Can flower for up to 3 months. Exotic looking but easy to grow.
Bromeliads, some well-known ones would be Guzmania, Aechmea and Vriesea,
Habit
A wide range of shapes and sizes, all have an urn-shaped base with a flower spike.
Designed for a rain forest they are happy in the house, the long-lasting flower spike creates an exotic look.
Some have sharp spines and may not be suitable for children.
Flowering
Although the flowers last for a long time eventually they die, from each urn plant only one flower will grow, after it has died a new urn plant must grow from the base of the old plant. This can take 2 or 3 years so in practice it is easier to throw it away.
Temperature
They are very adaptable, happy at room temperature but will also survive lower temperatures.
Watering
The urn-shaped base is designed to collect rainwater, in the house you just need to keep the base of the leaves topped up with fresh water.
In practice this can be difficult to do, water can go everywhere, I would hold the plant over the sink and allow water to cascade down the stem filling up the leaves, then carry it back carefully to its home.
The roots in the pots should be kept damp but not wet, they are mainly used to anchor the plant to trees in the rain forest.
Positon
Not happy in direct sun, they prefer light shade. A position in a brightly lit room out of the direct sun would be okay.
Very tough, exotic looking with long-lasting flowers.
Very few bad habits, not happy in the sun, the sharp spikes are not child-friendly. More expensive to buy.
