What is this and How do I fertilize it?
 

I bought this at Brownwood market a year or so ago. It had a pink flower on it that lasted forever. It only had one stalk. The flower finally died off, and the second stalk grew. I'm thinking it may need fertilizer in order to flower again. Does anybody have knowledge, before I go to Home Depot or Master Gardeners? If I had a name, I could look it up myself. Thanks for any help.

bromeliad

Thank you! I guess I should have removed the "pup" and planted it. Looks like it's too big now.

Bromeliads are wonderful, low maintenance plants and love the humidity. Have you considered planting it in your yard? If you want to keep it in a pot, looks like you may need a larger one. Maybe it's just the photo.

My daughter gave me one and I had it on the lanai. The house wash company came so I mistakenly moved it outdoors in the sun. After two days the leaves were burned, so I guess it only likes filtered light.

The bromeliad will do fine outside in shade or mottled sun. Just stick in the ground somewhere and forget about it. It's an airplant so it really doesn't need the ground, but at least there you don't have to think about it. It will bloom again in due time.

They are removing all the bromeliads in Miami as the cups that hold the water have mosquitoes breeding in them. Keep them inside.

Wow. Didn't realize that. Good advice.

I was told not to put water in "the cup" by the nursery I bought it from. They said the flower would last longer. I've always just watered the soil surface.

Thanks, everyone, for the info.

Where are they "removing all the bromeliads in Miami?" Somehow, I don't think so.

It's very easy to solve a mosquito problem, if in fact you have one. Just flush the "cup" with clean water every couple of days or so. You can do this very easily with a watering can or with a simple glass of water.

Bingo! What you think is a problem isn't.

In nature, like orchids, bromeliads are epiphytes and grow naturally on trees. They like bright light but can tolerate some filtered sunlight. They are not ground plants but if in a pot, they don't need to be in a large one. The pot problem is when the plant is large, it will fall over! If you keep it in a pot, you should change the soil every few years. Fertilize with a liquid fertilizer and don't let the soil dry out.

When they flower, you know that the "mother" plant will die off at some point down the road. A new "pup" will spring up off the mother plant. You don't have to remove the mother plant. It doesn't harm anything but it will never flower again. Eventually (it could be a year or more), it will die off and the cycle continues on.

Florida finds Zika in local mosquitoes, bromeliads blamed - Crossroads Today

Here you go - the bromeliads are a real problem. They use them extensively in the landscape so your method wouldn't be feasible. Thank you very much

Mine is, and will stay, on the lanai.

bromeliad