Scarlet Star Bromeliad Plant

Light:  Place your plant in a location with moderate to bright light year-round, avoid direct sun; grows well with bright fluorescent light also.

Water: During the summer months keep the reservoir cup filled with at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of lime-free water to prevent leaf spots. Every two weeks empty cup and replace it with clean, fresh lime-free water.   Water your plants well and then allow the soil to dry before watering again to prevent root rot. Plant should be kept drier during the cool and winter months.

Temperature: Average to warm (65-80 degrees F or 18-27 degrees C) year-round. Do not place your Guzmania near any cold or hot drafts.

Humidity:  The plants also need humid air to prosper.  You can place the plant on a humidity tray or use humidifier.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly year-round with a houseplant fertilizer diluted of half-strength or less.  Feed leaves, roots, and reservoir.

Soil: Bromeliad or orchid potting soil or create your own with equal parts fine-grade fir bark and potting soil. The soil mix must be porous enough to allow water to drain off quickly, but should never be soggy, and allow air to reach the roots. 

Leaching:  Periodically flush the soil with water. The leaching action of this watering will eliminate any soluble salts that have built up in the soil.
 
Repotting: Repot annually in spring until plant fills a 6 in (15 cm) pot. Small pots help induce blooming in mature plants.  The plant bloom once and dies. When the parent plants dies, plant the offsets to renew your plant.

Longevity: Individual plants live 3 to 4 years.

Propagation: Remove offsets and pot them up when they are at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall.  Maintain high humidity for a month after potting up the offsets.

The scarlet star not only adds warmth, beauty, and a tropical feel to an interior space, but it makes a great conversation piece as well.