Like most bromeliads, Cryptanthus species are mostly grown for their interesting leaves, but they also produce small but beautiful white or pink blooms. The plants bloom only once, however, before the plant produces offsets (pups) and then dies. The life cyle of these plants is about three years from pup to flowering plant.
Names: Cryptanthus bromeliad, cryptanthus, earth star
Light: Different Cryptanthus varieties need different levels of light, but most plants within this genus will generally thrive in some sort of indirect sunlight or light shade—remember, they naturally grow under the cover of trees in rainforests. Direct sunlight could potentially bleach the bromeliad’s foliage, or make it appear leathery.
Water: Keep the medium moist at all times. Cryptanthus suffer if they dry out for extended periods.