Accepted Scientific Name: Vriesea splendens (Brongn.) Lem.
Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 6: 162 (1851) Van Houtte
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Vriesea splendens
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Vriesea splendens (Brongn.) Lem.Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 6: 162 (1851)Synonymy: 16
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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Vriesea splendens gruop
Cultivation and Propagation: Vriesea splendensSN|28798]]SN|28798]] is an epiphyte bromeliad from the moist forests of southeaster Brazil, and is relatively difficult to grow or a in other climatic conditions.
Soil: This plant is epiphytic and can be grown attached to slabs or bark, but can be potted in a perfectly drained bromeliad mix or orchid potting soil. Minimum pH: 6.1 Maximum pH: 7.5
Light: Bright indirect light to shade, with some direct sun in the winter. The foliage forms will develop better colour with slightly brighter light. Too much shade will cause leaves to look thin and leggy.
Water: It is moderately drought tolerant once established but fares best when given regular moisture. Keep some water in the centre and change the water once a week with tepid spring or demineralized water that has been allowed to stand for several hours. In presence of dry air and high temperatures, humidity can be incremented with nebulisations, whilst in winter with low temperatures it is better to leave it quite dry for avoiding possible rottenness.
Temperature: They prefer warm temperature which it is good to keep over the 12°C, best 20-24°C or above year-round, but can withstand short periods of colder temps. USDA Hardiness Zone 10a, 10b, 11
Fertilizer: Very sparingly with an all-purpose houseplant liquid fertilizer mixed at half the normal strength. Feed the leaves, roots, and reservoir. A foliar feed high in potash and low in nitrogen (other than in the form of urea) will increase flower size. High levels of fertility will leave a salt build-up on foliage.
Repotting: Pot up small offsets into 10 cm pots. Repot young plants after 2 years, and limit pot size for mature plants to 15 cm. Mature Vriesea will not need repotting.
Longevity: Individual plants live for 3 to 4 years.
Grower's Tips: Remove old leaves from plant base and dead flower spikes only. Remove older plant crown when it begins to fade.
Pests & diseases: Leaf spots (as a result of drying out), bacterial soft rot, scales and mealybugs but usually pesticides are not required. Rot may develop if soil is kept too moist.
Uses: In tropical areas it is favored as a landscape plant but it is also popular for interiorscapes. The dramatic leaf colours make this plant a strong focal point even when it is not in bloom. Because of its width, it is a good plant to display on a raised platform, with smaller ferns or other low-light plants beneath it. It is also perfectly suitable for most size terrariums.
Propagation: Like all bromeliads, Vriesea are propagated by separating offsets from the mother plant. However Vriesea splendensSN|28798]]SN|28798]] send its pups from the base of the flower stalk near the center of the plant, as opposed to the more common side shoot. This makes collecting the offset harder, so let it stay on, replanting the offset only when it is at least 20 cm tall and the old rosette falls apart and discarding the parent plant. Usually Vriesea splendensSN|28798]]SN|28798]] produce only one new rosette of leaves. It may also be raised from deeds, it likes to germinate on coconut fibre. Then, as a seedling, it prefers organic compost based on coir with a bit of fine bark before being transplanted onto bark as a fully-grown plant. The wide scale reproduction for commercial purposes is done by micro-propagation. Of course tissue culture and pup production, being vegetative, ensures that the plants will be the same colour as their mother. Tissue culture can produce unlimited numbers of plants, while pup production is limited.
Vriesea splendens (Brongn.) Lem.: (var. splendens) has banded leaves. 
