Guzmania

Bromeliad is an indoor, herbaceous perennial in the Bromeliaceae (pineapple) family and native to Florida and tropical America. It grows up to 3 feet in height and 2 in width and has long, strap-like, green leaves with showy, colorful bracts that surround their flowers. 

Bromeliad needs full sun, dry soil with good drainage, and medium relative humidity. Plant using a mixture designed for bromeliads or make your own with ingredients such as peat moss, vermiculite, and bark. Water directly into the central cup of the plant, allowing the soil to dry completely after watering. As an epiphyte, this plant requires nearly no water at its base, but its central case must be kept full of water, which should be replaced periodically. Offsets will appear at the base after the bloom fades and can be removed and started as new plants as the mother plant will soon fade and die. Fertilize by spraying half-strength orchid fertilizer on the leaves in spring or summer and only one to two times per year. 

This plant is desired for its beautiful, long-lasting, torch-like inflorescence with showy bright red bracts.  The actual flowers are white and quite small. The inflorescence along with the untoothed, unmarked leaves help to differentiate this genus from Aechmea, Neoregelia, and Vriesia.

Use this plant as a houseplant or grow it in a container that can be brought indoors when temperatures cool.

Quick ID Hints:

• Leaves are entire and generally unmarked
• Inflorescence is torch-like at the end of the flower scape

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.