Flaming Sword (Vriesea splendens)

Flaming Sword (Vriesea splendens) is a species of flowering plant in the bromeliad family with lance-shaped or linear foliage 8 – 24 inches long that is green or purplish often with crossbands of dark brown. The leaves have smooth edges and may have colorful bracts at the leaf bases. The foliage is often arching, forming a funnel-shaped rosette. The blooms are variously shaped, short-stalked flowers, generally in a flattened spike-like racemes or panicles in two rows. Petals are often tubular and short-lived, the bracts are brightly colored and last for months.

Scientific classification:

Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Tillandsioideae
Genus: Vriesea
Species: V. splendens

Scientific Name: Vriesea splendens
Synonyms: Tillandsia splendens, Vriesea speciosa, Tillandsia speciosa, Tillandsia appuniana, Tillandsia picta, Vriesea longibracteata.
Common Names: Flaming Sword, Flaming Sword Bromeliad, Painted Feather, Zebra Bromeliad.

How to care and grow Flaming Sword (Vriesea splendens)?

Light:

It thrives best in bright indirect sunlight, year-round, with some direct sun in the winter.

Soil:

Vriesea splendens grows well in rich, moist but well-drained, peat-based potting mix

Water:

Water regularly during the growing season and always keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. You can allow the topsoil to become slightly dry between each watering. During the winter months, reduce watering.

Temperature:

Vriesea splendens prefers average room temperatures between 65°F – 75°F / 18°C – 23°C. Protect this bromeliad from temperatures below 10°C (50°F).

Humidity:

Normal humidity indoors should be fine, and misting of the plant leaves will help too.

Fertilizer:

Fertilize monthly from May – September fall with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation:

It can be easily propagated after the offsets have grown over 5 inches tall, and a few months old. They need to be separated from the container they have been growing inside with roots attached and then placed into a suitably sized container with a moist soil mix. Also can be propagated by seed.

Re-Potting:

Re-pot young plants after two years, and limit pot size for mature plants to 15 cm.

Pests and Diseases:

It has no serious pest or disease problems. Sometimes susceptible to leaf spots, bacterial soft rot, scales, and mealybugs.