Bromeliads are usually sold as a pot plant. These tropical beauties can also be processed very well without a pot or as a cut flower. You can make the most beautiful arrangements: hanging in a tree, tied to a piece of bark or simply in a bouquet. In addition, they are available in all shapes and sizes and in the most cheerful and warm colors. The plant offers so many possibilities for a creative person! However, these tropical flowers are not used much as cut flowers. There are still some problems to be solved, but Daniël Ottenhof, from Thijs Ottenhof nursery, sees this as a challenge.

Bromeliad
The Bromeliad family is a large family that again consists of different groups; Tillandsia, Guzmania and Vriesea are the best known. The pineapple is also linked to this family, which is clearly visible in the shape of the leaf when you look at the top of the pineapple crown. Bromeliads naturally grow in the jungle of Central America, Brazil, Suriname and a small part of Africa. As many as 2000 botanical species are known.

One of the greatest characteristics of this family is the beautiful, bright tropical color of the flower. Or actually the bract of the flower, because the flower itself is not that exciting. They are plants with few roots; most species grow on a tree like epiphytes. As a result, they do not need a pot at all to continue growing. It is important that there is always water in the crown of the bract. This also applies if the plant is in a living room.

There are varieties that are 10 meters high, but they really only grow in a very small part of the world. Think of an area of ​​perhaps 1200 km2. There are several places on earth where these varieties could grow, but Daniel thinks these are varieties whose seeds do not spread that fast and far, keeping the growth contained to a small area. Some Bromeliad varieties are spread by birds, others by seeds and wind.

In the spotlights
The hardest part of growing the Bromeliad species is often the leaves. If the leaf is not 100% pure, the plant is not good enough for Daniël to sell. A species that has very sensitive leaves is the Tillandsia Dyeriana. If the leaves of a plant have been removed, the flower is often particularly beautiful. This is how the cut variant of this beautiful plant came about. A nice variety deserving extra attention as a cut flower.

The Dyeriana has a fairly long flower compared to other Bromeliad species; making it a perfect candidate for marketing as a cut variety. It is very well suited for use in field bouquets or somewhat higher table pieces.

For other varieties, Daniël notices that it is more difficult to sell them as cut flowers, because most varieties are often shorter. Although these flowers are of course wonderful to use in short table pieces or lower Christmas pieces. The beautiful exotic colors give a very luxurious look to a bouquet or piece.

Because the flowers are incredibly strong, the flowers can for instance also be used in wedding bouquets that are tied to wire.

Same as with the other family members, with the Dyeriana, the ornamental value is not in the flower, but in the bract. With this variety however you can still see the real flowers very well. The first flowers must be in bloom when the plant or flower is sold. Only when the first two flowers are open, the flower turns into a really beautiful shade of orange.