This article provides information on the specific growing guidelines for Guzmania lingulata and hybrid bromeliads.
- Light: Moderate to bright year-round, with no direct sun; grows well with bright fluorescent light.
- Temperature: Average to warm (65-80 degrees F or 18-27 degrees C) year-round.
- Fertilizer: Feed monthly year-round with a houseplant fertilizer mixed at half the normal strength. Feed leaves, roots, and reservoir.
- Water: Keep cup filled with at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of water, and dribble enough water to the roots to keep them lightly moist. Empty old water from cup every 2 to 3 weeks and promptly replace it. Leach pots once during the summer to remove accumulated salts (see post on Flushing Out Excess Salts).
- Soil: Bromeliad or orchid potting soil.
- Repotting: Repot annually in spring until plant fills a 6 in (15 cm) pot. Small pots help induce blooming in mature plants.
- Longevity: Individual plants live 3 to 4 years.
- Propagation: Remove offsets and pot them up when they are at least 3 in (7.5 cm) tall. Maintain high humidity for a month after potting up the pups.
- Selections: There are numerous named varieties. The most popular in ‘Luna,’ which produces a mauve spike. Others bloom yellow, red, or pinkish lavender. Varieties with reddish leaf markings often are not as vigorous as green-leafed selections.
- Display Tips: The handsome glossy leaves are spineless, so this bromeliad poses no danger when placed near activity areas. Moving a blooming plant to slightly lower light helps to intensify to color of the bracts.
For more information on Guzmania lingulata and hybrids, check out my post on Popular Bromeliad Plant – Guzmania lingulata And Hybrids.
