A Bromeliad plant (Aechmea fasciata), sometimes called a Silver Vase plant or Urn plant, is an easy care flowering plant native to Brazil. In nature, it is an epiphytic plant, which means it grows on other plants or trees. This bromeliad variety has thick, arching, gray-green leaves.These unique leaves are arranged in a circular fashion so that they form an upturned waxy cup in the center. This central cup, or reservoir collects the water and nutrients that the plant needs. After three or four years, as a Bromeliad fasciata matures, the plant produces a tall flower stalk with numerous pink bracts.This bromeliad variety has thick, arching, gray-green leaves.These unique leaves are arranged in a circular fashion so that they form an upturned waxy cup in the center. The real flowers are small blue blooms that grow between the pink bracts. Although the blue flowers quickly die, the bright pink bracts often last 5 or 6 months in a cool room with no bright light. When buying a Bromeliad fasciata, avoid purchasing one that already has small blue flowers since this indicates the pink bracts have been visible for a while and may soon fade.
Plant Care
Light
A Bromelia fasciata (Silvr Vase Plant) requires very bright light in order to flower. Once the pink bracts appear, move the plant to lower light to prolong the colorful bracts.
Water
Keep the “cup” of this type of bromeliad filled with fresh water. Clean the cup weekly and replace the water with clean water to prevent diseases, gnats, and mosquitos. Dampen the soil and do not water again until the top 1/2” of soil has dried out. Never allow the soil to totally dry out and never use hard water. The lime in hard water disfigures the leaves. These plants have a very small root system so be careful not to over-water.
Fertilizer
Feed monthly in the spring, summer, and fall with a liquid plant food diluted to ½ the recommended strength. During the winter, fertilize a every other month. The best way to fertilize is to spray the liquid food directly on the leaves. Never put food into the central cup.
Temperature
The colorful bracts last longer if you keep the temperature between 6o°-75° F (17°- 24° C). Aechmea fasciatas can survive colder temperatures than other bromeliads.
Humidity
Bromeliads need moderate humidity.
Flowering
After three or four years, once the plant matures, a bromeliad archaea fasciata produces a tall flower stalk with numerous pink bracts. The real flowers are small blue blooms that grow between the bracts. Although the tiny blue flowers quickly die, the bright pink bracts often last for 5 or 6 months when the temperature is cool and the light low.
Pests
Change the water and clean the cup every 7-10 days to prevent plant pests such as gnats, mosquitos, mealy bugs, and scale.
Diseases
Fungal plant diseases such as root rot, crown rot, rust disease, and leaf spot can infect bromeliads.
Soil
I recommend using either a bromeliad or orchid potting soil. If you want to make your own mix, use equal parts leaf mold, peat moss and coarse sand or equal parts fir bark, peat moss, and sharp sand or perlite.
Pot Size
As the young bromeliad matures and outgrows a 4” or 6” pot, move it to the next size pot in the spring. After 3 or 4 years, the plant reaches maturity and should remain in an 8″ pot. Bromeliads like to be root-bound in small pots so don’t rush to re-pot them.
Propagation
Bromeliads are propagated using the “pups” or offsets that grow around the base of the plant. Wait until these offsets are about 6” (15 cm) in size before digging them up and planting them in a 4” pot of their own.
Clean Air Plant
Bromeliads remove formaldehyde from the air.
Poisonous Plant Info
Although considered a non-poisonous houseplant, a bromeliad contains substances that may cause skin irritations and contact dermatitis in some people and pets.
FAQ
The rust colored spots on the leaves of your bromeliad sound like a plant disease called rust which is caused by a fungus. This plant disease appears as rust colored blisters on the underside of bromeliad leaves. The blisters eat their way through the leaves causing white or light yellow spots on the tops of the leaves.
The bright pink flower on a Bromeliad fasciata is really numerous bracts. These bracts begin to fade and die after a few weeks to a few months depending on how long the bromeliad plant had those bracts before you purchased the plant. Hopefully the plant will produce some off-sets you can use to start new bromeliad plants.
In order to get your bromeliad leaves to have that silvery gray color you need to put it in very bright light and fertilize more. Feed a bromeliad fasciata monthly in the spring, summer and fall with a liquid plant food at ½ the recommended strength. During the winter, fertilize every other month. The best way to deliver plant food is to spray the fertilizer on the leaves. This helps the color, but not the size of the leaves.