Silver vase Bromeliad plant 🪴🌱

Silver Vase Bromeliad Plant Care: Tips On Growing The Aechmea Fasciata

Aechmea fasciata [EEK-mee-uh fash-ee-AY-tuh], a member of the Bromeliaceae family is also known by its common name Silver Vase or the Urn Plant.

The genus name, Aechmea, is derived from the Greek, aichme, which means “point.”

The specific epithet, fasciata, means “bound together.”

This epiphytic pink flowering Aechema fasciata Urn plant Bromeliad hails from Brazil and is an epiphyte, which like an orchid,attaches itself to trees and large plants.

This perennial plant has a life span of three or four years.

Aechmea Fasciata Bromeliad Plant Care

Size & Growth

These monocarpic bromeliads attain full growth within four years. The mother plant blooms, withers, and leave behind one or more offsets or new pups.

Aechmea fasciata reaches a maximum height of about 3’ feet and spread no more than 2’ feet.

Urn Plant’s leaves are grayish-green, thick and arching. They typically start as solid green and then become variegated as they mature.

Some Aechmeas display colorful, banded leaves. Others may have leaves with gray scales.

There are a couple of types of Urn plants whose leaves differ somewhat.

One species known as Purpura has maroon leaves.

The variegated Urn plant form – Aechmea fasciata ‘Variegata’ – has lengthwise creamy stripes.

Leaves grow in a circular fashion allowing them to form a central cup. This cup acts as a reservoir collecting water and nutrients to nourish the plant.

Leaf margins often sport black spines.

Flowering & Fragrance

At three or four years of age, the Aechmea fasciata urn plant reaches maturity.

The leaves grow together forming a rosette shape at the center of the plant.

At this time, a tall flower stalk grows, bearing many pink flowers. This is not the true flower.

The actual flowers are tiny, odorless blue blossoms growing in between the bracts.

The blue flowers die quite quickly, but the pink bracts may persist for as long as six months.

When you buy an Urn Plant, look for one without the blue flowers.

Blue flowers indicate the pink bract has been in place for quite some time and may fade soon.

The majority of Bromeliad aechmeas are desirable because of the flowering bract they produce called an inflorescence.

This plant can grow top-heavy and turn over in certain containers.

Light & Temperature

Urn Plants like to grow in very bright light. Some Aechemas varieties grow in full sun.

They will not flower with plenty of light.

When the pink bract has appeared, you should move your plant to a lower light setting to make the bract last longer.

The best location for fasciata plants kept as indoor specimens are in containers is an east or west window …

Keep the plant back from the window slightly to provide bright indirect sunlight.

The ideal temperature is an average room temperature between 60° – 75° degrees Fahrenheit (16° C – 24° C).

Watering & Feeding

To water your bromeliad, you should keep its central cup filled with pure, fresh water.