Hi everyone.

I don't know anything much about Cryptanthus, but brom's in general go through a natural growth cycle during which, leaves sometimes die and drop off, and I think this is the case with the plant above. These dying leaves are usually at the bottom of the plant like the one displayed in the pictures above.

It's when leaves in the middle of the plant star to die you may have more serious problems developing such as rot.

If you want to tidy up your plant, it's OK to trim away the dead leaf parts with scissors, but to make it less obvious, trim the end of the leaf the same shape as the other leaf tips.

All the best, Nev.

Hello Everyone!

I am totally new to this forum and just signed up today because I really enjoy growing bromeliads and have been doing so for approximately 3 years now and enjoy growing many varieties with about 3500 in my collection, not counting all my trays of little seedlings.

This forum was recommended highly to me by our friend Nev (thanks Nev), so I am really looking forward to chatting with you all and getting to know my way around the forum (fish out of water I am).

In relation to the topic matter regarding the Cryptanthus which is a nice looking plant by the way; I only have about three in my collection and mine do exactly the same as your pictures highlight, where the lower leaves start to die back; this to me is natural as new leaves form up top, old leaves die below; the only time to worry is if the centre of the plant starts to die as with like any bromeliad this could be from rot or the plant is getting old and dying as all broms eventually do after hopefully producing some nice offsets for us to keep growing. Some bromeliads also can react to condition changes or shock but I do not think this is the case with your new plant. I find the only time I really loose these plants is if they are not secure enough in there pot as with the tough leaves and the way the leaves grow downward and that they have spikes, this often pushes them out of the pot and they can easily fall out; I have heard of people using rather loose elastic bands around the pot to hold them down and am thinking of trying this with mine but naturally tying to not bruise them in the process. I also do not let the lower leaves have contact with the ground as this could also cause the leaf to die quicker or become diseased; so I like to sit mine on top of pots turned upside down so they are up high enough off the ground.

Nev's suggestion of shape cutting the dying back leaves is a good idea as it will not only make the plant look tidier but also stop the spread of any disease.

Take Care & Happy Gardening!

Trish

Thanks, folks, this sets my mind at ease. I think I understand general plant growth, but I worry that new species might do something different this time.