Bromeliad
Bromeliaceae
A tropical family grown for colorful bracts and rosette foliage. Many species hold water in a central leaf cup and prefer bright indirect light, higher humidity, and a fast-draining planter with drainage holes.
Light
Bright Indirect
Water
Moderate
Difficulty
Easy
Humidity
High
Pet Friendly
Most common household bromeliads are considered non-toxic to pets. However, some species have sharp spines along the leaf margins that can cause minor physical injury.
Full care guide
Bromeliad Care
Grow tank bromeliads with bright filtered light, fresh water in the central cup, an airy bark mix, and pup separation when the mother plant finishes its bloom.
Read the guideCare Notes
Full guide →Light
Bright, filtered light keeps color strong. Avoid harsh midday sun that scorches leaves.
Water
For tank types, keep the central cup filled with fresh water and flush it regularly so it does not go stale. Keep the mix lightly damp, never waterlogged. Empty saucers so roots are not sitting in runoff.
Soil
Use a fast-draining orchid bark or peat-perlite blend in a planter with drainage holes. Heavy soil holds too much water for epiphytic roots.
Humidity & Temperature
Higher humidity helps. Keep temperatures around 65-85°F and away from cold drafts.
Common Issues
Most bromeliads bloom once, then send up pups at the base. When a pup is about one-third the parent size, you can separate and pot it up. Brown edges often mean dry air or a dry cup. Yellowing can follow soggy soil, so check drainage before the next soak.
In-Depth Care & Growth
Feeding & Soil
Fertilizer
Water-soluble balanced fertilizer
Soil
Well-aerated, fast-draining potting mix such as an orchid bark mix or a peat-perlite blend.
Physical Attributes
Mature Size
1 to 3 feet depending on species
Growth Rate
Moderate
Propagation
Removal and repotting of offsets (pups)
Common Varieties
Guzmania Lingulata
Glossy strap-like green leaves with a central star-shaped cluster of bright colored bracts.
Aechmea Fasciata
Stiff upright silver-green leaves with horizontal white bands and serrated edges.
Neoregelia
Low broad rosette with patterned or variegated leaves that flush bright color in the center cup near bloom time.
Vriesea Splendens
Broad sword-shaped green leaves with bold dark-purple horizontal bands in a tidy rosette.
Tillandsia
Often spiraling slender leaves with a silvery frost from water-absorbing scales. Many grow without soil.