Care for a bromeliad

Question

My Bromeliad looks nothing like the one pictured on your website. The “flower” is not open and is turning brown on the edges. It used to be a bright yellow but is now dull yellow/green with brown edges. I watered by putting the pot in another pot of an inch or so water. I didn’t know about filling the cup with water. I bought it at a floral department at supermarket about 3 months ago. Will it open or is it in the process of dying? I now keep water in the cup and don’t water the soil. It’s hard to tell if the soil is dried out.

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Answer 1

There are many bromeliads and some have that flower color and shape. It is possible that it is fully formed and is in the process of dying. This is natural for this plant. I would keep a close watch for pups. I've read that even as the mother plant dies, pups can still grow, so don't be in a hurry to get rid of the seemingly demised plant. There may have been some overwatering involved here, too. That is the main problem with bromeliads.

Here are some articles that should be of interest:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/bromeliad/growing-bromeliad-pups.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/bromeliad/bromeliad-plant-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/bromeliad/bromeliad-care-after-flowering.htm