Question
I have a tillandsia cyanea that does not have a flower at the moment.  Some of the leaves get brown in the middle, and try to break.  I wondered what is the best way to trim these, right where the brown is, or at the root?  The rest of the leaf is as green as could be, and I hate to kill the whole thing by cutting it off.  I thought I was taking good care of my plant, but I hate to see it turning brown in places.  It's a regular size plant (about 6 or 7 inches long, and maybe 3 or 4 inches tall, like the ones you see online).  I have it in an apartment, by an east facing window.  Sometimes I put it in the window in direct sunlight during the day, put it under a fluorescent light at night for a few hours, or keep it on the coffee table with indirect light hitting it during the day.  I've had this plant since the summer of 2007.  I water it around once or twice a week, and have soaked it in a bucket two different times (24 hours each time).  We have city water (I live in Mentor, Ohio, near Cleveland).  I just want it to look like the pictures I pull up online, the way it looked when I bought it from the Marc's Discount Store last summer.  Could you help me to keep it looking healthier?  It does look good, but I think it could be so much better.  I'd like to know how to make it flower again, also.  I read something about putting it in a plastic bag with an overripe banana.  Would this work?  Sorry this is so long, but I love my plants, and am trying to do the best job I can with them, and you've been doing this awhile, so I figured you could help me out.  I have a total of 17 plants, so if your advice helps, I hope you wouldn't mind me bugging you again for help with my other plants (I have all kinds - cacti, bromeliad guzmania, poinsettia, etc.).  I know the browning means sun scorching, but I don't put it in direct sun very often.  Could there be another reason?  Also, do I have to propagate my plant, or can I leave it as is?  Thank you very much for your time and help!  I'll be looking forward to your response :)

Answer
Lynn,

I would not trim the leaf for as long as most of the leaf is grean. If possible put it in an east window so it get sun in the morning and it will not get sun damaged and should react much better.

The following website has soem good care information for tillandsias.   http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1501.htm

I'm not sure what you mean by water it? Tillandsias need frequent (every two to three days) misting to provide needed moisture. You can also immerse the entire plant in room-temperature water for about half an hour every week to 10 days. Tillandsias can be grown in a kitchen or bathroom window, where the humidity from washing dishes or taking showers will supply them with water. They should be misted occasionally with very dilute liquid fertilizer.

The tiny silver scales that cover the plant absorb all its moisture and nutrients. The scales are essential to the plant抯 survival. Handle the plants as little as possible to avoid accidentally rubbing off the scales.

Tillandsia's only bloom once a year during the summer. You need to mist it with weam fertilizer to build up it's size and strength so it is reaqdy to bloom in the spring. Then if a bud hasn't appeared by the end of June you can do the banana thing. I am not experienced at propagating this plant. Good luck!

Darlene