Urnplant
Aechmea fasciata · Bromeliaceae
📷 Paul & Aline Burland · CC BY-SA 2.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant urnplant: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Silver Vase
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Foliage
- Evergreen, silvery-green
- Flowering
- May to July, pink and blue inflorescence
- Adult size
- 50 cm in height
- Growth
- Moderate
- Origin
- Tropical Brazil
- Hardiness
- Indoor plant (15-25°C)
- Soil type
- Aerated, well-draining substrate
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Aechmea fasciata flowers once from its pink spathe, then slowly declines. Let the young basal pups replace the mother plant.
The common mistake
Expecting a second bloom from the same rosette: it's tough luck.
The pro's trick
After flowering, stop watering the center and regularly drain any stagnant water that accumulates there (risk of rot).
Care
Watering
Pour water directly into the central rosette (the cup formed by the leaves), which should always contain a little water. Keep the substrate lightly moist but never waterlogged. Change the water in the vase weekly to prevent stagnation and odors. Reduce watering slightly in winter.
Light
Place your Aechmea in bright, indirect light, away from direct sun rays that could scorch the leaves. It appreciates generous brightness to maintain its silvery-green color and promote flowering. An east- or west-facing window is ideal.
Soil and repotting
Use a light and well-draining substrate, a mix of bromeliad-specific potting soil or fine pine bark, peat and perlite. Repotting is only necessary every 2 to 3 years, in spring. Make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Fertilizing
Apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 15 days during the growing season (April to September). Prefer a balanced fertilizer or one slightly rich in potassium to promote flowering. Reduce to monthly application in fall-winter.
Pruning and cleaning
No strict pruning is necessary. Remove dry or damaged leaves at the base. Regularly clean the foliage with a damp cloth to maintain the silvery sheen and promote photosynthesis.
Pests and diseases
Watch for mealybugs that can settle in the rosette. Prolonged stagnant water in the vase promotes rot: ensure good air circulation and change the water regularly. In case of infestation, spray with a mild soapy solution.
Did you know?
Aechmea fasciata is a tropical epiphyte that grows naturally attached to trees in Brazilian forests. Its name 'Silver Vase' perfectly evokes its rosette of leaves forming a cup capable of retaining water and nutrients: in nature, this reservoir becomes a micro-habitat for insects and small animals. After the spectacular flowering, the mother plant slowly declines but produces basal offsets that ensure its continuity: a life cycle remarkably adapted to its epiphytic environment.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Droophead tufted airplantGuzmania lingulata
- Fascicularia bicolorFascicularia bicolor
- Matchstick BromeliadAechmea gamosepala
- Tillandsia recurvataTillandsia recurvata
- Northern needleleafTillandsia balbisiana
- Spanish mossTillandsia usneoides
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.