Queen's Tears Plant (Billbergia Bromeliads) Care Indoors, Propagation, Problems & Solutions

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Queen's Tears Plant (Billbergia Bromeliads) blooms in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, orchids potting soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Queen's Tears Plant is low-maintenance, requiring minimal care compared to other tropical plants. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about caring for this plant indoors, from lighting requirement to watering techniques and propagation.

Billbergia Bromeliad also called Friendship Plant is one of the easiest Bromeliad varieties and is grown for the beauty of its drooping showy flower-heads and leathery, arching long grass-like leaves.

The drooping flower-head with about 3 inches long bracts and the 1 ft long, arching leaves which turn reddish under good light look spectacular in a hanging basket, on a table top, a pedestal or atop a shelf.

The common name, 'Queen's Tears', is due to the drops of nectar that the plant produces when it is touched or is moved. While the common name, 'Friendship Plant', is because it is easy to share with friends from the pups (offsets) that form at the base of the plant.

The usual pattern in Billbergia Bromeliads like in Flaming Sword Bromeliads is a rosette of leathery, strap-like foliage and flower-head which arises on a stalk from the cup-like center of rosette.

Botanical name: Billbergia
Family: Bromeliaceae
Sufamily: Bromelioideae
Common names: Queen's Tears Plant, Friendship Plant

Origin

Billbergia Bromeliads are native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.

Flower

Queen's Tears Plant matures at the age of 2-3 years and flowers quite easily in spring and the display may last several months. Once the flower-head fades, the rosette of leaves begins to die and is replaced by offsets (pups) at the base. The display of the flower-head is due to the presence of long-lasting showy bracts; true flowers are small and short-lived.

Varieties

The most popular of the Billbergia Bromeliads for growing indoors is the Billbergia nutans. Another of the Billbergia Bromeliads that is common is Billbergia windii which is larger, with the flower-stalks being about 18 in. long and the foliage is grey-green.

Is Queen’s Tears Plant Toxic?

No. Queen's Tears Plants are non-toxic to humans and pets. They are among plants safe for cats and dogs. However, the leaves bear short spines which may cause physical injury if handled with bare hands. Always wear gloves when handling these bromeliads to prevent injury.

Why Grow Queen’s Tears Indoors?

Here is why you should consider adding Queen’s Tears to your indoor plant collection:

• Low maintenance: It requires minimal care compared to other tropical plants.


• Hardy and resilient:It tolerates neglect and adapts well to indoor conditions.


• Beautiful blooms: It bears exotic, pendulous flowers in pink, blue, and yellow hues

Where to Buy

If you would like to add Queen's Tears Plants to your collection, you may get them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Queen's Tears Plant Indoor Care

To properly care for Queen's Tears Plant indoors, provide bright indirect light (filtered light), warmth of 18-28⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, orchids potting soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Billbergia Bromeliads are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water, therefore water with chlorine-free water only that is at room temperature to avoid plant shock. Keep reading for more on the growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Like with other rosette Bromeliads, Queen's Tears Bromeliads require that the central 'vase' be filled with water at all times. Empty and refill the 'vase' regularly to prevent growth of bacteria which may cause the water to become smelly.

Use only chlorine-free water as these plants are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals that may be dissolved in water. Ensure the water is at room temperature to prevent cold shock which can cause stunted growth.

Water the soil only when it dries to keep the roots moist. Avoid soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the Bromeliad.

Light Requirements

Queen's Tears Plant grows best in bright indirect light. Bright light is necessary to promote flowering. Direct sunlight will cause the leaves to lose their dark-green color to appear washed out with pale-brown leaf patches.

If the light is too little, growth will slow down and the plant will produce fewer blooms. Therefore, move the plant to a brighter spot or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.

Give the pot a quarter turn every month, to ensure that the bromeliad receives light on all sides, for uniform growth to prevent unbalanced growth.

Outdoors, Queen's Tears Bromeliad can be grown in a shaded place like under a tree where it is shielded from direct sunlight.

Temperature & Humidity

Queen's Tears thrives in a warmth of 18-28⁰C. Keep it away from drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature which can lead to reduced growth, wilting, drooping and yellowing.

To bring Billbergia Bromeliad to flower requires temperatures above 26⁰C. You can achieve this temperature by taking this plant outside during the hot season but put it under a light shade.

