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These exotic plants are so cool!

You already have a beautiful Swiss cheese, green radish and aloe vera in your home. But now you want to try a new and more exotic indoor plant. Bromeliads have become more and more popular in the past few years because they are very unusual, with charming leaves and interesting colored bracts, a modified leaf. Many types are epiphytes, which means that they grow by attaching to surfaces such as trees, although they can also grow in special types of bark-like potting mixes. Another bonus item? Pests and diseases are rare. "These types of bromeliads are great because they can get everything they need from the environment," said Debbie Neese, a plant expert at Lively Root. "They are colorful and interesting, especially in the middle of winter, the flowers can last for months."

This is all you need to know about how to care for bromeliads.

Neese says these plants need bright filtered light to thrive. Place them in windows facing east, south, or west (not enough light to the north). But don't put them under the scorching sun, or they may burn. If you don't have enough natural light, LED plant growth lights can also be used. Also, please be patient! It may take 18 to 30 months for plants to bloom, but you can usually buy them when the flowers are intact.

The leaves of bromeliads form water cups, also called urns, so they can store rainwater when they grow in the natural environment. Add a few tablespoons of water to the bromeliad cup near the base of the plant, occasionally. It is okay if water spills into the growing medium, but do not let the growing medium soak.

Alternatively, you can water at the soil level, but only when the soil feels dry when you put your fingers into the soil. Or use a moisture meter to check the level of root depth, and only water when the reading is dry. In addition, make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot, and drain the excess water from the dish.

Finally, use only rainwater, distilled water or unsoftened tap water and let the water sit for a day or two to allow some chemicals to dissipate before use, Neese said. They also like humidity around 50%, so put them on a pebble tray or combine with other indoor plants to increase humidity.

Feed once a month during the growing season from April to September. Neese says you can use a foliar fertilizer sprayed directly on the leaves, or a half-strength balanced houseplant food.

Sadly, your bromeliads will not live forever! Individual plants bloom once and then die slowly. This is completely normal! But they were replaced by a few new "chucks", which were seedlings that appeared at the bottom of the mother plant. Once they form small cups, make sure to water the puppies as well. Neese says that once the pups have grown to about 1/3 the size of the mother plant, you can cut them off and replant them in the orchid mix. It is also good to leave them in place, as they will eventually hide the faded mother plant.

According to ASPCA, bromeliads are non-toxic to cats and dogs. However, if you consume enough plants, any plant can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and vomiting, so please keep this indoor plant out of the reach of curious pets.