[Wallace Grover]

I have noticed a few fungus gnats that have either drowned in a broms water-filled cup, or perhaps just naturally passed and happened to land there. Now, since they inevitably rot... would the brom absorb the nutrients from the decomposing matter through their leaves?

 

[Mitch]

I'm not absolutely sure whether they can absorb the nutrients this way, but I do believe so. Don't take my word for it though. I used to think it was a bad thing that flies would drown in the brom cups but now I know it's not bad at all. Probably would feed the tads in there too if there are any.

 

[epiphytes etc.]

It takes a while for bacteria to break the bugs down into a usable state for the plant. This process would definitely be hurried by tadpoles eating them and deficating in the water. If no tads, I occasionally flush out my broms, as they can get pretty stinky when filled with rotting organic matter.

 

[Frogtofall]

Seeing as how it happens naturally, I gather it does provide nutrient in some fashion.

 

[vespers_]

the "tank" variety bromeliads get most of their nutrients from detritus and dead insects in their cups, so if it is a tank type, just leave them in there.

 

[gundaman]

they get extra nitrogen from them like venus fly traps.

 

[Endagr8]

I have no knowledge of whether non-carnivorous bromeliads can obtain nutrients from dead insects or detritus within their cups.

Here is an interesting article about two genera of carnivorous bromeliads.

 

[Ed]

http://www3.botany.ubc.ca/vellend/COM_ECOL/Ngai and Srivastava 2006.pdf

http://academic.evergreen.edu/n/nad...e_Use_of_gamma_spectrometry_Selbyana_1989.pdf

http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/103/3/477.full


This is a small selection of the relevent papers on the topic.

 

[johnyrocks]

Yes, but it will smell and look nasty. Just dump the water out!