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 Guzmania produce showy and long-lived inflorescences and unlike some other bromeliads, their leaves are spineless, making them easier to handle for both growers and consumers. Recent guzmania introductions from Oglesby Plants International are:
‘Humpty Dumpty’ is a Guzmania conifera hybrid with a flame color of red with yellow tips. The inflorescence remains clean throughout the long flowering period, which really sets this variety apart.
‘Red Riding Hood’ is a showy red guzmania. It produces a bright red inflorescence and also has a unique deep red color through the base of the plant.
‘Miss Muffet’ has an exceptionally long shelf life and bloom time. It has a uniquely shaped inflorescence with dark purple bracts. All three cultivars are recommended for 6- to 8-inch containers.
A porous, well-drained growing mix is a must. If peat is part of the mix, it must be high quality fibrous peat. Maintain a growing medium pH of 5.0 to 5.5 and electrical conductivity of 0.6-0.8. Add about 1 pound of dolomite per cubic yard as a source of calcium and magnesium.
 Keep the medium moist. Drying out can cause tip burn. Guzmania do not tolerate alkaline or salty water. They are sensitive to fluoride, which can cause tip burn. Fluoride can come from irrigation water or super-phosphate.
Guzmania benefit from extra potassium and magnesium. Use lower rates of fertilizers (50-100 parts per million nitrogen) with very young plants (two to three months from transplanting liners). After applying liquid feed over young plants, always wash briefly with plain water afterwards. For older plants, use liquid feed at a rate of 100-200 ppm nitrogen depending on whether a constant feed or alternating with plain water is used.
If adding supplemental trace elements, avoid high levels of copper, boron, zinc and manganese. High levels of copper such as those in copper-based fungicides are toxic to bromeliads.
Greenhouse light levels should be 1,000-2,000 footcandles. If grown under shade cloth, maintain 73-80 percent shade. Optimal temperatures for most bromeliads range from 55°F-85°F. Brief periods down to 45°F usually doesn’t affect growth. Temperatures above 95°F slow or stop growth, as well as increase disease susceptibility.
Good ventilation is essential for successful growing of bromeliads. For most varieties, maintain humidity levels between 65-80 percent.
If plants are provided good ventilation and grown on benches, diseases are generally not an issue. Pythium can be a problem if the growing medium is kept too moist. Scale and mealybug are the most common insect pests.
Most bromeliads can be force into bloom with treatment of ethylene-producing compounds such as Florel (Ethrel). These compounds can be sprayed on a crop to insure salable plants in spike or in color at desired seasons. Plants should flower about two months after treatment.
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