Queens Tears Plant Care

Are you into planting bromeliads because they give a rainbow appearance to your garden? Well, another plant needs low maintenance and can lighten up your house as an indoor plant. The friendship plant, or Queen’s tears plant, produces striking colors with its elongated yellow stamens and pink bracts and is more resilient than most bromeliads.

Here we will discuss all you need to do for a Queen’s tears bromeliad to ensure it is growing indoors healthy.

Appearance

The friendship plant grows leathery textured leaves that are robust and long. The edges are toothed and a dark green shade all the time. The stalks that bear flowers are pink in color, and pink flowers accompany green and blue segments. Furthermore, the plant looks like a rainbow after the entire bloom because the yellow stamens on these flowers give the pink bracts such an appearance.

Flowering occurs during springtime, either at the end of March or in the early days of April. Each entire bloom of this tropical plant lasts approximately seven weeks, sometimes even 8. In case the blooms do not appear, mix some Epsom salts in the water and give it to the Queen’s tears bromeliad. Within a month, you will see a full bloom of flowers.

Origin

The Queen’s tears plant, also known as Billbergia nutans, is a rainforest native and has originated from South America. It belongs to the bromeliad family. Since these are tropical plants, one needs to grow them using the same environmental factors.

Below is how you can care for a Queens tears plant.

How To Care For a Queen’s tears plant

The following factors seriously affect how a Queens tears plant turns into a mature plant.

Watering

Although it is drought tolerant, one must have a schedule to water the Queens tear. Fill upward-facing cups so that plants can get water. Keep the soil moist enough so that the plant doesn’t become dry.

However, do not overwater it as it will lead to root rot because this makes the roots moist. Water very little during winter and spring and also in late fall. Also, use distilled water instead of tap water. Also, use a pot with drainage holes.

Lighting

Always place your Queens tears plant in indirect light all the year except for summer months. Please change the location of your pot and give it some shade.

Tropical plants that have a short height, like this plant, can not thrive in too much sun; they need indirect light shade just like they receive in rainforests.

Direct sunlight is not good for the Queen’s tears plants; the partial shade will be able to protect the foliage of the plant from not getting burned.

Temperature

This Queen’s tear bromeliad has very specific preferences for the temperatures it prefers to dwell in. Your Queens tears plant will need a variety of warm temperatures based on the month so it thrives.

Provide the plant with a location of 65 to 80 Fahrenheit during the summertime. This Queen’s tear plant requires a range of 60 to 75 Fahrenheit during the cooler times of springtime, autumn, and early winter.

Phases of approximately 40 Fahrenheit in the coldest temperatures can be endured occasionally; however, prolonged exposure may harm the flowering the following year.

Also, make sure that you water the plant using room-temperature rainwater.

Humidity

To ensure on-time blooms of the plants, give them a humid environment. The Queen’s tears bromeliad needs the same humidity to grow indoors as it gets in the forest.

If you live in a climate with a lot of dry air, use a cool mist room humidifier to ensure the Queen’s tears get optimum humidity.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer that seeps into these stubborn plants.

Soil Type

The potting soil must contain one part gardening soil, or as an alternative, you can use an orchid mix as your potting mix. A queen’s tears bromeliad grows well in well-drained and slightly acidic soil.

How To Propagate Queen’s tears plant?

New shoots could be plucked out from the main plant or clipped off when the blooming per year is over.

These could be moved into their new own pot, in which they will start to make new roots after a few weeks.

How To Prevent Root rot in a Friendship Plant?

Queen’s tears bromeliads get root rot when the growing medium contains more water than is necessary for the plant to grow to its full potential.

Flowers gradually wither, turn brown, and eventually die. Check the root system for deterioration after removing the plant from the container.

If the shrub has a bad smell and any lesions, it is best to remove it entirely. In contrast, if the invasion is just affecting a limited area, remove the affected area and apply antifungal to the plant leaves and soil nearby.

Always change the pot and the potting mix for the plants if you encounter root rot.

How To Re-pot the Queen’s tears plant?

The only method to salvage the plant in this circumstance is to repot it immediately. After completely removing any old dirt that might still be harboring the fungus, prune off any parent plant stems and roots that have been impacted by it.

How To Prune Queen’s tears?

Always use a sharp knife to begin pruning the dead ends of the plants. If you intend to prune the plant to propagate it, then you must wait till it is at least 6 inches tall, then make sharp cuts on the offsets of the main plant.

Common Issues with Queen’s tears plant care

Pest Infestations

Leaf spot

Leaf spot, sometimes referred to as Mycosphaerella fragariae, is a typical fungus ailment. On the Queen’s tears plant, the leaf spots appear as violet or grey patches with a white center.

Garden pests

Other garden pests like spider mites are a common occurrence on the Queen’s tears bromeliads. Use neem oil, insecticides, or rubbing alcohol on the plant’s leaves to stop any kind of pest infestation.

FAQs

How To Stop The Brown Leaf tips of Queen’s Tears?

To stop or prevent the tips of leaves from turning brown, never use tap water; it has certain chemicals that affect the leaves and discolor them.

Also, do not leave it in direct sunlight as it can cause brown tips on Queen’s tears bromeliads.

How To Make My Queens Tear Bloom?

It usually blooms in early March, but if it doesn’t, then place a plastic bag on the plant with an apple in it and pack it. The ethylene gas produced by apples will induce the on-time blooming in early spring.

Conclusion

The Queen’s tears bromeliad is a beautiful plant that can be quickly grown given its robust nature. As indoor plants with striking colors and given the proper care, one can manage them as a novice gardener.