Q&A for How to Care for a Bromeliad

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Question

What causes the colored flower to turn brown?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

The flower is not meant to last forever. When a plant flowers, it is reaching the end of its life cycle. You can cut the flower off if you don't like how it looks. If you're lucky, your plant will have produced offspring. Check under the leaves for any young plants.

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Question

Can I use soil designed for cacti and succulents to re-pot a bromeliad?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Usually. But some bromeliads don't like soil at all and prefer moss or bark. Use whatever your plant originally came in.

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Question

What am I doing wrong if the leaves are curling up? I water into the "cup" as directed. Should I keep the cup filled all the time?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

You should keep the cup filled all the time, and change the water out once a week.

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Question

If the flower on the Bromeliad is dying, what do I do with it?

Community Answer

It sounds like the plant has root rot. Check the roots - they usually go first before the plant. You can cut the flower off, but do so at the base of the stem.

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Question

What is wrong if bromeliads that were planted in peat rot in less than two months?

Community Answer

Bromeliads only flower and live once. It may have just flowered. Before they died, did you see a whitish base because the bottom leaves fell of? If so, this may be the case.

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Question

Should I take off any dead leaves?

Community Answer

It's your choice, BUT if you choose to take out dead leaves, be careful you do not rip another part and the whole thing is DEAD.

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Question

Is the plant safe for cats?

Community Answer

No. Although the plant is not considered toxic to cats, it can cause vomiting and coking. If you have a cat, this plant would not be a good idea.

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Question

How can I revive my plant if the flower and the leaves are yellow/dead?

Community Answer

Try to cut off all the leaves and the edge of the stem, then place flower into fresh new water. This will allow the plant to soak up more nutrients.

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Question

What do I do if my bromeliad is turning brown? Does that mean it's at the end of its life?

Community Answer

If it has flowered, the plant will die but pups will grow at the base. Cut the pups off and plant them in their own pots.

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Question

I got a bromeliad three years ago. It has never flowered since. What should I do?

Community Answer

It may just be a non-flowering type. If your plant seems fully mature and produces pups, then it may never produce a flower.

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Question

What can I do if my bromeliad has several dead leaves from the bottom?

Community Answer

You can cut off the dead leaves but be careful not to damage the plant. Make sure that you’re giving the plant enough to water. Once the soil is mostly dry, give it some water, and do not pour any fertilizer directly into the middle cup of the plant (this can burn some plants). If your plant has flowered, it may just be dying and there’s not much you can do.

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Question

At Christmas, my plant had lavender flowers. I planted it with other plants and the flowers are now a deep pink. Is this a process in the flower or the soil it's planted in?

Community Answer

The question is, what species is it? It is most likely just the flowers changing colors as they mature.

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Question

My bromeliad got frost bitten. Can I save it?

Community Answer

It matters on how badly frost bitten it is (if the tissues of the important parts of the plant have frozen to death, there's not much you can do to save it). Try to prevent any more frostbite from happening and cross your fingers.

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