Bromeliad · the plant with a cup
A bromeliad’s bright red, pink, orange or yellow spike lasts for months, which is why we love using them in plant gardens. It is a tropical plant that drinks in an unusual way: through a cup formed by its leaves.
Each bromeliad blooms once in its life. After the color fades, the mother plant slowly declines over many months, but before it does, it grows baby plants called pups at its base. Those pups are your next bromeliads.
Fill the cup, keep the soil barely damp
Keep the center cup, where the leaves meet, about a quarter full of water. Every week or two, tip out the old water and refill it with fresh so it never gets stale. Filtered or rain water is best.
Water the soil only lightly, when it is dry. A bromeliad’s roots are mostly for holding on; soggy soil rots them.
Finding the right spot
Bright, indirect light keeps the leaves and the color looking their best.
- A few feet from a bright east or west window.
- Out of direct afternoon sun, which bleaches and burns the leaves.
- Warm rooms are fine: 60–80°F.
- Keep it away from cold glass and drafty doors in winter.
Everyday care
Bromeliad
Guzmania, Vriesea, Aechmea and more
- Light
- Bright, indirect light.
- Water
- Keep the center cup a quarter full and change that water every week or two. Water the soil lightly only when dry.
- Humidity & temperature
- 60–80°F. A light misting in dry winter air helps.
- Feeding
- Hardly any. A very weak fertilizer once or twice in summer is plenty.
- Color
- The bright spike stays colorful for three to six months.
- Water quality
- Hard tap water leaves white spots and builds up in the cup. Filtered or rain water keeps it clean.
Bromeliads are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though the stiff leaves can upset a stomach if chewed. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Growing the pups
After the bloom fades, small new plants appear around the base. This is how bromeliads carry on.
- Keep caring for the mother plant as usual; it feeds the pups as it slowly fades.
- When a pup is about a third to half the size of its mother, cut it away close to the mother with a clean knife, keeping any roots it has.
- Pot it in a small pot of orchid bark or a light, fast-draining mix, fill its cup with water, and give it bright, indirect light.
- A pup usually blooms in one to three years.
The eastern North Carolina year
What to do through our Johnston County seasons.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| SpringMarch–May | Pups often appear. Change the cup water every week or two. |
| SummerJune–August | It can spend summer on a shaded porch once nights stay above 55°F. Keep the cup filled. |
| FallSeptember–November | Bring it in before nights drop below 50–55°F. |
| WinterDecember–February | Keep the cup only lightly filled and off cold window sills. |
Repotting
A bromeliad rarely needs a bigger pot; its roots are small. Repotting usually means potting up the pups once they are big enough (see above).
Quick fixes
Color fading after several months
Normal. Each plant blooms once. Watch for pups.
Mother plant browning after blooming
Also normal. Keep it until the pups are big enough to separate.
Brown, mushy center
Rot from stale water in the cup or soggy soil. Empty the cup and let the soil dry.
Brown leaf tips
Dry air or hard water. Use filtered water and mist now and then.
Pale, bleached leaves
Too much direct sun. Move it back from the window.
White crust in the cup
Minerals from tap water. Flush the cup and switch to filtered water.
Common questions
How do you water a bromeliad?
Keep the center cup about a quarter full and change that water every week or two. Water the soil only lightly when it is dry.
Why is my bromeliad dying after it bloomed?
That is its natural life cycle. Each plant blooms once, then grows pups that carry on.
How long does a bromeliad bloom last?
Usually three to six months.
Is a bromeliad safe for cats?
It is generally considered non-toxic, but keep it out of reach anyway.
More plant care guides
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)
Bright, indirect light and water once the roots turn silver. Blooms last for months.
Read the guide →Dish Gardens & Planter Baskets
Mixed green and blooming plants
Several plants in one container. Water lightly, give it bright indirect light, and separate them when they outgrow it.
Read the guide →Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
Lots of light for color, steady watering, and no cold drafts.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com