Bromeliad Center Rot: Saving the Plant Through Offsets

Question

The very center rotted—I pulled it out. Pretty sure I overwatered in the cup. Will the plant die completely? Should I replace it? It's green with pink stripes.

Answer

Hi Pennie, your bromeliad is probably a Neoregelia. The old advice to keep bromeliad cups filled with water is outdated. Indoors, water stagnates and rots the cup leaves. Better to water soil when dry and keep cup dry.

Look for a small baby plant (offset) emerging from base under lower leaves. If you find one or more, your bromeliad has a future.

Remove any rotted leaves that pull away easily. Stop watering the cup—water only soil when dry. The mother plant will gradually die regardless, but babies carry on. By the time mother dies completely, you should have good-sized offsets. Takes several years for offsets to mature and flower, but they're nice foliage plants meantime. No need to repot offsets.

If mother dies before producing offsets, toss it.

I've written a bromeliad article I'll email free to anyone requesting at wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com.

Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC