The secret to getting Bromeliads to bloom is apples. Apples produce a gas called ethylene. It is also a plant hormone. It speeds up the aging process in plants. This can be either a good or bad thing. With other houseplants the lower leaves can die and fall off. You should keep apples away from most of your plants.

Bromeliads be sealed a clear plastic bag for a few days. The hormone will be concentrated in the bag. This will cause the plant to switch from vegetative to reproductive growth. In other words flowers will form. You want to make sure that the plant is mature enough to bloom.

Apples can also be used to ripen fruit. Bananas will ripen very quickly if kept near apples. Any fruit will ripen quickly if kept in a plastic bag with apples for a day or so.