PlantFiles: Flaming Sword Bromeliad
Vriesea splendens

I simply love this plant. I have it in my kitchen in a east facing window and it loves it there. It gets around 2 hours of direct sun. I fill the center reservoir once a week and the soil 1 to 3 times a month (depending on how hot it's been). I was concerned about the heat from my oven, but that is not an issue.
The flower spike was about 2.5 feet tall on the parent last year. After the first bloom the parent plant did not die on me, only 3 leaves died after I cut the stem of the bloom. Then it just exploded with growth. It's 3x the size now and I'm waiting for the next flower spike to show. Can't wait.

I was given this plant as a birthday gift several years ago. It blooms profusely. We have had to divide it several times. Does quite well in our wetter area.

My son collects bromeliads and he has a huge assortment. Our latest blooms are the yellow Puna Gold developed in Hawaii

To a casual observer, this looks like it could be a desert plant. I got mine from a previous owner that had given it full southern heat and sun. It took me over two years before I could cull the last of the burned leaves. Since then it's been very hardy. The spike lasts for a long time, providing a nice burst of color.

It needs high humidity and constant watering. This is an epiphyte from the moist forests of southeastern Brazil, and is sensitive to other climatic conditions. I tried to grow one in my bedroom, and when the red inflorescence started to fade, all the plant went down quickly because of the dry air in there.

An extremely good looking plant, whatever it´s blooming or not. But need some care too.

Oh, and be aware that this is one of the many endangered bromeliads, since lots of them are illegally collected from their natural habitat and sold everywhere.

Great looking bromeliad for the tropical and subtropical gardens. Nice striped, mottled foliage, and stunning flowers in the later summer... though sometimes flowering seems sort of random. Needs to have the center of the plant kept wet, but overwatering the soil will result in rotting of the plant. After flowering the main plant dies, but then makes an offshoot or two. Usually those are divided off and a new plant is stared. Often planted in pots in the ground to make them look like they're really growing there.

Green foliage with prominent dark bands across them. Do not fertilize. Keep some water in the center and change the water once a week. The bright red inflorescence will develop yellow tubular flowers that last only one day each. Do not expect seeds. A single pup often grows near the center of the plant; let it stay on, replanting it only when the adult falls apart. Relatively difficult for a bromeliad.