HELP!! I feel terribly guilty as I do not have green fingers but I bought the aforementioned plant because I am fond of cacti, and I mistakenly thought the beautiful pink plant was one. However, due to lack of watering and insufficient fertilising, the middle flowering bud has gone brown and dry. The plant itself is still alive as the leaves are still green and it is sprouting. I was hoping that someone would know how I can save my plant. Should I cut the dead bit out?, if indeed it IS dead. It looks pretty dead to me but as you can tell I am no expert!

Please help me, my poor plant and my conscience!

Many thanks,

Clare

Clare,

What you purchased belongs to the bromeliad family and tillandsia cyanea is an air plant and will survive even if it is not planted in a potting medium. What you have now probably the flower bud is already ripe and will soon turn brown but dont worry the plant will continue to cluster and will produce more suckers and as soon as it matures will produce new flower bud. You can cut the old bud since it will not produce new bloom. Tillandsias dont like wet feet so frequent watering is not neccessary. Use osmocote or a regular miracle grow to fertilize your plant, just follow the instruction in the label. You'll be surprise that the plant you purchased will reward you with less effort that spend with it.

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So relieved! I have cut the brown bud out and put Tillandsia in the bathroom so that the steam from the shower and the Co2 from my singing in said shower will help it to restore itself.

Thank you for advice Jun!

Clare