How to grow Guzmania lingulata

Guzmania lingulata grow and care – succulent leaf plant of the genus Guzmania also known as Scarlet star, Droophead tufted airplant or Red guzmania, Guzmania lingulata perennial evergreen but can be grown as annual used as ornamental plant, can grow in tropic, mediterranean or subtropics climate or indoor as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 10b+.

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Leaves color green and can be variegated green with white or yellow, the leaves grow in rosette structure in elliptic and sharp in the edge.

Guzmania lingulata flower

Flower color is white or yellow and small grow in clusters.

Bracts color red, orange or yellow bracts leaves that looks like the flowers and grow next to the flower.

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How to grow Guzmania lingulata growing and care:

Better more than 3C prefer more than (15C 59F) can survive 0°C light frost but not recommend, well-drained soil, moist soil with good drainage and it’s good to let it dry between watering, warm climate, better to use purified water or rain water, soil should be something light and inert like sphagnum moss, because in the nature those plants are mostly air plants live on rocks or crock of tree or air roots in tropical forest with big amount of rains that keep the plants in humidity all time so the plant need high humidity.

How to care:
Fertilizer need to be few times a year and fertilize the plant in spray and in cold winter better not to put fertilizers

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seeds / Vegetative Reproduction

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Yes if you want to choose the color

Difficulties or problems when growing:
?

Planting season:
All year in tropic, in other climate spring

Pests and diseases:
Aphids

Pruning season:
All year in hardiness zone 11b+, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10a, spring to autumn hardiness zone 10b-11a

How to prune:
Dead leaves

Size of the plant?
20-50 cm, 12-20 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water, need to put water in the middle of the rosette leaves, need humidity and moist, but well ventilated and well-drained soil, like in the nature big amount of rains and the plant that lay down on trees and all the water go away.

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Shade (with light), a lot of light but without direct sun, because the sun will burn the leaves and the flowers and leave on the burning marks

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
Yes, mostly outside of the tropical it is easier to grow it as houseplants because it’s better to grow, no winds enough humidity and it’s easy to give the plant what it need, outside the soil in pot like in a nature that mostly its epiphyte

How to grow and care indoors:
Choose location with enough light and even with little sun, need to be aware that the plant need to be far away from ventilators, heater and air conditions, possible to grow it in the bathroom, be aware to that because of the high humidity need to use less water.

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, because it’s easy to maintain in container or even on cork disconnect from the soil, if you choose to grow on cork or bark as need to keep with higher humidity and moist on the roots, better to cover it with a bark or something that will keep the moist in the roots

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Can bloom all year

General information about the flower
Small white or yellow flower grow in clusters, around the flowers grow bracts, in variety of color, color can be: red, yellow, orange.

How to grow Guzmania plant from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Better to use fresh seeds and not more than 2 month old, use peat moss (sphagnum soil), high humidity, light moist soil, 25-30C (77-86F) in the day and colder in the night, a lot of light

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location

Sowing season:
End of spring to early autumn

How to plant:
Put the seeds in sphagnum soil and keep it moist

Planting spacing:
3*2cm (1.5*1 inch)

Depth of Sowing:
On the soil

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil with high humidity

Watering requires for Seeds:
Small amount of water (do not over water

Germination time:
1-2 month

Condition of seedling:
The same as fully mature plant and need to transplant them to location without algae

Scientific name:

Guzmania lingulata

How to grow Guzmania lingulata

Guzmania lingulata plant care

Guzmania lingulata Variegated

Guzmania lingulata flowers

Guzmania lingulata

Categories

Blooming Seasons
  • Autumn flowers
  • Spring flowers
  • Summer flowers
  • Winter flowers
Flower colors
  • Orange flower
  • Red flower
  • White flower
  • Yellow flower
Climate
  • Mediterranean Climate
  • Subtropics Climate
  • Tropics Climate
Ornamental parts
  • Ornamental flower
  • Ornamental leaves
  • Ornamental plant
Plant growing speed
  • Slow growing plants
Plant life-form
  • Bromeliad
  • Epiphyte
  • Evergreen
  • Leaf plant
  • Perennial plant
Plant Uses
  • Indoor plants
  • Ornamental plants
Planting Season
  • Autumn Planting
  • Spring Planting
  • Summer planting
  • Winter planting
Plants sun exposure
  • Shade Plants
Watering plants
  • Regularly water
Hardiness zone
  • Hardiness zone 10
  • Hardiness zone 11
  • Hardiness zone 12
  • Hardiness zone 13

