Question
I just got the plant today. I'm not sure what type it is but it is a bromeliad. It is about six to eight inches tall. I bought it from home depot. It came in a small plastic pot setting in a fifteen and a half oz pot. The plant is almost twice the size of the pot. The plant has three blooms on it. They are bright pink wide rounded dramatic but flat. If that makes any since. The leaves are long and very thin or slender. If you know what type it is could you tell me how to care for it such as.... light, water, repotting, fertilizer, temperature, pot size,  how big it will get, and humidity ? If I can I will try to send a photo but that would take a few days because I dont have a digital camera. But any info you could give me would be very,very helpful. Thanks, Melissa  

Answer
Hi Melissa,

Thank you for providing good information. Your Bromeliad is either a Tillandsia or a Vriesea. It will not get any larger than it is now. The care is the same in either case.

Bromeliads are in the same family as pineapples and Spanish moss. They are "monocarpic." That means they die after flowering. The death is a slow one, often taking up to 3 years. In the interim, 1 to 3 offsets (called babies or pups) are produced to carry on the species.

Keep your bromeliad in its small pot and place it on a north or east windowsill where it will get lots of bright, mostly indirect light. If it is properly potted, a weekly thorough watering will be just right. The soil should be quite dry before watering. The customary practice of keeping the cups filled with water has been discredited because indoors, where air circulation is poor, the cups often rot. Keep the soil barely damp and it will not be necessary to water the cups. Fertilize at half strength during the warmer months. Misting or raising humidity is not essential. Keep temps above 50 degrees.

The pups can be left on the mother plant or they can be severed and potted up separately. If you choose the latter, then wait until the pups are about one-third to one-half the size of the mother. This takes about 6 to 9 months.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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