Cryptanthus Black Tiger Very Rare Colour Exotic Live Indoor Plant

Light
Different Cryptanthus varieties need different levels of light, but most plants within this genus will generally thrive in some sort of indirect sunlight or light shade—remember, they naturally grow under the cover of trees in rainforests. Direct sunlight could potentially bleach the bromeliad’s foliage, or make it appear leathery.


Soil
Commercial potting soil based on peat moss works well for Cryptanthus bromeliads, as it has the necessary acidity. There are also potting mixes designed expressly for bromeliads. Some gardeners grow these plants in a mixture of sand and soil mix, as well—but no matter what the soil, they must be kept damp and the soil must retain water fairly well for best results.

Water
Cryptanthus thrive in tropical conditions, and you should make efforts to keep them moist. Make sure, however, not to rest them in standing water. A moderately damp environment is moisture enough for these plants. But bromeliads are surprisingly tolerant of short periods of drought.

Temperature and Humidity
Cryptanthus makes an ideal houseplant: Keeping them around 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit will allow these bromeliads to thrive. Cryptanthus plants are fairly forgiving of swings in temperature. Though temperate conditions are best, many varieties can even survive a winter outside as long as they are not kept below freezing for too long.

As tropical jungle plants, Cryptanthus prefers relatively humid conditions, which you can create by using a room humidifier or misting the plant frequently.

Fertilizer
These bromeliads require regulary fertilization for maximum growth and will thrive on any balanced fertilizer: 10-10-10, 14-14-14, etc. But remember to dilute the fertilizer to a 1/4 to 1/2 strength, otherwise, you risk damaging the plant. Feed them every three weeks.