Description
Neoregelia ‘Guacamole’ is a smaller, highly prolific bromeliad hybrid featuring an upright, stiff-leaved rosette that matures up to 12 inches in diameter. It stands out with a dark red background that is heavily contrasted by irregular greenish-yellow spots and distinct horizontal banding. A fast and easy grower, it readily produces offshoots to form a beautiful clump, making it a fantastic addition to containers, patios, terrariums or vivariums.
**Plant will ship bare-root**
How to Keep Your Neoregelia ‘Guacamole’ Happy
Caring for these resilient, exotic beauties is incredibly straightforward! Use these essential guidelines to maximize their rich, colored patterns and keep your clumping plant growing strong:
- Step 1: Balance their sun exposure. While this hardy variety can easily handle full morning sun, we don’t recommend keeping it in harsh, all-day direct sunlight. It looks its absolute best with a mix of direct morning sun and filtered afternoon shade, or bright dappled light throughout the day. If transitioning it from a shady spot into a sunnier area, do it gradually so it can safely build up its intense dark red hues without getting sunburned!
- Step 2: Water the central cup. Instead of watering the soil, pour clean water directly into the center “tank” or cup of the plant. Because sun exposure evaporates water a bit faster, check the cup regularly to ensure it stays filled, and flush it out every couple of weeks with fresh water to keep it clean.
- Step 3: Keep the soil lightly damp. Occasionally give the soil some water just to keep it from drying out completely. Make sure your pots have excellent drainage so the roots never sit in soggy mud. If you are planting them directly in the ground, be sure to choose an area with great drainage where the soil won’t stay wet.
- Step 4: Keep it warm. This tropical plant loves warmth. If you are growing it outdoors, to be safe just remember to bring it inside if the temperature drops below 50°F (10°C) or protect it from the cold or frost as much as possible.
- Step 5: Fertilize sparingly (or not at all). We recommend using a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer just once or twice a year. Be careful, though—too much fertilizer or nitrogen will cause the plant to lose its vibrant color and become leggy and stretched-out looking. In fact, some growers prefer not to fertilize at all to get the very best color from the plant!
