Light. Best in bright shade with some morning or late-afternoon sun; avoid midday sun. It survives in near full shade, but too little light makes leaves longer, thinner and greener.
Water. Pour water into the funnel of leaves rather than onto the soil, and do not overwater. Too much moisture causes root rot, the most common problem.
Soil and feeding. Use a loose, well-drained mix, such as equal parts peat, bark and coarse sand. Feed lightly, and never put fertilizer in the cup.
Size. Grows to about 1–1.5 ft.
Problems to watch. Flush the cup weekly in the rainy season to wash out mosquito larvae. Scale and mealybugs sometimes appear.
Good to know. Neoregelias are grown for leaf color, with small flowers hidden in the cup. After blooming the plant slowly dies, leaving pups; separate them at half the parent's size. Leaves are spine-tipped.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Bromeliads · UF/IFAS EDIS ENH1150/EP337: Bromeliads · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Neoregelia carolinae f. tricolor
