Neoregelia Care: 17 Tips For Growing The Neoregelia Bromeliad

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Bromeliads (air plants) are a favorite of mine for color inside and out. Indoors we often see the “Silver Vase Plant” Aechmea Fasciata.

Guzmanias are another popular bromeliad you see in many garden centers.

colorful assortment of neoregelia bromeliad plantsPin

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of catching some colorful Neoregelias they are a feast for the eyes.

The thick, tough foliage and centers color all up and produce so many attractive shades and intense vivid colors.


Indoors, the most common Neoregelia species don’t have the towering flower bracts of other bromeliads—their flowers stay closer to the central cup, and the newer leaves flush different colors.

They typically form a “cup” in the middle, which gathers water and debris for nutrition. Their leaves are often spotted, banded, or marbled with spines along the margins.  

Neoregelias are great as single plant specimens or in groups. Excellent plants for a patio area with some indirect light shade or a balcony in need of long-lasting color.

Neoregelia is a bromeliad that can fit in nicely with your cactus and/or succulent collection.

Vibrant plant with water droplet.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @bromeliamania_

Neoregelias make great houseplants because they’re so colorful and easy to maintain. Neoregelias are somewhat lower, broader plants than some of the other bromeliads (like Guzmania and Aechmea), so they are less likely to topple over in their new pots.  

This interesting plant can add variety and color to your collection, yet the level of bromeliad plant care required is similar to that required by cacti and succulents.

In this article, we will answer some of the common questions regarding this interesting Bromeliad plant, provide plant care tips and maintenance, and share some pictures of Neoregelia bromeliad plants found on Pinterest and Flickr.

Neoregelia Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Neoregelia
  • Common Name(s): Neoregelia
  • Synonyms: N/A
  • Family & Origin: Bromeliaceae family, native to South America
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: USDA zones 10-12
  • Size: Grows up to 16′ inches in height and 1-2′ feet wide
  • Flowering: Produces small flowers in the center of the plant
  • Light: Prefers bright, indirect light
  • Humidity: Thrives in high-humidity environments
  • Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 60-80°F
  • Soil: Does not require soil and can be grown in a well-draining potting mix
  • Water: Water the center of the plant regularly, and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged
  • Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 months
  • Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to mealybugs and scale insects, as well as root rot if overwatered
  • Propagation: Propagated by removing offsets or pups from the base of the plant
  • Plant Uses: Used as a decorative indoor plant and can also be grown outdoors in warm climates.

What Are Bromeliad Plants?

There are many different types of bromeliads. The one we are most familiar with is the pineapple. All bromeliads have the same sort of rosette shape as found on the foliage of a pineapple.

Colorful bromeliad with water in center.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @plumhill_plants

These leaves vary in coloration and form from one bromeliad to the next.

In the case of the Neoregelia, the leaves in the center of the plant form a funnel or central cup and take on a lovely purple or red hue prior to blooming. Flowers appear randomly at the base of the funnel.



When Do Neoregelias Bloom?

The tiny blossoms usually appear in the summertime but can happen at any time as long as the plant is kept under optimum conditions.

The flowers are short-lived and scentless but very pretty. They grow amid colorful central leaves that retain their purple or red shade for several months.

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source: pinterest

What Are The Most Popular Varieties of Neoregelia?

Are you asking yourself, “What kind of bromeliad do I have?”.

The most popular indoor variety of this bromeliad is Neoregelia carolinae, which looks similar.

Neoregelia carolinae Pin
Neoregelia carolinae

This variety has a generous rosette made up of bright green leaves with a red or purple funnel. When blossoms appear, they are an attractive shade of violet.

A variation on this plant is dubbed “Tricolor.” This plant has bands of creamy yellow/white running along the centers of the leaves. When the plant is about to flower, the bands become brilliant red.

Other popular varieties include the compact Neoregelia Fireball, which has fiery red leaves when growing in bright light.

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When fireball bromeliads’ bloom time approaches, the center of the plant turns pink, and when blossoms appear, they are a lovely shade of lilac.

Meyendorfii is another popular variety that features very wide leaves in an interesting shade of olive green. The center of the plant turns brown at bloom time.

What Is The Best Way To Care For Neoregelia Plants?

Every variety of Neoregelia makes a good houseplant. As mentioned, they make a nice addition to a cactus or succulent collection and will enjoy the same sort of environment – lots of strong light.

