Please Help with Sick Bromeliad?

I bought a bromeliad at a natural foods store about 2 weeks ago and it's not doing well. It was a gorgeous blood-red color and in nearly-perfect condition when I bought it. I took it to work, a call center with flourescent lighting, because I had seen the same type of bromeliad do well there. I noticed a couple days later it had a "split" on the flower and on one of the leaves right above the soil line (it looks like if you took a knife and slit a few inches). Then the color of the flower started to drastically fade to the brownish-red it is now, with most the flower leaves curling under and looking pretty dry, almost "scaly"...except that it is still that gorgeous blood-red in the middle, lower part of the flower stalk. Some of the leaves are brown and dry and 2 are yellow. I have watered this plant when the surface is just slightly dry, once or twice a week and gave it a tiny bit of liquid fertilizer once. Also, I did leave it in the car on a hot day on accident, but draped a beach towel over it. I'm wondering if that caused all this, or the environment I had it in, etc...I have since brought it home and would appreciate advice on what to do to bring it back to life. I have a patio with a fair amount of sun exposure I can put it on if that's best. Any advice on specifically what happened and the solution would be appreciated. This is what it looks like, but a bit taller:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/uhmplants/Bromeliad.jpg

reynwater2009-08-09T03:35:48Z

Favorite Answer

Bromie life cycle is to grow, bloom, set pups, mother plant dies. Pups will grow, bloom, set pups, die. The pups can be left in the original container or separated and potted individually. Water in the funnel created by the leaves.

The Z2009-08-09T09:45:31Z

reyn... is right once the 'bloom' happens the plant is at its end. It is strange that the ones sold in stores are at the end of their life cycle.
Check out this site; www. bromelaid.com