My mother was given a bromiliad for Christmas. It wasn't in soil but in a
rather strange red jelly type substance which also has "green peas" in it
(which I assume is some sort of slow release feed).

There is no evidence of any root system but I don't really want to pull it
out of the jelly in case I do more harm than good.

Questions - (1)what is the usual way of looking after these plants
(including what happens when the "flower" dies) and (2) is it worth planting
it in soil rather than leaving it in the jelly?

Jeanne