You can also keep larger bromeliads as individual specimen plants or grow in a setting that replicates their natural environment.

In nature, they form a carpet beneath taller tropical plants. Most hail from the tropical jungles of Brazil. If you live in a temperate area, they can grow outdoors year-round.

At Selby Botanical Gardens in Florida, they are mounted outdoors on trees for a very natural effect.

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source: pinterest

How Big Is Neoregelia, And How Large Can They Grow?

These plants are fairly compact and usually grow to be about 16″ inches high and 1′ or 2′ feet wide. The leaves grow in an attractive rosette pattern, which forms a central funnel.

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source: pinterest

What Kind Of Lighting And Temperature Do Neoregelia Plants Need?

Just like cactus and succulents, Neoregelia loves the sun. Bright, ample sunlight produces deep, attractive leaf colors.

These plants thrive in indirect light or moderate shade. They can be acclimated to higher light levels. 

Of course, you should not expose this or any plant to very bright, hot, direct midday sun because direct sunlight (especially through glass) can actually scorch the leaves.

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source: pinterest

How Much Water Does Neoregelia Need?

Even though they are good companions for cacti and succulents, bromeliads do need a bit more water.

In the summertime, keep the potting soil moist. In the wintertime, allow it to dry completely before watering lightly.

The central cup should be kept filled with pure filtered, distilled, or rainwater year-round. Avoid tap water if possible. It contains chemicals.

Colorful bromeliads with vibrant leaves on wet ground.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @plumhill_plants

Stagnant water in the cup is also an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes. Empty the cup or flush it out with large quantities of water on a weekly basis to avoid disease and insect problems. 

Related: More in our article – Bromeliad Watering – HOW TO

Be mindful of the weather. If it is hot and dry, your plant will need more water. Your plants might enjoy occasional misting in very hot, dry weather.

If it is muggy, your plant will need less water and may benefit from having a fan set up to provide indirect air movement.

What Is The Purpose Of The Bromeliad Funnel?

All varieties of this plant have narrow, stiff leaves in the center, which grow in a funnel shape.

In the wild, condensed moisture collects in the funnel to keep the plant watered. Sometimes, little frogs or other amphibians set up housekeeping in the little pool.

Keep the funnel filled with water throughout the year to provide the water the plant needs.

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source: pinterest

Flowers will grow in the center of the funnel when the plant is happy and well cared for.

What Is The Best Neoregelia Bromeliad Soil To Use?

Actually, Bromeliads need no soil!

The Neoregelia is an epiphytic bromeliad. As such, these plants have compact root systems primarily used to anchor the plant and not for the uptake and retention of moisture and nutrients.

Like all epiphytes, Neoregelia needs a light, quickly draining mix that does not have a great deal of water-holding capacity.

As bromeliads are gaining more popularity, more terrarium/vivarium hobbyists are incorporating miniature species and hybrids in their tanks, creating beautiful natural environments for their animals.

According to the Bromeliad Society of Houston, a good combination of bark nuggets, orchid bark, and peat moss is a very light, well-drained no-soil mixture.

Alternately, a combination of equal parts coarse perlite, vermiculite, and Canadian peat is appropriate.

The main thing to remember is that the “soil” is intended to hold the plant in place simply.

It should not be nutrient-rich, nor should it retain a great deal of water, as these qualities will cause root and plant rot. [source]

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source: pinterest

How Often Should You Repot Neoregelias?

These bromeliads have very small root systems, so frequent repotting is not necessary.

Repotting Mature bromeliads should not be repotted. Smaller bromeliads can be potted into small containers until they are established, then moved into 4- or 6-inch pots until they flower. 

If a plant outgrows its pot or becomes too top-heavy, you can repot it in the springtime before the growing season begins.

Smaller bromeliads can be potted into small containers until they are established, then moved into four- or six-inch pots until they flower.

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source: pinterest

What Kind Of Plant Fertilizer Should You Use On Bromeliads?

Provide a very light fertilizing (use slow-release fertilizer) to the soil a couple of times during the growing season.

If using a water-soluble liquid fertilizer concentrate mix, prepare the solution at half the manufacturer’s recommended strength.

Fertilize monthly during their growing period while the flower is in bloom with a balanced liquid fertilizer and a time-release granular soil fertilizer. Reduce during the fall and winter months while the plant is in its dormant phase. 

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source: flickr

Can You Put Fertilizer in The Bromeliad Funnel?

