Troubleshooting
Guzmania problems — and how to fix them
Guzmania (Guzmania lingulata) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown bract after months
Normal — the parent dies after flowering. Pot up the pups.
Soft mushy base
Soil kept too wet; the watering goes in the cup, not the pot.
Brown leaf tips
Tap-water minerals; switch to rainwater or distilled.
Pale washed-out bract
Too much direct sun.
Prevent guzmania problems before they start
Most guzmania issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Guzmania problems — FAQ
Why is my guzmania brown bract after months?
Normal — the parent dies after flowering. Pot up the pups.
Why is my guzmania soft mushy base?
Soil kept too wet; the watering goes in the cup, not the pot.
Why is my guzmania brown leaf tips?
Tap-water minerals; switch to rainwater or distilled.
Why is my guzmania pale washed-out bract?
Too much direct sun.