PlantFiles: Urn Plant, Silver Vase Bromeliad, Aechmea
Aechmea fasciata

Seven years ago I went to an estate sale in Yalaha where the homeowner gave me a tired tattered Achemea fasciata. I put it in a pot and hung it out over my deck where it has an Eastern exposure under ancient Oaks. It has been there through the hurricanes and last winter when it got down to 25 degrees I covered it with a sheet, hoping for the best as it was way too large to move indoors. It has bloomed every year since 2004, with the blooms lasting several months, and even then when the bloom fades and is removed it takes the mother plant several years to slowly die. By that time there are several pups. The plant is now filling a 3 gallon pot and spilling over the sides. It is a wonderful plant and one I never would have thought could be grown outside here in the Leesburg area!!

My grandmother had a Silver Leafed Urn Plant since way back in the early 90s. About 5 years ago, she insisted I take it as she was clearing out some of her older plants. She never knew what kind of plant it was and I just thought it was a corn plant. It was also growing pups when she gave it to me. I kept it in a warm sunny spot in the winters and put it outside in the summer. I never put water in the center for fear of rot and I always watered it sparingly in the winter. I really did zero maintenance on it as I was very busy and constantly on the go between work and school.

Two summers ago the 4 pups got as big as the original and I had to finally pay attention to them and separate them. I did so, and gave them all new pots. They grew well over the winter and then this past summer I found this site. I put them outside by my step and began watering them in the center. In July, the original plant, more than 15 years old suddenly bloomed! A beautiful large star-shaped flower of pink spikes with blue, purple, and red beads! Stunning! Wow!

Now, in January, the flower is still just as vibrant! Also just over the past month, it (the original) has sprouted 2 more pups. I've wasted no time in separating them into pots of their own. The first 4 pups are as big if not bigger than the original and now I have 2 new ones. I can't wait to see what the summer brings with these plants.

I do not have a green thumb at all. Every house plant I have had has died for one reason, me. But, for mothers day 2007 my son and new daughter-in-law gave me this wonderful plant. It was in bloom and was beautiful. I was told that all I had to do was water it from the middle and alittle in the base. Over the past months it has sprung other shoots from it's base and the flower in the middle has turned brown. From reading all of your experiences it would seem that I need to plant it out side. Is this true? I live in Oregon on the coast. I also do not know what to do with either the shoots or the dead bloom. I am afraid to do anything with it for fear of killing it. Can you help? Thank You.

I live in England and was given my Urn when it was just 2 leaves in a pot. It sat on my desk at work for 2 years and the flower on it now is absolutely fantastic. I have watered it regularly into the tray it stands in though i understand i should have put some water in the 'urn'

Hey, Dave's Garden Devotees!

Just this morning, yee ha,.... is my 69th Birthday, and my S.O. (Significant Other- Crow) walked over while I was having my early cup of coffee and placed in my hands, while verbalizing 'a very Happy Birthday to me,' this be--u--ti----ful Bromeliad Aechmea fasciata. I am thrilled.

Now listen up, this is my second Bromeliad as a gift from my S.O. These Bromeliads are the genesis of my search on the internet to find out anything I could about these Bromeliads. Well.....that led to 'Dave's Garden,' and this opened up a new world for me, as I have already stated in 'My Profile,' these are my first ever real live plants in my home.

Therefore, please note that as I can observe this beautiful plant I will be able to give a negative or positive, but today 'NEUTRAL.' as I am starting at ground zero.

Well, my garden friends, I wanted to share with you my exciting new Birthday gift.

And guess what, 'Dave's Garden' sent me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY by email.

01Leta
Bigfork, Mt.

I love this bromeliad. I got it for its bloom two novembers ago. Planted it in the canopy of a japanese privet. Last october I decided to split it up...little did I know I got 7 pups from the mother plant! I planted them along my driveway and they are beautiful. They are really low maintenance as well. I just make sure there's always some water in their "urn" and protect them with frost cloth during cold spells. Their already starting to produce pups of their own. Their mother is still slowly dying but is still producing pups! The beautiful foliage is covered with a white powder which makes them more beautiful. The flower has beautiful pink bracts with indigo true flowers inbedded in them. Lasts pretty long.

I have large patches of various bromeliads in my yard and this is one of my favorite. I initially planted them 9 years ago and have continued to divide up pups and spread to different locations - part shade with no special care and prospering well even though they routinely get stomped by my dogs.

A fantastic, bold, spreading plant that's great for the SF Bay Area. Contrary to what some say, the mother plants in my garden bloom repeatedly every year despite having several pups growing around them. Very exotic looking when planted in mass in the ground with palms and other subtropicals. Plant in 3/4 peat moss and 1/4 cactus mix and keep moist. Don't plant in heavy, clay soil unless you want their roots to rot.

I grew this plant in the ground in St. Petersburg, Florida, zone 9b, for almost 10 years, and now my neighbor across the street there has many pups from my plants still growing profusely in her front yard. We were just visiting down there over New Year's, and St. Petersburg hadn't had any frost, and all of the gardens there were strikingly beautififul and very, very green.

I acquired my plants, along with several other types of Bromeliads, from another neighbor who had lived in her home for over 50 years, and she remembered flocks of Flamingos and Roseate Spoonbills roaming her yard near Boca Ciega Bay. Obviously her plants were acclimatized to the cooler weather, as St. Petersburg is just north of Bromeliad's zone.

From the grocery a few years ago, blooms each year, with the flower stalk lasting for up to 11 months, offsets readily, prone to spider mites.

These plants grow to be very large but well worth the space they require. I like them for their striking foliage as an accent plant among other plants.
They are carefree--just keep water in the cups and wait for the "bloom" which lasts for a long time. Slowly the parent plant dies as the 'pups' that form at the base grow and continue the process. Truly a desirable plant and a joy to behold.

These plants are definite eye catchers. Mine remain outside year round (zone 9a.) Last winter, the temperature dipped to 19 degrees, wind chills to 10 degrees. The Silver Vase Bromeliad leaves died back somewhat but were coming back. We've had almost 2 months of daily showers, a lot of them heavy & it seems to be regressing. The cream colored with green stipes & red center seem untouched.

My experience with this plant is quite curious. I was in the hospital, my girlfriend went on a complicated surgery (she had cancer), and I was waiting for news. In the end of the corridor there was a vase with this bromeliad. We became like friends, since I talked to the plant all the time because I was too nervous to stand quiet. Thankfully everything went well. Now I want some room at home, so I can have my own Aechmea fasciata.

The original plant is light to medium green with silvery bands - a variegated form with white to cream stripes running down the leaf is also available. The pink, spikey inflorescence lasts for months; individual blooms are purple and last only a day. Don't expect seeds, but do expect offsets (pups) to appear at the base; these can be left attached to form a cluster, or removed when 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the parent. Let them dry a day or two and then pot them up. No fertilizer is really needed. Keep water in the central cup, changing it once a week, and keep the soil barely damp. Very tough plant!!