How often should I water it?

Keep the central cup filled with fresh water and keep the soil slightly moist.

Why is my plant dying after flowering?

It is normal for the parent plant to decline after blooming, but it should leave behind offsets.

Plant guide

Scarlet Star.

Guzmania lingulata

Pronounced guz-MAY-nee-uh lin-gyoo-LAY-tuh

Also known as Droophead Tufted Airplant, Scarlet-star

The Scarlet Star is a stunning bromeliad known for its vibrant, long lasting flower bracts. It thrives in humid environments and makes a perfect addition to a tropical indoor display. You will love how its bright colors bring a touch of the rainforest into your home.

Another photo of Scarlet Star — Photo by Letizia Weichgrebe (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Epiphytic bromeliad
Light: Bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 12 to 18 inches tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the central cup filled with water and ensure the soil stays lightly moist but never soggy. Watch for browning leaf tips which often signal low humidity or mineral buildup from tap water. Wipe the leaves occasionally to keep them free of dust.

Watering: Keep the central tank filled with fresh water and mist the foliage regularly.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim away any spent flower stalks or dead outer leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: These plants have small root systems and rarely need a larger container.
Soil: Well draining orchid or bromeliad mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.0
Temperature: 15 to 27°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 2 to 3 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

The plant becomes top heavy and tips over easily.
Roots are growing out of the drainage holes.
The potting medium has broken down into a dense, soggy mess.

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The stiff, pointed leaves can be sharp, so keep it out of reach of small children.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for consumption.

How to identify it

Rosette of smooth, strap like leaves
Bright red or orange central bract
Small white flowers emerge from bract
Leaves lack sharp marginal spines

Height: 0.3 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.45m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: red, orange, yellow, 5 to 10cm

Problems to watch for

Root rot · Usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage in the potting medium.
Scale insects · Small sap sucking insects that appear as brown bumps on the leaves.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: offsets, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a warm spot away from cold drafts. Ensure the water in the central cup does not freeze.
In containers: It is perfectly suited for containers, and a 15 cm pot is usually sufficient for a mature plant.

Removing Offsets

Wait for the pup to reach about one third the size of the parent plant.
Gently pull or cut the pup away from the base of the parent.
Pot the pup in a well draining, airy mix.

Group these plants together to create a microclimate that helps maintain higher humidity levels.

Grows well with

Ferns · They enjoy the same high humidity and indirect light conditions.
Orchids · Both are epiphytes that thrive in similar tropical environments.

Similar species

Vriesea · It is another popular bromeliad with striking foliage and a unique flower spike.
Aechmea · It shares the same tank bromeliad growth habit and care requirements.

Science

Family: Bromeliaceae
Genus: Guzmania
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Central and South America
Conservation: Not currently of conservation concern.

It captures water and nutrients from the air and debris that falls into its central tank.

Uses: houseplant, tropical display

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I water it?: Keep the central cup filled with fresh water and keep the soil slightly moist.
Why is my plant dying after flowering?: It is normal for the parent plant to decline after blooming, but it should leave behind offsets.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors Spanish naturalist Anastasio Guzman, while the species name lingulata refers to the tongue shaped leaves.

Good to know

It is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on trees in the wild rather than in soil.
The central cup, or tank, should be kept filled with water to keep the plant hydrated.
Each rosette only flowers once before dying, but it produces pups to continue the cycle.
It belongs to the bromeliad family.

Keep your scarlet star growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 30, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.