Water and nutrient uptake in Vriesea cultivars: Trichomes vs. Roots

•Vriesea cultivars achieve substantial water and nutrient uptake by their roots.•Water and nutrient uptake shifts from the roots to the trichomes during development.•The balance of water and nutrient uptake by roots vs. trichomes is cultivar-specific.•Root and trichome uptake dynamics reflect morphology, trichome kinetics and ancestry.•Nutrient uptake increases linearly with concentration applied to the tank.