My Bromeliad Bloom Turned Brown. What Should I Do?
My Bromeliad Bloom Looks Like It’s Dying
So your bromeliad bloom turned brown? Well, it might sound harsh, but once your bromeliad bloom has begun to die, you can cut it off! Bromeliads are known for their exotic, long-lasting flowers. These tropical plants can bloom for months, in fact. However, once a bromeliad’s flower begins to die, it is signaling the next cycle in its life. This next cycle is producing pups. Pups are new bromeliad plants, which will be the future generation of your bromeliad garden. By cutting off the bromeliad’s dying flower, you can help the plant refocus its energy on these new pups.
How to Remove a Spent Bromeliad Bloom
To remove a spent bloom, use a sharp, sterilized blade and cut the bloom stalk. Make a clean cut as close to the remaining plant as possible without harming it. Once you’ve removed the bloom, you can toss it in the trash or compost. Don’t neglect your bromeliad just because it finished blooming. Now comes the exciting part where it will begin to produce pups. For more information on how to identify bromeliad pups, remove them from the mother plant, correctly pot them, and care for them, check out our free Guide to Bromeliad Pups or our post A Beginner’s Guide to Bromeliad Pups.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Once your bromeliad is finished producing pups, it will eventually die. Don’t be alarmed if suddenly your bromeliad plant isn’t looking too well, despite your best efforts to keep it healthy. This is just a natural progression in your plant’s life cycle. By now, your new pups will have been repotted in their own containers and will soon be featuring new blooms and beautiful colors.