Dry Soil

When a bromeliad plant is potted, the condition of its soil is a reliable indicator of its need for moisture. Bromeliads have enough water when the soil is moist but they must receive more water when it is dry to the touch.

Dry Center Cup

Overlapping leaves of the bromeliad form a tank in the middle of the plant. This tank, which is sometimes referred to as a cup, must be kept filled with water for the plant's nourishment. A dry tank indicates a thirsty plant.

Brown Leaf Tips

When the bromeliad is dehydrated, its leaf tips begin to turn brown, according to the Bromeliad Society International. This will occur when both the potting soil and the tank are dry.

Rolled Leaf

A thirsty bromeliad will curl its leaves inward when the environment is dry. Indoor bromeliads react negatively to a humidity level that is less than 50 percent, according to Barbara Pleasant in "The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More than 160 Indoor Plants."