source for the Bromeliad plants to grow if the plants are encountering a scarcity of natural lighting.

Fluorescent lighting is basically artificial bright lighting, so Bromeliad plants accept such lighting due to its full range of light waves.

Besides in a day, Bromeliad plants require 14 to 16 hours of fluorescent lighting to conserve the colors of their leaves.

How Much Light Does Bromeliad Need?

Bromeliad plants need about 6 hours of indirect light every day to grow healthily and maintain their leaves’ color.

And in cases of the scarcity of natural light, Bromeliad plants require 14 to 16 hours of bright lighting from an artificial source such as fluorescent light.

However, as many varieties of Bromeliad plants do exist, thence the light requirement for each variety can be different. So for your knowledge, the light requirements of 6 different and very popular varieties of Bromeliad have been provided.

Guzmania Bromeliad:

Guzmania Bromeliad genus requires a shadowy place with some indirect bright sunlight.

Aechmea Bromeliad:

Aechmea Bromeliads need to get exposed to indirect bright light both indoor and outdoor to survive in a good manner.

Vriesea Bromeliad:

Vriesea Bromeliad’s requirement for light depends on where it is placed. If the plant is placed indoors, it can survive in both low light and bright light. But if the plant is kept outside, it needs indirect bright light.

Cryptanthus:

Cryptanthus Bromeliads have a requirement of low light or it can be said that Cryptanthus Bromeliads grow well when they get a shadowy place.

Dyckia Bromeliads:

Dyckia Bromeliad plants need a full spectrum of bright light waves. But they can also survive in partial shadowy spots.

Billbergia Bromeliad:

Billbergia Bromeliads require filtered bright light regardless of being kept indoors or outdoors.

Therefore, it’s clearly apparent that depending on different species of Bromeliad plants, some plants need full light exposure, some can tolerate both low light and bright light, and some need low lighting.

How Much Sun Can Bromeliads Take?

Growing up in their biological environment, Bromeliad plants can take a full range of tropical sun. But Bromeliad plants that are grown indoor and outdoor like in our garden can accept filtered bright sun to partial shade depending on the variety.

You will notice some indoor/outdoor Bromeliad is enjoying the filtered full sun while a few of them are scorching out due to the bright sun. And those species are taking up partial shade well.

However, know that no species of Bromeliads can take the direct harsh sun.

Where Is The Best Place To Plant Bromeliads?

A south-facing window is the best place to grow Bromeliad plants indoors. Because the sun doesn’t shine directly upon a south-facing window but the place gets indirect bright sunlight, thus the plant will be able to thrive fully.

And a place with a partial shade like under a broad canopy or under trees is the most suitable place for planting Bromeliads outdoors. Because a partial shadowy place will keep away the plants from scorching bright direct sunlight. Therefore, the plant won’t burn out.

Can Bromeliads Grow In Low Light?

Bromeliad plants can grow in low light. Not all Bromeliads but there are many varieties of Bromeliads that prefer low lighting and are suitable for growing in low light.

These Bromeliads grow well and produce long-lasting, green, healthy leaf crowns if they are kept under shade/low light.

And among all the Bromeliad varieties that prefer low lights, standard Vriesea and the Guzmania Bromeliads are the common and popular ones.

Can Bromeliads Tolerate Full Sun?

Bromeliads can tolerate a full range of sun. It’s because Bromeliads are native to tropical America, so they are habituated to withstanding full sun naturally. Therefore, most of the species can thrive under full sun.

However, keep in mind that full sun doesn’t mean direct harsh sunlight. Bromeliad can’t tolerate direct full sun. These plants only can accept indirect full sun.

Which Bromeliads Like Full Sun?

Here is a list of Bromeliads that like full sun.

  • Dyckia
  • Hectia
  • Aechmea Orlandiana
  • Alcantarea Imperialis
  • Ananas Cosomus
  • Hohenbergia Castellanosii
  • Acanthostachys Strobilacea  
  • Quesnelia Lateralis
  • Aechmea Black Chantinii

Aechmea Bromeliad species like both full sun and semi-shade, these species of Aechmea Bromeliads mentioned like full sun.

Which Bromeliads Like Shade?

Bromeliad species that like shade or shadows place with partial lighting are listed below.

  • Guzmania
  • Cryptanthus
  • Tillandsias
  • Neoregelia
  • Vriesea (semi-shade)

There are a few species of Aechmea Bromeliads that somewhat prefer semi-shade.

How Big Do Bromeliads Grow?

There are three common sizes of Bromeliad plants, so depending on their sizes, a large-sized Bromeliad will grow up to between 6 feet to 10 feet tall. Aechmea Conifera, Dyckia Maritima, Hectia Melanocarpa are examples.

A medium-sized Bromeliad will grow 3 feet tall.

And small-sized Bromeliad grows as big as 2 inches to 20 inches.

Final Thoughts:

There’s a wide range of Bromeliad plants out there, so the light requirement of each species is different. Some Bromeliad species can grow in a full range of bright tropical sun, some can grow in shadowy spots with low light, and some Bromeliad is tolerant to both full sun and shadowy place.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do Bromeliads Live After Flowering? Do They Rebloom?

Do Bromeliads Like Humidity?

How Long Can Bromeliads Live?

Why Do Bromeliads Not Need Soil to Grow?

How Do Bromeliads Survive in the Rainforest?

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