What kind of plant/flower is this? (pictures included)?

Hi,





Does anyone know what kind of plant this is?





http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9306/ds... (side view)


http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5788/... (top view)





Someone gave it to us as a gift. Apparently it can flower if you know how to take care of it, but since we've had it, it hasn't shown any flowers. It seems like it's struggling to stay alive.





Please see the pictures I've posted above.





Thank you for any information.

What kind of plant/flower is this? (pictures included)?
That is definitely a bromeliad. It appears to have bloomed recently but is now almost completely faded.


The family Bromeliaceae, commonly called Bromeliads, is


one of the larger plant families horticulturally and certainly one of the most diversified. This diversity applies to some very unusual plant forms, colors and markings that exist among its fifty or so genera and over two thousand recognized species. Bromeliads can vary in size from midgets less than 1 inch wide to giants over 35 feet high. They have scales on their leaves which are remarkable moisture absorbing organs that pull water right out of the air.





Geographically, bromeliads are found in the United States from Virginia to Florida across the southern states through Louisiana and Texas then down through Mexico, Central America and the West Indies and finally into South America all the way to central Argentina and Chile. The largest concentrations are found in Mexico, the Antilles, Costa Rica, eastern and southern Brazil, the Andes of Columbia, Peru and Chile.


They are remarkably tolerant and adaptable plants. They can be found along seashores where the salt sprays, and into the extreme heat and drought of the coastal deserts. Some grow in the filtered, broken light of the rain forest and others high in the tree tops where there is a great deal of light and air movement. They are found growing at sea level to as high as 16,000 feet. Some are terrestrial and others are saxicolous, growing on rocks, but most of them grow in trees, epiphytically.


Bromeliads are very adaptable but they, like most plants, must adjust when moved to new surroundings. Extra care should be given a plant during this adjustment period to provide its critical environmental needs. In many cases this means extra water or misting of the plant. It could be a need for extra air movement or cooler temperatures. Most of the bromeliad genera adjust very easily to our environment. . ll.





It would not be possible or even desirable for us to try and duplicate all of the ecosystems where bromeliads are found to be growing in their natural habitats. Most bromeliads will adapt to our environment and in many cases our growing experiences will enable us to improve the growing conditions over their native habitat. Bromeliads are not difficult to grow and most will respond very well in less than ideal conditions. They are survivors and most of them will withstand much more abuse and neglect than many plants from other plant families.


Inorganic materials such as perlite, polystyrene or styrofoam beads, hadite, coarse granite (turkey grit) or river gravel aid in maintaining the porosity of the mix as the organic materials decay. Some of the organic materials used to provide good drainage : crushed pine bark, shredded tree fern, redwood wool, redwood bark, fine and/or medium fir bark, and cork. Coarse sand, potting soil, long fiber sphagnum moss, osmunda fiber and peat (Canadian or German) are materials which have water holding ability. Peat also furnishes acidity and bromeliads like a neutral to acid medium.





Instructions for watering in every given condition is difficult to give. Much depends upon the type of potting mixture, humidity, light, temperature and air circulation of your growing environment. You must also consider the plants moisture requirements and whether you are growing indoors or outdoors. Generally, plants that are equipped with a cup should not be allowed to become empty. This is not critical but when it happens the plant has absorbed all of the water and any salts or residual fertilizer that may have been in it will become concentrated in the cup and could damage the center of the plant and/or burn the leaf edges near the base of the plant. Rain water is certainly best when it is available. Those who grow outdoors during the summer will reduce the watering requirements and will provide the ideal humidity for most bromeliads. If you use city water and it contains excessive salts, flushing of the plant periodically will reduce the chances of salt damage. If you are growing indoors you need to mist the plant about twice a week in addition to your watering in order to prevent drying of the leaves by the low humidity.





Light is extremely important in growing bromeliads to their maximal beauty. We have learned a lot about the light requirements of the various genera by studying their native habitats and from our own growing experiences. The beauty of most of the genera will be enhanced by giving them even more light than they would have received in nature. Most of the brightly colored foliage plants require some strong light to maintain their brilliance. Few will take our direct noon day sun during the hot summer. Most of them will take early morning and late afternoon sun but should have some filter from trees, shelter or shadecloth during the heat of the day.





Most bromeliads grew as epiphytes in their original habitat. They were accustomed to good air movement and have commonly been referred to as air plants. Even though they will thrive for a while in a confined area indoors their best potential will only be reached where they can have an abundance of fresh moving air.
Reply:i believe its a bromliad too
Reply:It's Bromeliad family, yes, but more narrowly, it's Guzmania (genus). The flower stalk looks dead, though :-) See the picture below.





Bromeliaceae includes Guzmania, Pinapples, etc.
Reply:I believe, at a glance, that it is a bromeliad. The red one is a popular house plant and looks like this: http://mongabay.com/images/20050831/0207... when it is in bloom.





Try here for more info:





www.bromeliad.com
Reply:looks like a type of drachnea( palm type)





it might be struggling because it needs a bigger pot... try transplanting it in good soil in a larger pot...
Reply:It looks like a Bromeliad