If it were mine I would put it on the patio. I have had trouble with flower buds opening up in the house, because of the drier air. If the petal edges dry up or the buds come out and then don't open, it's probably due to low humidity. A gentle squeeze won't hurt the buds.

My t. cyanea is in its fourth year of living on my patio, under shade cloth. It's now a clump of about 5 or 6 heads, so I get two or three bloom spikes each year. Of course, I have to groom it and remove the old rosettes after they bloom, but other than that I ignore it, and it seems to thrive on benign neglect.

You can certainly bring it indoors & enjoy it while it's actively blooming, but the rest of the time I would keep it outside where it can have BRIGHT shade and regular sprays from the hose.

Thanks you for your replies. There is a spot in the patio where it will get bright shade and where I can keep an eye on it. For now I will enjoy the incredible flower show inside and then move it outside.

Patrick, do you have very hot summers where you live? Temps get into the upper 90s here for most of the summer, sometimes reaching low 100s for a few days. Would the dry heat bother it even without direct sun and even with regular sprays from the hose?

Jen

I LOVE these plants! I bought one about 2 months ago in bloom and it has 2 new plants growing out of the center!

Tom

I just posted a pic of mine in the gallery...

Tom

Jen, I'm not in an area that gets super hot. We do get over 100 from time to time, but it still cools off nicely at night.

I think your baby will be OK outside, as long as you protect it from direct sunlight and spray it fairly regularly. I usually give all my bromeliads & tillandsias a gentle spray every day or two in summer.