If you visit the houseplant section of your local garden center you’ll see Guzmania bromeliads. These popular tropicals are usually sold in bloom displaying brilliantly colored flower spikes and star-shaped blooms. Bromeliads belong to the same plant family as pineapples and feature a similar growth habit with large bracts that form a rosette around a center ‘cup’ from which the flower emerges. Long, strap-like leaves are usually dark green although some rare types feature variegation.
Similar to many orchid species, Guzmania bromeliads are epiphytes but the home gardener can also grow them in soil. If you’re tempted by one of these interesting tropical houseplants, find out everything you need to know about bromeliad care in this complete guide.
| Common Name | Bromeliad, Vase Plant |
| Botanical Name | Guzmania spp. |
| Family | Bomeliaceae |
| Plant Type | Tropical herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 1 to 2 feet tall and wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun to full shade, species dependent |
| Soil Type | Porous, well-drained |
| Soil pH | 5 to 6 |
| Bloom Time | Seasonal |
| Flower Color | Red, yellow, orange, purple, white |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 10 to 12 |
| Native Area | Tropical North and South America |
Guzmania Bromeliad Care
Guzmania bromeliads may not be the best choice if you are just starting your indoor garden. They need some special care but once you’ve learned the basics, these plants add a long-lasting splash of color and charm to your collection.
Light
How much sun exposure to give your bromeliad depends on the species. One of the most popular species, G. lingulata, requires part to full shade. Other species perform better when positioned to receive bright, indirect light during the day. Some types thrive in low or artificial light which makes them a good choice for commercial indoor settings like offices and shopping malls.
Soil
Guzmania bromeliads are epiphytic which means, essentially, they are air plants that grow on trees taking nutrients from the atmosphere. To grow them in soil, it’s important to choose a porous mix that drains well. Roots need adequate access to air and should never be allowed to get soggy or remain wet.
Formulas specific for bromeliads and orchid mix are possibilities or mix your own with quality houseplant soil, sphagnum moss, and perlite or vermiculite.
Water
Water thoroughly every one or two weeks during the growing season and let the soil dry out in between. Reduce frequency to every two or three weeks during winter. The cup formed in the center of the rosette should be kept filled with water during summer months and refreshed occasionally. Guzmania performs better if kept on the dry side. Soggy soil results in root rot and plant loss.
Temperature and Humidity
Guzmania bromeliads thrive in warm temperatures and plenty of humidity. Keep them in a spot where nighttime temperatures remain above 60°F. Daytime temperatures between 70°F and 80°F spur healthy growth and plants tolerate temperatures even higher. Normal household humidity levels should be supplemented since bromeliads need moist air of 60 to 70 percent.
Fertilizer
Feed with an orchid fertilizer diluted to half strength once or twice during the growing season. Use a spray bottle and apply fertilizer to the leaves. Guzmania are sensitive to salt build-up and may not require any supplemental feeding. Watch for browning leaf tips that appear burnt or a white crust on the soil surface which indicate the plant is overfertilized.
Types of Guzmania Bromeliad
More than 120 species of bromeliads make up the Guzmania genus. Here are three popular species available for purchase at garden centers.
- Guzmania lingulata ‘Scarlet Star’: 18-inch leathery leaves form a red star-shaped rosette surrounding a bloom consisting of numerous small, tubular-shaped flowers in contrasting colors. Grows in part to full shade and can thrive in artificial light.
- Guzmania conifera: Strappy, dark green leaves surround a red-orange flower spike that opens to reddish-orange bracts surrounding multiple, small, tubular white or yellow flowers. Grows best in bright, indirect light.
- Guzmania monostachia: Strappy green leaves form a paddle-like red, pink, or burgundy-colored flower spike that opens to a bloom made up of multiple, small, tubular flowers in white or yellow. Grows best in bright, indirect light.
Pruning
Guzmania bromeliads need no pruning until they mature and flower. Once the flower is spent, the plant starts to produce offshoots (pups) and the mother plant eventually dies back. Remove the spent flower by snipping it off close to the base of the stem. This encourages the plant to direct energy into making offshoots.
Propagating Guzmania Bromeliad
Propagating a bromeliad is both a learning and rewarding experience. Since they bloom only once in their lifetime, removing and growing offshoots (pups) is the only way to keep your collection going other than purchasing new plants every two or three years.
Once you’ve gotten the technique, it’s easy to do. Gather materials: a sterile cutting tool, 4-inch pots with bromeliad mix or other loose, well-draining potting mix, rooting hormone with fungicide, and small, wooden sticks. Follow these steps:
- When the bloom fades remove it from the mother plant by cutting it close to the base with your sharp, sterile tool.
- Offshoots should start to appear at the base that look like small versions of the mother plant. At maturity, they will be a replica of the original.
- When an offshoot reaches 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the original bromeliad, use your cutting tool to remove it where it attaches to the main plant. It may or may not have roots at this point.
