How do I take care of my new Bromeliad?
 

I got a bromeliad last night and have no idea how to keep it alive! I have had these before, but they met with a bad end! I simply don't know what to do with it! Please help me.

Here's a picture of it. Anyone? Anyone at all?

all right, Amanda first and foremost i want to say BEAUTIFUL bromeliad :biggrin: and if i know anything about broms (which i'm not sure about that LOL) i would say it's a guzmania... which needs very orchid-like care i would say phal like tho :hmm but anyway heres a link to help get you started :D YAY broms :llama:


Bromeliad Plant Growing Specifications - Guzmania Lingulata And Hybrids >> Archives >> Bromeliads Care Info

I'll also add that when bromeliads bloom, they have essentially reached the end of their lifespan, as most bloom only once, and then slowly die off. It can take a while for the plant to die, but in the meantime will produce offsets that will grow from between the leaves at the base of the plant. So don't blame yourself if the parent plant dies off over a bit of time...it leads a lot of people to think they did something wrong, when really the plant has just reached a natural end.

I second Matt's guess. I'd say Guzmania. Haven't grown any myself (my collection is mostly tillandsias) but I'd say brighter light than phals. Keep the inner vase filled, let the media dry out, then drench. I had a vriesea (that I got bored with in my callous, not-so-distant youth) that I cared for in this way and it grew very well.

Keep the plant after it blooms if you like it. The parent will most likely die, but it will produce pups, or offsets, from the base or from in between the leaves near the base. These can take several years to bloom again, if they bloom at all. Many (in fact all, I believe) bromeliads can be induced to bloom once they reach an appropriate size by enclosing them in a clear plastic bag with an apple or other fruit inside. The fruit produces ethylene which triggers the bromeliad to bloom (ironic, since in most plants ethylene inhibits flowering and promotes ripening and senescence instead).