[Blort]

In addition, some have beautiful berries (Aechmeas) and beautiful blooms, the foliage is quite beautiful itself. After a bromeliad has blossomed, it will slowly die over a period of up to one year, but not before it produces three to four pups.

http://www.earlmay.com/pamphlets/pamphl ... amp=908780

It looks like the actual flowering only lasts a day or so -- http://fcbs.org/articles/foster.htm -- and what remains of the "flower", or the inflorescence, will wither at different rates, perhaps at the same time as the larger plant dies -- http://home.att.net/~Bromeliads/Growing_Points.htm .

Try googling "bromeliad inflorescence" for more information.

Best,

Marcos

(Also check out this site; no clear answers about your question jumped out at me, but an interesting site anyway: http://bsi.org/)