Hi Bob,

How often do you need to change the water to prevent rotting?

Han

Han,
I did'nt change the water,but did add some about every 2 to 3 days as it evaporated. I suppose it would be a good idea to change it to help prevent rot,but it did'nt seem necessary,as the plants were doing good.I kept the 3 plants in filtered sunlight during the rooting period.
Bob

That's interesting, they look like really good roots too. Do bromeliads produce specialized roots for drawing moisture directly from water? I know with the epiphytic cacti I grow, one of the drawbacks of rooting in water is that the roots that form in water die back once you've potted up the cutting, and are replaced by roots that are better suited to a potting mix.

mike

My mother-in-law went to a brom nursery once, and they had there what they called the, "SH!T box". It was basically a container with water in the bottom and a lid with holes in it. It was for those moments when you accidentally remove a pup without roots, (and utter an expletive as a result, hence the name of the box ;)), you can stick it in one of the holes in the lid, and it'll hang down into the box, not quite touching the water, and the root-less pup will grow roots.

I have a friend who has grown Crypts hydroponically by just perching them in the mouth of a bottle of water. Another friend routinely sticks removed Neo pups into the cups and leaf axils of other Neos until she's ready to pot them up. I've done this occasionally too, but usually I just sit them in an empty pot, which does collect a little water in the bottom, but they're not swimming in it.

I've rooted pineapples the same way...I typically change the water every 2 days.

wow i so got to try this