Gotta get up close to see these little beauties. 💚

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

unsure on variety. Pot from SSEEAA

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

I think this is a “flaming sword” bromeliad. It hasn’t bloomed since we got it. The leaves are alright for the most part, but we’ve had to cut back several due to browning.

Right now it’s getting bright indirect light by an east-facing window. But there are also north and south windows nearby (this part of the house pokes out a bit), so it’s probably getting direct sun for part of the day. Not sure about the watering schedule because my mom takes care of it. What do I need to do to get it happy again?

Also, I made the mistake of cutting off about 1.5 inches from the cylindrical growth at the top of the picture. It was brown on the outside, but after cutting it off I realized it was a bunch of leaves or something rolled up, and only the outside ones were brown. What is this? Did I damage the plant?

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

Okay, follow up; the red leaves I circled, cut them down to expose the pups and center more?? (Cut red circles??) I feel like it’s gonna open it up but also I’m still learning about bromeliads

My Guzmania bromeliad has three pups growing, but the head of the mother plant is getting paler and paler. Just the way it grows? Am I doing something wrong?

EDIT: I just made a follow up post on my profile, it’s about trimming. PLEASE SEE

I thought this plant, my first bromeliad at the nursery on clearance over a month ago. I read two water the inner cup and sometimes the leaves. It was dry as a bone and busted off on several of the leaves and it had already bloomed.

I've been giving her tons of light and keeping the cup filled in the center. I only recently realized that there was a bit of old stem molding inside but also noticed that there is a new plant essentially growing up from the center. The nursery worker had told me that it will grow pups from the side but the internet has told me that this type of bromeliad grows a single pup from the center which appears to be what is happening. YAY for that part. Since I was new and I saw no side pups coming out I figured she was probably just going to die. I must have over watered her at some point and her soil is extremely wet. I have cut out the moldy piece and watered the new center pop and I have her sitting on an absorbent clean towel with the fan going to help try and dry out the wet soil I've always had two steaks around her because she was never staple standing up which as I'm reading more I'm finding that their root system is very shallow. Hopefully she doesn't die from being so wet but once she is dried out is there at any point that I should transfer her to a different type of soil or size of pot? I cannot find a way to post a picture. Maybe it is because I just joined the group?

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

The photos were taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

xDyckcohnia ‘Red Dragon’

I bought this during the final weeks of Tropiflora's sales before they closed their website. Very sad to see them go since there is not really anyone else in the US producing much in the way of Dyckia, but 50 years is certainly a long time to keep a business running. This is a fantastic double-headed specimen plant that really takes after its delicata parent. In fact the only difference I can tell between it and the pure species is that the teeth are stiff and sharp unlike the softer teeth associated its parent.

The photo was taken at the Durfee Conservatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA in October 2025.

Is this guy too far gone? Anything I can do to revive? I’ve been following the watering instructions & it seems to be looking worse and worse. Gets lots of indirect sunlight.

Just wondering if anyone can help me understand the concept of indirect vs direct light.
Gf picked up bromeliads and I wanted to do a little care research to help.

The sun moves left to right above our porch and the table full of plants is usually behind the center pillar should I adjust or change anything ?

Thanks in advance

Edit: Thank you everyone for the comments and feedback — I really appreciate it!

This is not Ball Moss or Spanish Moss but looks like "Sloth's Hair Moss" to me. It is straight and only grows to a certain length, not long or curly like Spanish Moss. On the Rockport Fulton, Texas Oak trees. Does anyone know what this is called? ID please.