One of my favorite Broms.
Over winter it becomes brilliant yellowy orange but this year we have moved all our Bromeliads
to an area where it is usually much more tropical and warm but it has rained almost continually
since we got here and all the Bromeliads are suffering.
It occurred to me that we hardly ever find any information on how to relocate them and get them from house to house without damage so here are some tips that may help your precious Bromeliads from becoming statistics.
Wash out the cups and leave damp but tip out the water from the cups for the move. They transport quite well being pretty hardy but you can help the process by condensing them and packing quite densely into boxes. The proximity will stop them shifting all over the place in transit and snapping off pieces and will protect them from damage. If it is a long haul move leave the bromeliads until the last possible moment and pack in boxes with as many upright as you can fit and then add extra layers with more packed on their sides. They are none the worse for wear provided you add scrunched up newspapers between the Broms to support and separate them from each other and as they keep so well you can even dig some up from the garden rather than just take your potted broms and plant again when you arrive in your new home.
As space is usually at a premium on the removal truck I have packed them into two or three layers and sealed the boxes for short term removals and they seem to keep well as the newspaper will act as an insulator and keep the temperature more even. At the other end of the move if you don't have too much time to spend on unpacking them straight away, at least open the boxes and place them somewhere cool and shady or failing that in a shed or garage, if possible an open airy place - a carport is good as it will get air but the boxes will stay intact.
As soon as possible take them out and and water profusely and leave the cups with water and then you can take your time in arranging them. I have moved my collection quite a few times and have only ever had a few bent stalks at worst even with carriers moving my precious cargo.
My extra special, and not to be parted from Bromeliads used to always go in the car with me but as my collection grew it became harder and harder to fit them all in !
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