Hi Elk, The bracts turning color is natural. No need to worry. This was recently discussed in this thread: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bromeliad/msg0114505819901.html?2 Was your plant completely dry when you returned? Lack of or excessive watering as far as i know shouldn't cause the flower bracts to turn green, unless maybe it is stressed from absolutely no water. Or maybe you have the plant in very high light. That may make it green and hot temps would brown the edges. Just move it into a shadier but still bright spot and that may preserve the pinkish color somewhat. But it will eventually turn green anyway. With watering, I would wait until the leaves are clear of water and then fill them again with water. On mine that's about once/week. During periods of fast growth and hot temperatures that may be 2-3 times per week. This probably sounds tricky, but don't have it wading in water, as well as try to keep it from drying out either. They are pretty durable so you shouldn't have to worry. Yes, when Tillandsias (and all bromeliads) finish flowering the mother is finished growing and will bloom no more. But soon it sends out small pups which will eventually mature. You can split them off with a sharp knife, but I would wait until the pups are large enough before you separate them from mommy. On mine I like the clumped look so I just leave them be. A colony of T.cyanea in bloom is breathtaking. Hope this helps.

Hi Sa, Sorry i've been away...too many other distractions i guess. :) I hate to say it but i don't know for sure what the 'trigger' is. I rather suspect that it is warmth. It seems like mine blooms, or starts forming a bloom...toward the end of the summer usually. I'm partly basing that on the currect stalk which is now pretty much totally faded. It has stayed pink for at least the last few months and it grew for most of the Fall and early winter. So my guess is that the warmth of summer starts the process. Maybe a cooling in the early Fall starts it? I don't know. Mine never leaves my terrarium and the temps don't really change that much...so it could just as well be some other factor. I think age has a lot to do with it as well. I had the silly thing for a good few years before it really started to be reliable. OH!! I just realized another possibility. I usually change my bulbs in October, around halloween or so. Maybe its the sudden boost in light? Its possible that they come from a deciduous jungle where the surrounding trees lose their leaves. Thus it would get more light in the winter. That's just speculation. Sorry i don't have a better anwer for ya. Good luck!

Jaybird, maybe I can explain my reasoning. For me, the emotional INCOME of pleasure from dealing with activities or objects must equal or be MORE than the emotional OUTGO and pleasure from those activities or objects. No one is saying there is anything wrong with having tons of decorations or stuff, if it gives you pleasure. Most of us here are dealing with the concept that the disorganization has reached a point it is NOT pleasureable. The work associated with cleaning, packing, storing, keeping and putting the stuff back out again is not pleasurable. I'm middle aged, but my youngest child is only 5. I only have so much energy to go around and I have to make sure I'm not running on empty. I'm trying to be more thoughtful in what I bring into our environment to make sure I keep that balance between the work involved and the pleasure I receive. I would bet my next paycheck that your friends and family like to come to your house because YOU are a warm and inviting person. Therefore, your home is warm and inviting, especially over the holidays. There are many things which would give me pleasure but I am no longer willing to do the work associated with the pleasure. I have very few clothes, even though I like and can afford trendy stuff. Keeping them clean and pressed is too much work for me now. I love pots and pots of flowers around my patio, but again, the work level has become something which is unbalanced. Now, all of my ratty, vintage quilts? That's a different story! If a magic genie could come and decorate the house for the holidays with a poof! (and take it down) I would really like a super decorated home. But, for me, being realistic means after the first time or two of lugging and packing holiday dishes, they will just sit in the box. It means I'm the one who will spend days putting the stuff up and days taking it down and packing it away. By coming up with an easy care substitute like a couple of pretty tablecloths, I can achieve my goal of a festive table with much less work. I am also trying to get away from some of the messages from society, that if we don't go all out, then our family won't have a nice holiday. We don't even put up the tree until the 15th of December because I feel that it keeps the build-up or anticipation level too high for my kids. The one thing I have really appreciated since finding this board, is the support and encouragement for whatever someone is trying to achieve. We all have really different lives and challenges. It's not important that I understand Marie's stuggle with her paper clutter. I don't have to make sense of Julie's desire to have her wardrobe a certain way. I can encourage and try to help them reach their goal. For me personally, it's been a quest to stop looking at the short-term pleasure, but see a bigger picture of what comes and goes in my life. How do I balance that for me? Gloria

Having children playing with candles may encourage them with the idea of playing with matches, later. Not a good idea, as that's the cause of many house fires. Maybe a good Thanksgiving/Christmas gift with which to endow yourself might be to give up smoking - remember how many house fires are started by people smoking - especially smoking in bed? Ruined clothing, as well - but then, your friends who can't figure what to give you wouldn't need to wrack their brain so much. Hey - what am I doing - giving you (even a thin) excuse to continue smoking - when you know how bad it may be not only for you but for others around you? A happy Holiday to all of you U.S. people. ole joyful