Caring for Blooming Vriesea

Location

• Bright, intense sun can scorch the foliage of the flaming sword plant and cause it to dry out too quickly. Setting the plants in a spot with indirect sunlight or partial shade provides the right growing site. Indoor plants can tolerate some light morning sunlight, but outdoor plants shouldn't be exposed to any direct sun. Flaming sword also can't tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid setting indoor plants near air vents or close to a door or window that allows cold outdoor air inside.

Potting

• Flaming sword doesn't require soil to grow and it's often sold attached to wooden slabs that you can set on a table or hang from an indoor or outdoor wall. If you do grow it in a pot, use a fast-draining soil mixture formulated for bromeliads or orchids. The pot must have bottom drainage so the soil doesn't retain moisture. Flaming sword dies after flowering, but the small pups surrounding the main plant will continue to grow. You can cut the pups from the main plant and pot them into their own containers when the main plant begins to flower.

Basic Care

• The leaves form a central rosette that resembles a cup. The cup must remain filled with water at all times, so monitor it daily and add more water as needed. If the flaming sword is grown in a pot, water the soil lightly when the top 1 inch begins to dry. Flaming sword plants benefit from fertilization. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of a water-soluble 24-8-16 fertilizer with 1 gallon of water and place the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the foliage with a the solution every two weeks when the plant is actively growing.

Problems

• Most flaming sword problems occur because of poor care. Overly wet soil can result in root rot. The plant may also develop dry leaves or leaf spotting in dry weather, so you may need to mist the foliage daily with water to increase humidity. Common houseplant pests, such as scale insects and mealybugs, may also plague flaming sword. Pick the pests off the plant. Properly watering and fertilizing the plants makes them resistant to most minor pest damage.