What Do I Do if My Bromeliad Bloom Has Rotted?

Bromeliads are any of the 45 genera and over 2,000 species of the Bromeliaceae or pineapple family, broadly hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 15. All are native to tropical regions of North, South and Central America. Some are terrestrial, others are epiphytic, living in trees, and still others live on rocks. Plants in the family are often characterized by basal rosettes of stiff, spiny leaves and brightly colored flowers. Many bromeliads make excellent houseplants.

Rotted Blooms

If flowers or other plant parts are rotted, the most likely reason is overwatering. Remove the rotted flower and any other rotted tissue. Do not water again until the top of the potting mix is dry to the touch. Make sure the plant has adequate air circulation around it. Generally, once the plant has flowered, it will die after a year or so, but not before producing one or more new plants, called "pups," alongside the parent. If overwatering was the cause of the rot and the plant recovers, it may produce pups that can eventually be detached and potted.

Water-Filled Cups

Some bromeliads' leaves form a central cup, from which a flower or flower stalk emerges. In the wild, the cup collects rainwater that the plant uses. Under home conditions, when the plant is watered at the soil line, filling the cup is not necessary. If the cup is filled anyway, the excess moisture can lead to rot. After removing rotted flowers and parts, flush the cup with clean water to rid it of any buildup of salts remaining inside it.


If watering has not been excessive, poor drainage might be the cause of the rotted flowers. Repot the plant in a roomy container that has several drainage holes at the bottom, replacing the existing potting mix with one containing one-third peat or osmunda fiber, one-third coarse bark or leaf mold and one-third coarse sand. Position the pot atop a tray of pebbles and water. The pot should never sit in the water. Evaporation of the water in the tray creates the humidity level the plant requires without the soil moisture retention that promotes rot.


The flower may also have rotted if the bromeliad was exposed to a temperature at or just below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the affected flower and any other parts have been removed, gradually move the plant to areas with warmer temperatures until the bromeliad is relocated to a place in the 79 to 80 degree Fahrenheit range. Bathrooms and kitchens, as long as they have some natural light from windows, are often good places to site bromeliads, as household humidity levels tend to be highest in those rooms.