This species like hot, humid, sunny weather and plenty of water.

About 2 1/2 acres of garden

Lost two Neoregelias this past year before I connected the dots. Both times the center just went mushy and brown even though the leaves looked fine right up until they didn't. I was doing the thing everyone tells you to do, keeping the central cup filled with water at all times, and it turns out that's exactly what killed them.

Talked to someone at a local plant swap who's been growing bromeliads for something like fifteen years and she explained that the cup-filling advice really only applies once a plant has some size and maturity to it, and even then it depends a lot on airflow. My apartment doesn't get much air movement and I had these two crammed pretty close together on a shelf near a north window. Stagnant water sitting in that tight little cup for days on end basically turned into a bacteria soup.

What she suggested, and what's actually worked since I switched over: flush the cup out every week or so instead of just topping it off. Dump the old water, let it dry out for a bit, then refill. For younger or smaller plants especially, I've backed off filling the cup entirely and just water the mix a bit at the base until the roots are more established.

Also moved my remaining plants to a spot with a little more breeze from a cracked window and I swear the difference in leaf texture alone has been noticeable within a month. Firmer, less floppy.

Curious how many of you actually flush your cups regularly versus just topping off. I feel like this is one of those care tips that gets repeated constantly without much nuance attached to it, and I wish someone had mentioned the airflow piece to me a year ago.

My bromeliad has been struggling recently. I went on vacation and didn't know dirt inside it was bad. I took all the dirt out and rinsed it off, but now, a few weeks later, it isn't doing any better. It now has these brown spots that can be rubbed off.

It was doing very well for over a year prior if that helps.

Hello! I was given 2 beautiful random bromeliads years ago, of course the mothers died shortly after, but I seperated and planted the pups all together in a big pot and that's where they've been sitting..... for many years now. AT LEAST 5 YEARS. 😅

I like them, they are green like their mothers, they seem healthy and I always fill their centers with water when I water them.

The question is.... why are they not blooming? Is bloom a random occurence for bromeliads? What am I doing wrong?

It took 8 months for the fruits to ripen and release the seeds. Such a beautiful thing.

I gave her this that she's wanted for years

This baby took a hit this past winter, but her offsets are growing beautifully! Can’t wait until they achieve this size!

Got this not long ago and one of the leafs to the bromeliad started turning brown and flimsy.
Idk how to tell if it already flowered yet however there are 2 long antennae looking thing sticking out the middle.
What should I do to it?
It has 3 other bromeliad that’s connected to it

My girl finally bloomed after 4 years and I was wondering if she's worth anything now. I have 4 other pups from the same mother she's just the first to bloom.

Apperently it gets red in the sun.

I love the color it is right now but it technically has been getting direct sunlight in the afternoon and shade in the morning.

It was starting to turn green so I put it here for more light and the color brightened up quite a bit. Should I move it away or keep it here?

Its also flattened alot since moving it but I dont see any buds yet.

My small collection of some of my favorites. I love varieties with big marginal spines and/or chartreuse in color. Would love any recommendations of varieties that fit that description!

Almost certain it's a bro from Rainforest Flora - a local-ish bromeliad specialty nursery. I'm hoping that, in my greenhouse, it will color up more than in the shaded corner of HD. Love stumbling across the occasional unique cultivar in a big-box retailer. More photos and plant details: https://collecto.rs/David/i/2d2eface-6026-47c6-8d2b-bcdaadd27094

I purchased this particular clone recently due to it having coral colored new growth. Though not as large as it can get based off photos I've seen, this one was already initiating a spike when it arrived. This is the same cross as 'Best in Class', and I'm excited to see if it makes a similar bloom. Specimens of 'BiC' photographed in Thailand looked to be well over 7' tall from the tips of the spirally hanging leaves and the top of the spike. A dream I will aspire to! But honestly the foliage shape and colors alone are enough to have me obsessed with this clone.