My bromeliads flowers turning brown, what should I do
Bromeliads are amazing plants that produce beautiful flower bloom as well as variegated leaves that are so stunning. These garden beauties have made a name of themselves and are used in many landscapes and gardening designs including the interior.
What I love about bromeliads is their hardiness, they can grow just about anywhere including on the Turks of trees. Garden insect pests of bromeliads are little to nothing once plants are growing healthy. These plants can survive on very little water but what I also find amazing about bromeliads is there are about 2,700 species which makes this family large giving you so many to choose from.
But what do you do once your bromeliad flower starts to turn brown? is this an indication that something has or is going wrong or is this just a part of a normal process in the life of a bromeliad? To answer your question let’s take a closer look.
Bromeliad flower turning brown, taking a closer
Although a flower turning brown in the life of a plant is normal because a flower can’t bloom forever there are some factors to consider that contribute to a bromeliad flower turning brown, however.
Lighting conditions
All plant life needs some level of light to survive but if you expose your bromeliads to the wrong lighting such as too low or too bright can have a negative effect so ensure that you are giving your bromeliad the right lighting so they can thrive.
Water requirements
Plants need water in order to survive base on their requirements but if you are giving too much or insufficient water the flower bloom of your bromeliad can be affected. Know the watering needs of your bromeliad and give that amount no more no less.
Another practice that can cause the flowers to turn brown is putting water in the center cup especially when growing bromeliads on the interior. Now I know that we should put water in the center cup but the water that is used in most cases comes from the tap which is harsh or hard water containing salt and other chemicals and for bromeliads that are growing in an air-conditioned environment only compounds the problem so let’s stay clear of these practices that are known to have a negative impact on bromeliads.
A suggestion is to use rain or distilled water which is far better but remove this water from the center cup after 7 days allowing the center cup to try out before adding this type of water and repeating the process again.
Ventilation
If growing bromeliads indoors ensure that there is some ventilation, if there is no ventilation and the room gets very hot will affect the flower bloom of your bromeliad.
A normal part of the life of a plant
As we discuss eventually the flower will turn brown or begin to fade which is normal because the flower though beautiful won’t keep its beauty or bloom forever. When the flower fades remove it with a hand pruner or sharp scissors.
Will the flower rebloom again
The answer to that question is no, unfortunately, this is the way that it is which is a normal process but the plant itself will continue to live which is good and what is even better is that the parent plant will produce pups or baby bromeliads which can be removed with a sharp knife or hand pruner.
Once the pup is removed from the parent plant and given the right treatment will grow into a beautiful plant that will produce a beautiful flower bloom until the time comes for the flower to fad and then the process starts all over again. For more on bromeliads and propagating refer to these links. Neoregelia bromeliad flower.
Common insect pests of bromeliads
- Thrips
- Mites
- Aphids
- Weevils
- Mealybugs
- Scales
- Snails and Slugs
How to control
The use of insecticidal soap will bring these garden insect pests under control but before use read and follow the direction on the label to avoid plant burn. With slugs and snails handpicking and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water will eliminate them. The use of snail baits scattered throughout the plant bed will also bring control.
To lure snails and slugs, during the night place a piece of board that’s slightly elevated where snails and slugs are most active or suspected. The following day remove the board and you will discover snails and slugs taking shelter.
The final word on bromeliads flower turning brown
Some outside factors can cause the flowers of bromeliads to turn brown, other than that it’s all a normal process in the life of these garden beauties but the good news as we discussed earlier is that the pups from the parent plant will also grow and flower as well giving yet another display of its beauty. Bromeliads are one of my favorites, I have been working with them for years, and have never been disappointed.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
Hello,
This was an interesting article with lots of useful tips for growing bromeliads.
I thought your advice about watering was particulary useful.
I’d always use tap water in the past for watering but having read your advice I can see rain water would be a better choice.
Your advice on dealing with slugs and snails is also useful.
Have you heard of putting down a saurcer of beer for slugs? Is that true or just an urban myth?
Best wishes,
Cameron
Bromeliads are really amazing plants and are so easy to care for and yes you can also use beer to lure snails and slugs. I am so happy to help and all the best to you.