Both overwatering and underwatering can occur for your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad, but overwatering is a more common issue. In fact, some of the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad may show a slight ability to survive short-lived droughts despite preferring consistently moist soil conditions. On the off chance that you manage to underwater your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad, you'll see that the leaves begin to turn brown and brittle at the tips and may begin to curl as well. For in-ground plants, this issue is most common when you rely on rainfall for watering, but the rainfall volume has proven to be insufficient. Underwatering is a bit more common for container-grown plants, as the soil in containers often dries out more quickly and may not have access to natural rainfall. In either case, you can resolve underwatering issues by supplying more water. If you have an issue with overwatering, you may notice that your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad has begun to wilt. The leaves of the plant may begin to turn yellow, and you may notice rot in the leaves and stem. Additionally, overwatering can damage fruits and lead to accumulations of mold and fungus. Overwatering can occur for in-ground plants when you water even when there has been sufficient rainfall. In container gardening situations, overwatering often results from the use of heavy soils from containers that lack proper drainage holes. If you have an overwatered container-grown Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad, it's often best to remove it from its container, clean and trim its roots, and place it in a new container that holds looser soils and has better drainage. You should also plant to reduce your watering schedule if your plant is overwatered, whether it lives in the ground or in a pot.

During the growing season, you should water your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture without causing the soil to become waterlogged. If you grow your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad in a container, this usually amounts to about one inch of water applied once per week. By contrast, if you plant your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad in the ground, the plant may not need supplemental watering if it has rained about one inch during the week. As such, you may be able to go long periods without watering an in-ground Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad, assuming there has been consistent rainfall. Your watering frequency will need to change depending on the season. For instance, the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad will need less water during winter than they do during spring, summer, and fall. Your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad may also need more water depending on its growth phase, with the flowering a fruiting phase often calling for more water than usual.

It is possible to grow your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad indoors in a large container. In fact, indoor growing is a necessity, at least for part of the year, if you live in a region with cold winters, as the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad will not survive freezing temperatures. When growing the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad indoors, you should note that it does not have access to rainwater, which can supply enough moisture for plants that grow outdoors. That means that you'll need to supply all the water that your indoor Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad receives. Indoor growing locations are often dryer overall as well, often due to the presence of air conditioners and other appliances. That factor, along with the lack of rainfall in an indoor setting, often means that you'll need to water your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad more frequently than you would if it grew outdoors. You should also consider misting an indoor Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad in addition to pouring water on its leaves as you would when watering this plant, regardless of its location. Misting helps create a humid environment where this plant thrives.

Each of these plants will need to survive several seasonal changes, each of which can call for different watering styles. During the spring is when you should begin watering your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad at the standard rate of about one inch of water per week. In summer, when the weather is hottest, you may get by with the same watering frequency. However, the heat may cause your plant's soil to dry out more quickly than normal, which may result in it needing water multiple times per week to maintain consistent moisture. During fall, you can continue the same watering rate you used during the spring. In winter, you can usually water your plant a bit less, but you should not cease watering altogether. Your winter watering goal should be to maintain a slight degree of moisture and not allow more than the first few centimeters of soil to become dry. You may also need to water your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad a bit differently based on its growth stage. Mainly, when this plant is in a flowering or fruiting stage, it will likely require more water than usual. As is always the case, you can rely on soil observations to determine how much you need to increase your watering rate during those phases with the goal of maintaining consistent soil moisture without creating soggy soil conditions.

As jungle plants, Epiphytic Bromeliads grow in a variety of locations in the rainforest. Some of them are found closer to the forest floor, receiving only dappled sunlight that finds its way through tall canopies. Others grow as epiphytes higher up on the trees and are exposed to direct sunlight. That is why it is essential to know what type of plant you’re getting. As a general rule, epiphytic bromeliads naturally exposed to more sun have thicker, stiffer leaves, while species naturally growing in the shade have more tender, thinner leaves. However, as stressed before, always check the individual species’ needs. The safest bet for Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad is to be exposed to bright but mostly indirect light - e.g., from an east-facing window. Also, it is safe to assume that Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad will get sunburned if exposed to direct sunlight during prolonged periods, so avoid this with all family members.

The consequences of inadequate lighting for Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad can go in two directions. If Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad receives too much direct sunlight and belongs to species adapted to shady conditions, the leaves may start looking bleached-out and paler than usual at first. Eventually, leaf scorching is almost certain to occur. On the other hand, if Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad receives too little sunlight, the foliage will lose its color and turn darker. That is especially true for variegated plants that may lose all their additional colors and turn solid green. Also, as a general consequence, Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad that fails to receive enough sunlight according to their species’ needs will grow poorly.

Tropical conditions of Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad’s original homes are quite stable throughout the plant’s lifetime, and the light doesn’t have to vary between seasons. However, increasing the light exposure can trigger the plant to bloom - a highly desired event. Still, it’s not just about the light levels - all other conditions, such as temperature and humidity, should be met for this to happen.

