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Flaming Sword Bromeliad

4.3 out of 5 (15 experiences)

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

About Flaming Sword Bromeliad

The Flaming Sword Bromeliad is a tropical bromeliad, and one of the most popular ones in cultivation. The colorful blooms in the center of the plant are actually made up of fiery 'bracts' and the plant only produces tiny yellow 'true' flowers just before it dies. In the wild, they collect rainwater in the center of their bracts so next time you water, try to mimic nature and leave a small pool for them to drink! 💧

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Lutheria splendens

Genus

Lutheria

Family

Bromeliaceae

Order

Poales

Also known as

Vriesea splendens

How to care for Flaming Sword Bromeliad

💦 Water

How often to water your Flaming Sword Bromeliad

Flaming Sword Bromeliad needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Flaming Sword Bromeliad in your home

Flaming Sword Bromeliad may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Flaming Sword Bromeliad in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Flaming Sword Bromeliad

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Flaming Sword Bromeliad: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Flaming Sword Bromeliad after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #FlamingSwordBromeliad

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Flaming Sword Bromeliad is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Common Flaming Sword Bromeliad Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Flaming Sword Bromeliad thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Flaming Sword Bromeliad may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Light Requirements →

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Flaming Sword Bromeliad is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Flaming Sword Bromeliad prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Flaming Sword Bromeliad is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Flaming Sword Bromeliad →

When and How to Successfully Repot Flaming Sword Bromeliad →

💩 Fertilizer

Flaming Sword Bromeliad grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Flaming Sword Bromeliad →

🌎 Native Region

Flaming Sword Bromeliad is native to South America.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Flaming Sword Bromeliad bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Flowers →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Flaming Sword Bromeliad grows in a rosette pattern, with leaves neatly arranged in a circle. New growth will emerge from the center.

How and When to Prune Flaming Sword Bromeliad →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Flaming Sword Bromeliad can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad Temperature Tolerance →

🌱 Propagation

Flaming Sword Bromeliad can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Flaming Sword Bromeliad →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Flaming Sword Bromeliad, since they are very sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Care Summary for Flaming Sword Bromeliad

Flaming Sword Bromeliad

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 6

Large, lush leaves 5

Fast grower 3

Blooms easily 3

Browns easily 2

Easy to propagate 1

@@ella._.frd

9 Plants

208 XP

10/30/2021

it rots quickly :(

Browns easily

Flaming Sword Bromeliad plant photo by @ella._.frd named Flaming Sword on Greg, the plant care app.

@Nick

3 Plants

243 XP

08/25/2021

Picked up this plant when the buds were already dry and crispy so have trimmed accordingly and in the process of attempting to bring it back to life. Needs more water than Greg recommended and good to have a reservoir of water at the bottom of the pot to keep soil moist and encourage root growth. Despite this, the leaves are currently curled up so giving the plant a full soak to rehydrate then adjust watering accordingly.

Flaming Sword Bromeliad plant photo by Nick named Bigleef Smalls on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Michaklos

32 Plants

2,396 XP

Dundee, Scotland

08/13/2021

Even though Zoey looks lovely, she browns so easily. I’ve tried the window, near the window, nowhere near a window etc and she’s never happy.

Browns easily

Flaming Sword Bromeliad plant photo by @Michaklos named Zoey on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Erodplants

110 Plants

2,758 XP

06/28/2021

I’m totally a person who loves unique things and this plant is one of them. A new member to my gazebo tribe of plants, she gets a bit of afternoon sun as it passes through the day.