Looking for a striking indoor plant that’s easy to care for? Look no further than the colourful Guzmania, a striking bromeliad plant that shows off for weeks on end during spring and summer with bold, tropical colour splashes. Even better, Guzmanias are air purifying plants so will help create a healthier environment if you introduce them as statement centre pieces in your home or desk upgrades in your office.

Description:
Look for a tall plant with a deep central cup surrounded by long leaves that grow up around it. The large flower bracts grow in the spring.

Growing Conditions:

• Light: Indirect light or moderate shade. Do not expose to direct sunlight.
• Water: Keep water in the central cup. Change water frequently to prevent rot.

Temperature:
Guzmanias are warm-house bromeliads that appreciate high humidity and warmth. Even though the Western Cape is not particularly humid, they do well in our warm summer season.

Soil:
Easy peasy, any soil mix will do. Technically, these are airplants (epiphytes) that cleverly use their
roots for support.

Fertiliser:
Fertiliser very sparingly with a liquid (and preferably organic) fertiliser during the growing season.

Expert Tips

1. Make sure the plant is potted adequately so it does not outgrow its container
2. Provide ample warmth and humidity.
3. If the plant is exposed to cold, refill the central cup with warmer water at the first available opportunity. These plants don’t acclimatise to higher light levels as well as some other
   bromeliads, so be careful about exposure to direct sunlight.

All about potting

Mature bromeliads should not be repotted. Smaller bromeliads can be potted into small containers until they are established, then moved into 4″ or 6″ pots until they flower. Be aware that a mature guzmania is a fairly top heavy plant and will tip over in a standard plastic pot. Make sure the pot you choose is weighted correctly or shop our selection online.

Did you know?

• You’re very lucky if your Guzmanias flowers more than once as most bromeliads won’t when grown in a home or office environment.
• You can use the offshoots of your Guzmania to grow baby Guzmanias! Carefully break off the shoot once it’s about a third of the size of the mother plant and plant it in its own pot. Or leave the offshoots in the original pot and just remove the mother plant once it has died. Then nurture and grow, and spread the love by sharing with a friend.