Family: Bromeliaceae
Common Name: Red Bromeliad
Botanical Name: Guzmania Species
Brighten your day or someone else's with this cheerful Red Bromeliad! The vibrant Red center is a burst of fun, bringing color and warmth to any space. Placing bromeliads in bright indirect light will help intensify the red glow! Water this indoor plant when the soil is dry, but be sure to drain thoroughly after watering!
Bromeliads are as easy to care for as houseplants can get. These low-maintenance indoor plants are primarily native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. They prefer high temperatures and humidity, but they are adaptable and can thrive in most home environments.
Adding a bromeliad to your space is a great way to bring in a tropical feel and lots of color and texture. The trademark of bromeliad plants is their long, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a dazzling array of colors. New leaves develop in the center of the plant in a rosette formation and grow out. The broad leaves can feature patches of intensely saturated colors or patterns. The brilliant hues of the guzmania varieties are centerpiece worthy. In contrast, the striped and colorful leaves of the neoregelia varieties are at times more subdued but still command attention.
Bromeliads flower once during their lifetime and generally decline a few months after they begin to bloom. However, it will focus its energy on propagating new plants after the plant flowers.
Light
Bromeliads can flourish in low, medium, or bright light if it is indirect. These indoor plants are known for their stunningly colorful leaves, so increase the amount of indirect sunlight to draw out the intensity of the colors. Cut back on the amount of light your bromeliad receives for a more subdued look.
Water
Water when the soil is dry. Bromeliads grow around a central cup. In nature, this cup works like a reservoir that collects rainwater that is then absorbed into the plant. When growing a bromeliad as a houseplant, it can be watered through the cup and never directly into the soil as this may cause root rot.
If watering a bromeliad through the cup make sure to fill it no more than halfway. Do not leave the cup full for extended periods of time as this can promote rot. It is important to routinely rinse and flush the cup to remove any buildup of salts or minerals from the water.
Temperature
As a tropical plant, bromeliads prefer warmer temperatures, although they are tolerant and can handle most home environments. The ideal temperature for a bromeliad is 55-80°F.
Humidity
Bromeliads naturally grow in the tropics and subtropics, so they like higher humidity. These plants are adaptable and can do very well in average humidity. Keep in mind that as the interior temperature rises these indoor plants will need more humidity.
Fertilizer
During the growing season, fertilize with ½-strength complete liquid fertilizer or use a slow-release fertilizer in the spring.
Growth Rate
Bromeliads are a type of tropical plant that is relatively easy to grow. These plants are slow-growing and might take from one to three years to blossom into flowering plants. Red Bromeliad blooms can last up to six months and range in height from one inch to two to three feet tall when cultivated as houseplants.
Pet Friend or Foe
Plants from the guzmania genus are non-toxic to people and animals, including cats and dogs. Friend, but because of the risk of allergic responses, several species should be kept out of reach of children.
Pro Tips
- Towards the end of their lifecycle bromeliad plants send up a flower spike, but it’s the colorful bracts or leaves that surround the flower spike that is the attention grabber. The flowers will typically last for several months.
- Bromeliads propagate by sending out pups or offsets. The small plants can be removed from the parent plant when they have a few roots and be planted on their own.
- In nature, bromeliad plants are epiphytic which means they latch on to trees, other plants, and even rocks and they pull all the moisture and nutrients they need from the air. For this reason, bromeliads can be grown and mounted to a board.
- The edges of the leaves are serrated, making it important to wear gloves when handling them!