Fading Bromeliad: Why Is Your Plant Losing Color and How to Revive It

Bromeliads are one of the most popular houseplants. Many people love them because of their attractive shape and color. But did you know that bromeliads may lose their vibrant color under some specific conditions?

If your plant has lost its color, do not worry! There is a way to bring it back. This article will explain why some bromeliads turn yellow and what you can do to avoid this situation. 

Let’s get started!

Starting our thorough exploration of the bromeliad plant, it’s only suitable to showcase a variety of products that will help you grow this plant faster and healthier. These are the precise resources I rely on and fully back for my consulting clients. Without delay, allow me to introduce my thoughtfully curated array of suggested items for ensuring the vibrant growth of your bromeliad plant.

Why Is My Bromeliad Losing Color?

Bromeliad leaves lose color when they don’t receive enough light or when they are overwatered. Additionally, soil acidity can also contribute to this issue.

Generally, the bromeliad plant loses its original color after flowering because the mother plant provides a lot of energy for protecting the bubs. When this happens, the plant is sometimes left with no choice but to shed its colorful leaves in favor of bubs.

If your bromeliad loses color after blooming, you should not worry because this is a natural process for the plant. However, if your bromeliad loses color before flowering, the cause must be dysfunction in the care process.

The most common care dysfunction that causes bromeliad to lose color is lack of light. When bromeliads are placed under low light conditions, they won’t be able to perform the photosynthesis process. They cannot produce chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the green color of plants.

Another care dysfunction that causes bromeliad to lose color is overwatering. When bromeliads are watered frequently and heavily, their cell walls can swell. This can reduce the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to slow growth and pale-looking leaves.

Bromeliads that are consistently watered are also more prone to fungal infections because wet conditions are perfect for fungi to lay their eggs.

Soil acidity can also cause bromeliad color changes. In fact, this plant likes slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. When the soil is highly acidic, this plant becomes deprived of magnesium and phosphorus. This causes the leaves to lose their color and turn yellow in most cases.

Bromeliads can also lose their original color because of insects that feed on the sap produced by the flowers of this plant. In fact, bromeliad makes a sweet substance called honeydew. This substance causes mealy bugs to sap the leaves of the plant, causing them to lose their original color.

Finally, bromeliad plants can also lose their color as they age. Generally, when a plant reaches maturity, the chlorophyll content decreases, and the plant produces fewer green leaves. This is not something to worry about because it’s a normal part of a plant’s life cycle.

For more insights on what cause bromeliad to lose color, check the following video:

Bromeliads in Full Sun? Read Our Article to Know if This Is True

What Should I Do When My Bromeliad Loses Its Color?

If your bromeliad loses color after flowering, you can prune the spikes to help the plant regain its color. You can do this by cutting off the spike above the flower using scissors.

If your bromeliad loses color before flowering, then you should check for the root cause of the issue and correct it. For example, if the plant loses color because of low light, you can change its location or give it some supplemental lighting.

The best location for a bromeliad is near an east-facing window. If you don’t have such a window, you can place the plant a few feet away from a south-facing window. Additionally, if you live somewhere where sunlight is unavailable daily, you can set your bromeliad in a high-humidity room and put it near an artificial light source.

If your bromeliad lost its color because of overwatering, remove the plant from the pot, cut all the dead and rotten leaves, and let it dry. When the plant dries out completely, you should re-pot it into a new draining soil and water it until the soil feels moist but not saggy.

Overwatering is one of the major enemies of bromeliads. Besides causing the plant to lose color, it can cause several problems, including stunted growth, fungal infections, and nutrient deficiency.

When you suspect that your bromeliad loses color because of soil acidity, then you can use a pH test kit to measure the acidity of your soil. If the soil is becoming heavily acidic, you should neutralize the soil by adding limestone or sulfate.

If you are sure that your bromeliad is watered correctly, given adequate light, and growing in proper soil, then, in this case, mealybugs are the only factor that may cause this plant to lose color.

To get rid of mealybugs, use a paper towel or a cotton swab to catch the visible ones, then gently put them into a plastic bag. After that, you should spray insecticidal soap on your plant. The insecticidal soap contains pyrethrins that will kill the mealybug as well as other pests that may be present.

How to Tell when Bromeliad Needs Water? Click here to get the answer

How Can I Keep My Bromeliad Colorful?

To keep a bromeliad colorful, you should mimic the environment of its native habitat. This plant originates from tropical north and south American forest. As a result, bromeliad will keep its original color and grow when exposed to bright indirect sunlight and temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, high humidity is a must if you want this plant to grow at its full potential.

Here are 5 simple actions that you can take to keep your bromeliad colorful:

Maintain Temperature Between 70 and 80 Degrees: maintaining this temperature level is easy in warm states like Florida and Arizona. However, if you live in cold conditions, you may need to keep your plant warm using a thermostat or a heat mat. 

Keep the Humidity High: to keep bromeliad’s humidity high, you can use a misting system or a humidifier. I prefer humidifiers over misting systems because frequent misting can make plants vulnerable to pests and diseases. If you can not afford to buy a humidifier, you can increase the humidity of your bromeliads by placing them in the kitchen or the bathroom.

Expose the Plant to Enough Light: To ensure that your bromeliad receives enough indirect light, place them where they get the highest light possible. Place your plants near a window or balcony where there’s natural sunlight. If you don’t have access to sunlight, a grow lamp is perfect for providing enough light. Grow lamps vary in intensity. Some bulbs are more efficient at producing light than others, so look into your grower’s options.

Water the Plant Correctly: If you want to grow healthy bromeliads, you need to ensure that they receive enough water, not too much. Most bromeliads require watering once a week during summer and once every other week during winter. But you must make sure to check the soil before every watering. If the soil is wet, then you can water your bromeliad.

Do Not Overfertilize: bromeliad does not require frequent fertilizing. Letting them grow naturally as long as you see that they are healthy is better. However, if your Plant needs a nutrient boost, you can fertilize it using a low nitrogen fertilizer with a 10:20:20 NPK ratio. Additionally, we highly recommend that you fertilize bromeliad only during spring and summer because feeding this Plant during the winter season will do more harm than good for this Plant.

Are Bromeliads Acid-Loving Plants? Click here to Find Out Now