Queen's Tears Bromeliad prefers a humidity of 60-70%. If the humidity is too low, the plant will respond with brown leaf tips and edges. To upscale humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant is a well-lit bathroom or kitchen. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed your Queen's Tears Plant with a liquid fertilizer (foliar feed) every 2 weeks during the growing season to encourage a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and it may lead to fertilizer burn.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Queen's Tears is an orchids potting mix that is rich in organic matter, loose, free-draining to prevent waterlogging while providing the required nutrients.

Repotting

Repotting Queen's Tears Bromeliad is not necessary as its roots are tiny and are unlikely to fill the pot. Pot it in a wide, shallow, heavy pot to prevent it from toppling over as it can become top-heavy. In addition provide support for the plant to help keep it upright and prevent it from toppling over. Check out these ceramic pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Queen's Tears Plant involves removal of dead leaves to keep the plant neat and minimize pest and disease infestations. This also allows adequate room for the new plants (pups) to grow.

Remove the dead foliage by cutting at the base with a sharp, clean knife or with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to minimize injury and disease infestations.

Queen's Tears Plant Propagation

Billbergia Bromeliads propagation is best done at the beginning of the growing season, from the offsets (pups) appearing at the base of the plant.

Propagating Queen's Tears Plant from offsets (pups)

1. When the offset is several months old or 1/3 to 1/2 the height of mother plant, separate it from the mother by cutting with a sharp, clean knife or scissors.


2. Ensure the offset (pup) has some roots attached to it as they are necessary to provide support for the pup.


3. Plant the offset shallowly in loose, free-draining, bark soil. Use a shallow heavy pot to prevent the plant from toppling over as it can get top-heavy.


4. Make sure the bromeliad is well supported to prevent it from toppling over as the root system is small.


5. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit spot until the new bromeliad is well established after which routine care can begin.

Related Content: How to Propagate Bromeliads from Pups.

Queen's Tears Plant Problems & Solutions

Billbergia Bromeliads problems are lack of blooms, plant dying, drooping leaves, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Lack of blooms

Lack of blooms on Queen's Tears Plant is caused by insufficient light, nutrients deficiency, inconsistent water, temperature stress or dry air.

How to fix it

Insufficient light: Move the plant to a brighter spot ahere it will receive bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural light is not enough.

Nutrients deficiency: Fertilize the plant with a phosphorous-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks in the growing season.

Dry air: To increase humidity, use a cool mist humidifier or set the pot on a wet pebble tray.

Inconsistent watering: Keep the soil moderately moist, do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, radiators, AC units, open doors, drafty windows among others.

Plant dying

Queen's Tears Plant may be dying due to two causes; maturity or root-rot disease.

1. If the Billbergia Bromeliad has flowered, then rotting and death of the rosette which bore the flower-stalk is natural to give room to the new plants (pups). Remove the dead foliage by cutting at the base with a clean knife or a pair of scissors.

2. If the Queen's Tears Plant has not flowered, the cause of death is root-rot disease which is enhanced by soggy soil. The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.

How to fix it

1. Slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots.


2. Trim brown-black, mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as indicated by the manufacturer.


3. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant.


4. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining prevent sogginess.


5. Do not water the plant immediately; keep it dry for 5-7 days before you resume watering.


6. Lessen watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is slowed at this time.

Drooping leaves

Drooping leaves on Queen's Tears Bromeliad are caused by too little light, inconsistent watering or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Too little light: Position the bromeliad in bright indirect light or use grow lights if the natural lighting is not adequate.

Inconsistent watering: Keep the soil moderately moist and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot radiators, AC units, air vents, open doors, drafty windows among others.

Brown leaf tips

Brown leaf tips on Queen's Tears are caused by too low humidity. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You can also grow the bromeliad in a well-lit bathroom or other moist areas in the home.

Pests

Common pests pf Queen's Tears Plant are scale insects and mealybugs which are prevalent in dry conditions.

How to fix it

1. Seperate the infested plant to minimize spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' instructions.


2. Keep the plant well pruned to reduce the hiding and breeding places for these pests.


3. Set the plant on a wet pebble tray to elevate humidity as it discourages the pests.

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