Light. Full sun to part shade. Sunnier spots give stronger leaf color.
Water. It takes in water through the cup in its center, not its roots. Fill the cup now and then, and keep the soil dry to slightly moist.
Soil and feeding. Plant in free-draining, rocky or sandy soil; wet soil causes root rot. It tolerates poor soil. Never put fertilizer in the cup, where salts can burn new leaves.
Size. Grows to about 3 ft tall; some plants reach 5 ft.
Problems to watch. Flush the cup with a hose about once a week in the rainy season to wash out mosquito larvae. Empty the cup when temperatures below 40°F are likely.
Good to know. It may take many years to flower. After blooming it declines and produces offsets that replace it. Hummingbirds visit the flowers.
Sources: Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens: Alcantarea Imperialis · UF/IFAS EDIS ENH1150/EP337: Bromeliads
