Good afternoon Melissa

The browning on your Hohenbergia can be caused by several different factors. Below are possible causes and their fixes.

If your Hohenbergia (a type of bromeliad) is browning, it’s usually trying to tell you something’s off. Here are the most common causes and how to troubleshoot:

1. Too Much Direct Sunlight
Symptoms: Browning or crisping on leaf tips or edges.

Fix: Hohenbergias like bright, indirect light, or filtered sun. If it’s in direct, harsh sunlight (especially afternoon sun), move it to a spot with dappled light or add a sheer curtain.

2. Incorrect Watering
Underwatering: Leaves may turn dry and brown.

Overwatering: Base might get mushy, and leaves brown from the center or base.

Fix:

Water the central tank (the “cup” of the plant), and empty/refresh it weekly to avoid stagnation.

Water the soil lightly—don’t soak it.

Make sure the pot has good drainage.

3. Low Humidity
Hohenbergias are tropical and love humidity (50%+ ideally).

Fix: Use a pebble tray, group with other plants, or run a humidifier nearby.

4. Temperature Stress
Browning can also be from cold drafts or temps below ~55°F (13°C).

Fix: Keep it in a warm, stable environment—ideally between 65–85°F.

5. Pests or Disease
Check the leaves and base for scale, mealybugs, or fungal spots.

Fix: Use neem oil or insecticidal soap if pests are found.

6. Natural Leaf Aging
Older leaves (especially at the base) naturally brown and die off.

Fix: Nothing to worry about—just trim dead leaves to keep it tidy.

The Mississippi State University Extension has a lot of great info for this type of plant. You can find it here.

If you need more help, please let us know!

Thank yo

Sean

Good morning Melissa.....

It looks like the link I sent stopped working. I have found more info for you below:

University of Florida - Gardening solutions
University of Wisconsin-Madison - Bromeliads

Thank you, 

Sean