Question
Hello! My mother rec'd a bromeliad for Christmas. Since then there has not been much change in the bloom. She was told the entire stalk would turn red. There is small red & the top is yellow and is very tight. The point of the tips has grown over with a small hump on one side, but leaves (?) are still tight. We have removed two leaves from the bottom which turned brown. She has kept water in the leaf joints. It is about 2 ft high overall, maybe a little more. Question: How long does it take to bloom and when will the bloom extend out? Not sure what to expect--this is our first experience & I have brought the plant to my house for keeping now. It is in bright light, but not direct sun for long. Our house is passive solar & the sun moves across the house as the day moves along, but the plant is not in front of the windows, which obviously have very strong light. I can send a picture if that helps you. Thanks much for your input! Holly in NC

Answer
Holly,

There are many types of bromeliads. It is impossible to answer your questions without knowing what type your mother has. I can tell you that in general it takes a couple of months for the leaf bracts to fully color. The actual flowers are tiny and in the center of the colored leaves. It helps them to color if they have very bright light and some sun from an east window with the drapes and blinds open all day. Your problem could be not enough light or if the plant is near a heat duct that could be creating the problem. Once it fully blooms it should last for 2-3 months unless it is kept too hot. A picture would help me identify it better. Good luck!

Darlene