If you have just bought your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad from a non-specialized store, they have likely been exposed to low light conditions for some time. Even if the particular species belongs to the sun-loving Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad subtype, you need to gradually introduce it to brighter, natural sunlight conditions. That practice is called hardening. Start by exposing your plant to indirect window light, pulling it closer to the light source each day. After several days, the plant can receive its first direct morning light, but only for a very short time.

The absolutely ideal conditions for Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad - both temperature and light-wise - is a greenhouse setup with temperatures averaging between 70 and 80 °F (21 and 27 °C), with bright indirect light, good air circulation, and high humidity. However, the popular Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad species are not overly sensitive and are easily grown in average home conditions. As a simple rule - if you feel pleasant in your room temperatures, these are likely adequate for your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad as well.

East or west-facing window light is ideal for most Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad. However, if the west-facing window is in question, the direct afternoon light may be too harsh for some species, so ensure greater distance from the window or another type of shading during the critical part of the day. If a south-facing window is your only option, keeping Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad next to it can be possible if you create some distance between the light source and the plant, plus filter the light through a suitable curtain. Again, the ideal position will largely depend on the species in question, and you need to factor in other requirements, such as humidity, into the equation. For example, bathrooms are ideal for Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad regarding humidity but may not secure enough light for many species unless you have a window in there. However, some species may thrive under low-light bathroom conditions with some natural light available and some supplemented by artificial fluorescent light. Other positions, such as kitchen windows, may provide ideal light but may be too dry. In that case, try increasing the humidity around the plant by creating a humidity tray under the pot or adding a humidifier. Also, Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad will thrive outdoors in tropical climates and can be brought out during the summer in warm temperate climates. In outdoor conditions, they perform well under trees with broad and semi-thick canopies that create dappled light conditions. Also, shaded patios and bright porches are also great options.

Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad tends to prefer the same general temperature ranges. While they can tolerate temperatures as low as 50℉(15℃), this plant likes higher temperatures that more closely resemble those of tropical and subtropical regions. Being an epiphytic plant, meaning that most of the water of Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad comes from air humidity and not groundwater, higher temperatures are better. The humidity that Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad prefers is best obtained with temperatures over 75℉(25℃). Since humidity is created when water is vaporized into warm air, maintaining humidity is easiest with warmer temperatures. Before you blast your air conditioner in the warm months, make sure these plants are out of the way of the coolest drafts! Anywhere from 75~90℉(25~32℃) is perfect, but cooler temperatures down to 50℉(15℃) are acceptable.

Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad doesn’t need a period of dormancy, or a cold period, to effectively bloom and reproduce. This means that ideal temperatures should be maintained year-round. However, if your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad does experience temperatures cooler than 50℉(15℃) or hotter than 95℉(35℃) , it may cause some damage. The extent of the damage is specific to how long it was exposed to extreme cold or heat, its genotype, and what stage the plant is in. Cold temperatures below 50℉(15℃) will cause frostbite on the leaves of a Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad. This normally appears as black spots or entirely blackened leaves, but this process can take a few days to become apparent. At first, the leaves will look droopy, then slowly become discolored. It’s difficult to save the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad from this fate, but sometimes they can grow back over the course of several months. If the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad is exposed to very high temperatures, it will simply wilt. If the leaves become too dry, they may not revive; however, if the exposure wasn’t very long, then the heat spike may have no lasting effect. Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad can tolerate heat much better than cold.

You can easily keep the Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad warm without the use of a heating pad or nearby heater (though if you’re using one anyway, it doesn’t hurt to share!). To maintain optimal temperatures, consider planting Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad in a terrarium. By enclosing the space around the plant, you create a sort of micro-environment with higher humidity and temperature than outside the glass, which in itself holds heat for some time. If you live in a warm region where it may be too dry to place Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad outside, you can always place it near a warm window or an exterior wall that warms up during the day under full sun exposure; just be sure not to provide too much sunlight as a consequence of moving the plant too close to a bright window. Sheer curtains can remedy this issue. On the other hand, if you live in a tropical or subtropical climate where outside temperatures stay between 55-90℉(13-32℃) day to night, you can grow Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad outside year-long. If the temperature drops below this range, simply bring them indoors for the night or cover them with a thin cloth to prevent cold damage.

Sometimes, temperature fluctuations can sneak up in ways you might not expect. One of the most common temperature breaches for Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad is from windows. If you grow your Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad in a window, be aware of how outside temperatures can affect the temperature of the window and how much of that cold or hot air reaches your plant. Another common household temperature breach is air conditioning and heaters. We might not realize it since we don’t hover over these things in our homes, but a direct draft from air conditioners can chill Variegated Matchstick Bromeliad to well below its preferred temperature range. Similarly, heaters can effectively dry out it very quickly, which causes the leaves to harden and eventually wither away.