Flaming Sword Bromeliad

The Flaming Sword Bromeliad (Vriesea splendens) is a bold and easy care plant. It is native to South America and is one of the smaller bromeliads reaching 18 inches tall and 10 inches wide with a. 2 foot flower spike. The leaves are thick, arching and rosette shaped with a “cup” in the center that holds water. The leaves can be green or light and dark green striped. This bromeliad gets its name from the red sword like flower head which lasts for weeks. Not only is this plant very easy to care for but it is also a great air purifier.

AKA: Bromeliad, Flaming Sword, Painted Feather, Zebra Bromeliad, Flaming Sword Bromeliad

Light: medium to bright indirect; some morning light is okay and won't burn the leaves

Watering: keep the center “cup” filled with water; empty and replace the water every 2-3 weeks. This is a drought tolerant plant and the soil only needs to be watered once it becomes very dry.

Humidity: average home humidity; bromeliads enjoy a daily morning misting

Toxicity: non-toxic to cats, dogs and humans

Potting Mix: bromeliads aren’t fussy about the type of potting mix they are in so long as it is well draining

Additional Care: after the bromeliad blooms, the flower spike will last weeks before dying. Once the bloom dies the plant will die also. However, it will self-propagate and produce pups which can be separated from the mother plant once they are at least 5 inches tall. The biggest issue is keeping the soil to moist which can lead to root rot and plant death.