Melanie...oh Melanie.....

LOL!

You were so helpful with my previous thread that I've sought you out again. Here is a girl who obviously knows nothing about Bromeliads but, but, they were 1/2 off. How could I possibly say no to 1/2 off?

Can you tell me what I've got here and if they look healthy enough to survive? The brown and white one looks pretty wrinkled, but the pink one looks, well in the pink. I'm so new to these plants that any guidance or information at all would be looked upon most kindly be this beginner.

Thanks in advance,
La

The pink one....

And the brown....

Your plants look just fine. Both are Cryptanthus, probably hybrids. The "wrinkle" is normal, just what the leaves should look like. I see they have labels but you didn't mention if they had names.

The one with red edges looks like C. Elaine, while the brown one could be one of many different hybrids, perhaps Black Mystic (but there are hundreds, and many look similar). While most Bromeliads are epiphytic (growing on trees), Cryptanthus are terrestrials and like to be in a well drained, rich soil (don't let them dry out too much) in mostly shady conditions. 4-5" pots are good for these hybrids, that can get fairly large. They like moderate fertilization. Good luck.

Dave

Hey Dave, thanks so much for the response. There were no labels with the plants and I only knew they were bromeliads because I had just been given one in a trade. You used a lot of language that I'm unfamiliar with, but now at least I know which words to put in my Google search engine, LOL.

Thanks again,
La

Wow, I knew I'd been busy but I can't believe I've been away from DG for days! Dave, the other resident bromeliad expert, is exactly right. Cryptanthus are also known as "Earth Stars". I have a few out back in the bromeliad garden, and they will pup (make more little baby bromeliads) like crazy. Then, you can have more to share with friends or to plant around the place. Or you can just let them clump together. One of my favorite bromeliad sites is... www.fcbs.org Check them out, they have lots of pics and great info. Those wrinkles are normal, mine have them too, although I've always thought they were just wavy (like my hair, LOL!). Enjoy!
Melanie