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Guzmania lingulata (Guzmania lingulata) is an epiphytic bromeliad and an easy, rewarding houseplant. In the wild it perches on tree branches rather than rooting in the ground, so indoors it is happiest in a small pot of very free-draining mix – or mounted on cork or bark – kept in bright, indirect light. The grower finds it is actually easier to grow indoors than out.

Quick Details

  • Container Size: A small pot is plenty, with excellent drainage – or grow it mounted on cork or bark.
  • Indoor Suitability: A genuine houseplant – one of the best bromeliads for indoors.
  • Best Spot: Bright, indirect light – harsh midday sun scorches the leaves and flower.
  • Soil & Drainage: Open, airy epiphyte mix (orchid bark, perlite, some coir); never dense, wet soil.
  • Watering in Pots: Keep the central rosette cup topped up with water and the mix only barely moist; it wants humidity but sharp drainage.

Indoors & On the Windowsill

  • A real houseplant: The grower keeps this one indoors, where there is no wind and humidity is easy to manage. Water into the central rosette cup, keep the air a little humid, and keep the plant away from heaters, air-conditioning and fans. A bright bathroom or kitchen suits its humidity – then water more sparingly.
  • Windowsill growing: A bright sill with no scorching midday sun is ideal; strong direct sun marks the leaves and flower.
  • Overwintering: This is a tender tropical – keep it warm, above about 10-13 C (50-55 F). Indoors it is comfortable year round; if summered outdoors, bring it in before cold nights.

On a Balcony or Patio

  • Light & wind: It can spend the warm season outdoors in bright shade, sheltered from wind and hot midday sun. Pots dry quickly against warm walls, so check moisture and keep the cup topped up.
  • Practicalities: Refresh the water in the cup every so often so it stays clean, and make sure drainage water can run away freely. Bring it back indoors before the first cold nights.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

  • Pot & drainage: A small pot with strong drainage holes and no standing saucer, so the roots never sit in water. Alternatively, mount it on cork or bark and, as the grower advises, wrap the roots in moist moss or bark to hold humidity.
  • Potting mix: An open epiphyte blend – orchid bark with perlite and a little coir – not heavy potting soil.
  • Feeding: Feed only lightly – a very dilute bromeliad feed added to the mix or misted on; these plants are easily harmed by too much fertiliser salt.
  • Repotting & pups: Each rosette flowers once, then produces offsets (pups) around the base. Pot the pups on into fresh, airy mix rather than repotting the spent parent.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

  • Bloom Season: Can appear at any time of year on a mature plant
  • Time to First Bloom: Once the rosette is mature – typically a few years
  • Flower Appearance: Small white or yellow flowers clustered inside a showy head of red, orange or yellow bracts
  • Edibility: Ornamental – the flowers are not eaten

Detailed Blooming Overview

The colourful star that gives Scarlet Star its name is actually a rosette of bright bracts; the true flowers are the small white or yellow ones nestled among them. The display lasts for weeks to months. Guzmania is monocarpic – each rosette flowers once, then slowly fades while producing pups around its base.

Flower Characteristics

  • Small white or yellow flowers held in clusters.
  • Surrounded by long-lasting bracts in red, orange or yellow that form the showy part of the bloom.

Bloom Care & Thinning

  • Central cup: Keep a little fresh, soft water in the central cup and refresh it regularly.
  • Light: Bright, indirect light keeps the bract colour rich.
  • After flowering: Separate pups once they reach a good size to grow on.