Spikey bromeliad-like plant with large red flowers

by Steve
(Derby, UK)

Small plant about 18 inches across with long dark green spikey leaves like a bromeliad producing spectacular pendulous red flowers


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Wow, Steve - that's awesome! It looks like some kind of alien.

If this is a Bromeliad it will have a certain useful trait to sustain it in dry times, called a funnel, which acts as a reservoir for water.

This tube in the center of the plant should always have water in it, but only rainwater or distilled water.

Never use water that has been through a softening unit, or plain tap water which may have chemicals in that can harm the plant. Even some well water is full of minerals, so it's advised not to use that either.

These are interesting plants that originate in thick jungles, so they rely on rainfall that may be only once in a while heavy enough to fill the tube. The root system can be quite weak.

Happy Succulent Gardening!
Jacki