QA

Question: Why Is My Bromeliad Flower Turning Brown

There are many things which can cause houseplants (or plants in general) to turn brown. Here are a few reasons: too dry, too wet, too much sun or your water is too high in salts and minerals.

What do you do when your bromeliad flowers turn brown?

What is this? Bromeliad blooms have a lifespan and you aren’t going to be able to keep a bromeliad flower going indefinitely. Once your bromeliad flower has started to turn brown, the best thing to do is to go ahead and cut it off. These flowers are long-lasting but they will eventually turn brown and die.

Should I cut the dead flower off my bromeliad?

Well, it might sound harsh, but once your bromeliad bloom has begun to die, you can cut it off! Bromeliads are known for their exotic, long-lasting flowers. These tropical plants can bloom for months, in fact. By cutting off the bromeliad’s dying flower, you can help the plant refocus its energy on these new pups.

Why is my bromeliad flower losing color?

Bromeliads will begin to lose their color if they are not being watered properly. They usually don’t require much water to do well and overwatering can cause a lot more damage than underwatering.

How do you revive a dying bromeliad?

Examine the Bromeliad Examine the Bromeliad. Check the bromeliad’s soil for light, even moistness. Switch to Distilled Water. Pour the water out of the plant’s center cup, and refill the center cup with distilled water. Adjust the Plant’s Light Level. Monitor the light levels the bromeliad receives. Mist the Bromeliad.

Do bromeliad flowers grow back?

Getting Bromeliads to Rebloom Yes, they do. It takes a mature plant to flower and once it does, it produces offsets and the main plant gradually begins to die. It can take years, but eventually all you will have left is its offspring. If you are lucky, these will produce the same bloom as the parent plant.

Do bromeliads flower again?

With a few exceptions, bromeliads only bloom once. However, the blooms last an exceptionally long time — months or even up to a year. Bromeliads grow and bloom year round.

What do you do with a bromeliad flower after it dies?

The showy flowers can remain viable for months before they start their decline. Each bromeliad produces only one flower, and once the flower completely dies, you can either leave it in place to slowly deteriorate or snip it off the mother plant at its base, using a sterilized pruning tool.

Do bromeliads only flower once?

Bromeliads often have both striking foliage as well as flowers. However, a bromeliad will only bloom once throughout its lifespan. Plus, once it’s finished blooming, it signals that its “pups”—or little bromeliad suckers—are on their way. Once the flower finishes blooming, you’ll want to remove them.

Can I save a dying bromeliad?

If the rot isn’t too advanced, you may be able to save the plant with a fungicide. If the bromeliad has produced healthy pups you may want to separate and repot the pups and dispose of the rotting mother plant. Potting mixes formulated specifically for bromeliads can be purchased.

How often should you water a bromeliad?

As bromeliads prefer to dry out in home environments, you only need to water your plant every other week or so. You’ll want to water both the soil and cup, making sure to keep the latter only halfway full to prevent rot.

Should I cut off brown leaves?

Should you cut off dying leaves? Yes. Remove brown and dying leaves from your house plants as soon as possible, but only if they’re more than 50 percent damaged. Cutting off these leaves allows the remaining healthy foliage to receive more nutrients and improves the plant’s appearance.

What is the best way to water a bromeliad?

It is best to water your bromeliad with rainwater or distilled water. The chemicals that are present in some tap water can be damaging to these sensitive plants. Slow growth or browning of leaf tips are often signs of hard water usage.

How do you save an overwatered bromeliad?

Remove the plant from the substrate. Dip it in a fungicide or a root hormone that also contains fungicide. Then, stake it up in a well draining potting medium or next to a healthy bromeliad. The bromeliad should recover and develop roots.

Will bromeliad pups bloom?

Once the pup is well-rooted, provide it with more light. Adequate light is critical to get the plant that grows from the pup to eventually bloom. Blooming, with good care, generally will occur one to three years after separation from the parent plant.

How do you get bromeliads to rebloom?

Use a well draining soil mix. Keep the center of the bromeliad filled with water and add diluted liquid seaweed or diluted compost tea once every two weeks. This will encourage the young bromeliad to flourish and grow up so it can be ready to bloom.

Do bromeliads need sun?

Bromeliads make great low-maintenance indoor plants as they don’t require much sun and only need to be watered about once a week when kept indoors. As bromedliads love humidity, be sure to keep them away from air conditioning and cold draughts and mist with a spray bottle every couple of days.