- Firm soil back around the base of the mother plant which may continue to produce more pups.
- If the offshoot has a bottom leaf at the soil level, pull it off to reveal the base.
- Dip the cut end of the pup in the rooting hormone that contains a fungicide.
- Plant in 4-inch pots in loose, well-draining mix. Water well, allowing excess to drain and place in a location to receive bright indirect light.
- Offshoots are top heavy so use a small wooden stick or stake to hold the young plant upright. Avoid planting too deep which can cause the pup to rot.
- Keep soil moist but not soggy and gradually expose new plants to more indirect light.
Potting and Repotting Guzmania Bromeliad
Guzmania have shallow root systems and grow better in smaller pots. Most 4- to 6-inch containers are adequate for these showy tropicals. Some varieties can grow fairly large at 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide and may need a slightly larger pot of 8 inches. Keep in mind that container size generally is small compared to the actual size of the plant. Clay and plastic pots are good choices.
With a lifespan of four to five years, it’s seldom necessary to repot. If you need to repot, do this when the plant is actively producing new leaves and increase the pot size by no more than 2 inches.
Overwintering
In regions with steady overnight temperatures above 60°F, plants can be moved outdoors in summer. Move them back indoors if temperatures begin to drop lower. Guzmania goes through a rest period in winter and requires less water.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Guzmania can attract pests endemic to most houseplants including mites, aphids, scale, and mealybugs. These sap-sucking insects damage foliage causing it to yellow and drop and can cause stunting. Act early to stem an infestation by cleaning foliage with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use horticultural oils which can suffocate leaves.
Plants aren’t vulnerable to many diseases but loss can occur if root or heart rot sets in. Browning centers with a foul smell indicate heart rot while root rot causes lower leaves to brown and die. If heart rot is the problem, remove any offshoots present and dispose of the mother plant. In case of root rot, you can try removing soggy, blackened roots and repotting in a fresh, dry medium.
How to Get Guzmania Bromeliad To Bloom
These tropicals bloom between one and three years of age but only once in their lifetime and at any time during the year. You can encourage a flower to develop by keeping distilled water in the cup and adding diluted seaweed or compost tea every two weeks.
Guzmania can be forced to bloom once they reach one year old. Place a piece of fruit into the center cup of the plant. The fruit releases ethylene gas prompting the flower to form.
Bloom Months
Blooms may occur at any time depending on the age of the plant. Guzmania blooms are not seasonal however most plants go through a rest period during winter months.
How Long Does Guzmania Bromeliad Bloom?
Similar to orchids, the unique, colorful bromeliad bloom can last as long as six months.
What Do Guzmania Bromeliad Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Blooms are made up of many tiny flowers often white or yellow surrounded by leaf bracts in contrasting colors of red, orange, burgundy, or purple. The mass of small tubular-shaped flowers appears in the plant’s center and may sit below or above the leaves in the form of a spike.
Flowers below the leaves are surrounded by colorful red bracts producing a star shape. Flower spikes may be paddle-shaped or cylindrical depending on species. Guzmania bromeliads are not fragrant.
Caring For Guzmania Bromeliad After It Blooms
Unfortunately, once your Guzmania blooms, it’s nearing the end of its lifetime. Remove the spent flower by cutting it off at the base but leave the plant in its pot and continue a regular feeding and watering schedule to support the growth of offshoots. Once the original plant is no longer producing pups, plants should be discarded.
Common Problems With Guzmania Bromeliad
Root Rot
When bottom leaves turn brown and soggy, the plant may be suffering from root rot. Avoid root rot by planting in mixes formulated specifically for bromeliads or orchids, allow plants to dry out before watering, and use small clay or plastic pots.
Salt Build-Up
White crust on soil, pots, and leaves is a build-up of excess salt and the result of overfertilization or irrigation with mineral-heavy water. Remove and replace crusted potting material and clean leaves with a soft, damp cloth. Reduce fertilizer strength and/or frequency and irrigate with distilled or rainwater.
Leaf Scorch
When leaf tips turn brown or brown and yellow spots appear on foliage, the bromeliad is probably receiving too much bright, direct sunlight. Move it to a location with indirect light. You can trim brown tips, however this does not prolong the life of your plant which could end up with a distorted appearance. Best to let leaves die back naturally.
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Should Guzmania be grown indoors or outdoors?
Guzmania are tropical and subtropical bromeliads that don’t tolerate nighttime temperatures below 60°F. They are mostly grown indoors although pots can be moved outdoors in summer in warmer climates.
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Does Guzmania flower repeatedly?
No. Guzmania bromeliads flower just once in their lifetime of three to five years. Blooms are long-lasting with some plants flowering for up to six months.
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How big do Guzmania get?
This is generally a small bromeliad growing 1 to 2 feet tall but some cultivars can top out at 3 feet.