Is it Ae. blanchetiana? From your description that's what it sounds like. Rain alone won't make the center rot out, so there must be something else going on there. Some possibilities: too cold during the rainy season, some kind of chemical or foreign substance fell or dripped into the cup, mechanical damage or insect damage opened up a wound for rot to set in-- anything ring a bell?

Just based on what you've said, I'm kind of leaning toward the first one. Ae. blanchetiana (if that's what it is) is not very cold-tolerant. It does great in Hawaii, and we get LOTS of rain during the winter, but it rarely gets below 60 deg. F here, even at night.

Nope, not cold. Not here in Florida! It was doing great until it started raining. All the broms around it are doing great. This is the only one that rots out like this. I think is IS the one you said, I can't find the name right now.

Maybe too hot? Water boiling out the inside? Is it very heat sensitive?

Just looked it up, and it is the Ae. Blanchetiana. Could it be oak leaves falling into it that cause the rot? It's near a large oak tree.

Also, would it hurt to put some insecticide or fungicide in it?

Yeah, but what part of Florida are you in? A bromeliad grower friend in central FL says they're pretty marginal there. If it gets so hot where you are that water boils in the cups of bromeliads, I think rotting is the least of your problems! :-)

Boy, I don't know. No, I don't think oak leaves would do it, although they do contain a lot of tannins, but most broms enjoy a little leaf tea. What they really don't like is anything containing copper, and that includes water dripping off treated wood.

As far as putting insecticide or fungicide in it, I'm kind of opposed to indescriminately nuking things with chemicals, especially if you don't know what's going wrong. If the rot is bacterial, neither of those things is going to do any good, and you run the risk of burning the foliage if it's too strong (especially in that boiling water!)

On a side note, Ae. blanchetiana is from coastal Brazil, and is one of the most salt-tolerant bromeliads-- good for beach-side plantings.

I don't know if the water really boils, but I'm sure it gets pretty hot. It's pretty clogged up with oak leaves. I'm going to try to move it to a place away from the leaves, and see if that helps.

Thanks for all your advice. Oh, but that I could afford to live at the beach near salt water! LOL If ever I do, I'll take it with me.

Bruggirl,
I just read an article on bromelaid care. It said insects, and even sunburn could cause rotting in the cup. I would image if the center cup got clogged up with debris that it could promote fungus and rot. I would make sure the water in the cup/vase stays clean and to flush them out if things fall in them. The article said you can put a fungicide in it but didn't say what kind (says contact local extension agent- lol) Anyhow here is the link check out diseases (scroll all the way almost to the bottom)

Here is a link that might be useful: bromelaid care

I have a pink brom with long thine well there not leaves well any way she is rotting i need to know how to make her stop i didn't water her for 2 and a half weeks but she just rotted more PLEASE I NEED HELP!