Hi

I have had that happen several times always seemed to be more crushed than eaten? never found what was doing it but suspected house cats??

Even in severe cases they all recovered .If you find out please share?? gary

The damage is probably from a large animal, racoon or stray dog. If that one hasn't already bloomed, it still will. If it has, the new pups it sends out will. The damage appears to be isolated to a couple of leaves. No worries.

Maybe a critter (raccoon or possum) going after the water pooled at the base of the leaves, or going after a frog or lizard hiding there.

Looks stepped on to me as well - possums & raccoons can be awfully destructive. Do you have a yard service? Someone may have accidentally bashed into it w/ yard equipment

I agree with the weed whacker!

No lawn service - I do all the yard work myself and it wasn't the weed wackier or a mower. It's also fenced in, and in a suburban area, so larger animals are very unlikely. We do get cats, the usual reptiles for south Florida, and I suppose raccoons are possible. I haven't seen any raccoons since the fence went in several years ago, but I expect they could get in if they wanted to.

Several of the middle leaves - in between the leaves closest to the growth point and older more mature outer leaves - were actually torn out. All of them are shredded, but the damage is in the center, not out towards the outer end of the leaf. So I guess like some of you suggested this sounds more and more like a cat or raccoon going after a frog, toad or lizard hiding in the center.

In the meantime, what do I do, if anything, for this plant? Do I need to keep it drier so that the damaged tissue doesn't start to rot? Keep the well filled with water as normal? I did tug on it ever so gently, and it seems to have suffered no root damage - it's rooted fast to the ground.

Thank you all for your help and reassurance. I panicked when I saw this plant torn up - thought it was a complete loss.

Hi

Raccoon would probably be more likely than a cat?? i have a fenced yard so no dogs. Something takes a swim in my lily pool on occasion and feel sure a cat wouldn't do that. I couldn't figure anything to do but as I mentioned they all recovered anyway.. . If yours are rooted not much you can do?? Mine were in pots so moved them to the shadehouse . Hasn't happened in over a year I guess the culprit moved to a better neighborhood ?? Good luck gary

Its happened again - twice in the last three months. First the same plant as above got hit again - new pup about to flower this time. Then last night my Blue Tango and Matchstick got ripped apart. The Blue Tango was pretty small, but I'm hopeful it will grow back. The matchstick was a big cluster so it'll be fine. I'm so so frustrated though.

A fence is no match for a coon, excellent climber and those hands of theirs perfect for rending plants apart...they love frogs. I have a water trough about a foot deep and often it become a nesting place for frogs and i have seen racoons reach in that tough and pull out a frog...i don't stay around to see what comes next but i have cleaned the resulting mess afterwards.

Oldmangroot,

I am so sorry. I've gotten into broms, too, this past couple years and I hate when something goes wrong.

I had some beautiful neos planted at the base of one of my back yard oaks. I had some branches pruned last year and the guy who did the pruning was walking all over them. I'm amazingly spineless when someone is trying to help me - I didn't say a word - I knew he had to put his feet somewhere. But the broms did not fare well. They were pretty torn up. I lifted the broms from the ground and potted them up so I could provide better control of their environment and some tender loving care. My purpose for keeping them now is solely for the PUPS!!!!

Their cups do not hold water, so I have to make sure to water them frequently. It's all about keeping them alive and as healthy as possible to harvest those pups!

Look how awful these look. First brom. It's looked this way since November:

Goal is to save these two babies (above)!

Second brom:

Goal is to save these two babies (above)!

Because they look terrible and also don't retain water well, they live here in the shade at the base of other plants. (Look down into the middle of the photo):

Here's what my pups will look like - why I want to save them:

As we move into the heat of the summer, make sure you monitor whether or
not your damaged broms are getting enough moisture and if either is really a loss,
just work on keeping them alive to bloom and give you some pups.

Good luck! I feel your pain!

Carol in Jacksonville

It could be squirrel damage. When its dry squirrels will smash up bromeliads similar to what you're showing, the water at the base bromeliad even a little is what they are after. They will tear these things up.

Another common bug that can do similar damage is Lubber grasshopper. I use to think it was strictly grasshoppers but later saw squirrels tearing the plants up.

Irma, that is hilarious!

Thank you all. Your posts have given me hope for the plant, eased my frustration because I'm not alone, and made me laugh. I actually have had tillys fall on my car at work. Bromeliads falling from the sky!

lol.Bromeliads falling from the sky!

I'm positive it's a raccoon. One has been visiting my back yard nightly for quite a while - poops in my pond!!!!, leaves poop on the ground, and now he's suddenly after my bromeliads. They look exactly like yours. No dog, cat or squirrel even would do that. They look like they have been shredded with long, strong claws, and torn apart and leaves scattered. The only way I can keep him out of the pond is keeping the water pressure on the waterfall high, so it's really splashing out. He doesn't seem to like that. I think he's mad about the pond, so has decided to start shredding the bromeliads! I haven't figured out how to stop him from doing that - may try sprinkling epsom salts on them.

The racoon might be going for water...