Just fertilize the potting medium very lightly a couple of times during the spring and summer months. Only add pure, filtered water, freshwater, distilled water, or rainwater to the funnel.

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source: pinterest

How Do You Propagate Bromeliads?

Propagation from seeds is also possible; however, it is tedious and has very little success in most home environments. These plants can be grown from divisions or from seeds.

Divisions are typically easier to work with and more readily available. Seed can be purchased online or from specialty nurseries or fanciers.

Even though it is possible to grow Neoregelia from seed, it is really much easier to simply divide the plants.

Colorful patterned plant with person behind.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @floridabromeliads

After the mature plant has flowered, the mother plant will gradually die back as the pups take over. These can be potted into their pots. 

Like many plants, the mother plant produces offsets that grow rapidly into independent adult plants.

Remember that there are almost as many mixes as there are growers.

When you see that your plant has produced one or more offsets, continue to care for the plant as usual. Wait until the baby plants are about half the size of the parent plant.

Related: More in our article on Removing Flowers and Separating Bromeliad Pups

Prepare the right number of pots for your new plant(s) by filling them with a light, soil-free mixture with excellent drainage, as described above.

Colorful bromeliad plant with patterned leaves.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @floridabromeliads

Tip the adult plant out of its pot and gently cut the offsets loose using a very sharp, clean knife or clippers.

Be careful to give the offshoots enough roots to survive. If you cut it apart from all its roots, it will die.

Put the offshoots into their new pots. Cover them with a plastic bag for several days to hold in the moisture and help them get a good start.

Be sure to set up a wireframe or a support rod inside the bag to prevent it from touching the vegetation of your new plant.

Alternatively, if you would like to have a cluster of plants, you can simply leave the pups in place.

The parent or mother plant will die back after producing offshoots. Remove and plant as potted offsets or leave more room for the individual plants to grow.

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source: pinterest

How Long Does It Take For A Neoregelia To Bloom?

Don’t be disappointed if your baby plants don’t bloom right away. They will not bloom until they are fully mature (two or three years old).

Satisfy yourself with enjoying their foliage (which is gorgeous) until the first bloom time arrives. You will surely be thrilled after your long and patient vigil!

What Are The Most Common Problems For Neoregelia?

One of the most common problems for these plants is excessive watering. Too much water can cause the plant’s lower leaves to dry and turn brown.

This may make you think you need to water more, but this is not the case. To treat this problem, cut off the damaged leaves and reduce watering.

Keeping the soil too soggy can cause the plant’s roots and base to rot.

Close-up of a red bromeliad flower with water in the center and emerging purple budsPin
Photo Credit: @laurathing1

If the flesh of the plant becomes black and soggy at the soil line, you have been watering too much. Withhold all water from the planting medium and hope for the best.

Of course, bromeliads can also suffer from too little water. If the tips of the leaves turn brown, it means that the air surrounding the plant is too dry. Regular misting can help.

You may also want to put your plant (pot and all) on a tray of pebbles with water poured over the pebbles (not touching the bottom of the pot). As the water evaporates, the air surrounding the plant will gain a little humidity.

What Pests Attack Neoregelias?

Overwatering plants of all sorts can lead to aphid infestation, insect scale on plants, and mealybug pests. More on what mealybugs look like and their control.

Tiny blue flowers of NeoregeliaPin
Tiny blue flowers of Neoregelia | image: flickr

You can prevent and treat aphids by simply wiping the plants’ leaves with a damp cloth on a regular basis.

If you have an established infestation, you may need to treat the plant with a houseplant insecticide or a mix of Neem oil for plants.

If kept outdoors, your plants may be more subject to scale insect or mealybug infestation. These can also be treated with a houseplant insecticide or neem oil spray.

For bugs hiding deep in the crevices of the plant, dip a cotton swab in insecticide, Neem oil solution, or isopropyl alcohol and use it to evict and kill the intruders.

Fact sheet on bromeliad neoregelia a video explains – care, sun tolerance, and growth habits.

Tips For Buying A Neoregelia Bromeliads

Vibrant red bromeliads with water droplets.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @floridabromeliads
  • Plants can be purchased at any time of the year
  • Look for plants with undamaged leaves
  • Remember: Neoregelia die after flowering. Start new plants by removing pups from the mother plant.

More on Bromeliad Care

Colorful bromeliad plants with patterned leaves in a nursery settingPin
Photo Credit: @flowers.cactus