Bromeliads have been used in landscaping projects, for their beauty and strength, meanly the imperial bromeliad (Alcantarea imperialis), specie most used in gardening. Despite of the importance of these ornamental species, the knowledge of fertilization is still restricted. This study aimed to evaluate the application effect of fertilization with boron and zinc in substrate and on the leaves on the development of seedlings of imperial bromeliad. The seedlings were planted in pots of 1 dm3 containing substrate composed of rice husk carbonized (50%) and land of subsurface (50%). Eight treatments were tested: presence and absence of fertilization of substrate and foliar fertilization with boron (1g.L -1 H2BO3), zinc (1 g -1 ZnSO4), boron associated with the zinc (in the same concentrations) plus the witness, constituting in a factorial 2 x 4. The experiment was installed on completely randomized design, with 4 replications. The evaluations were conducted seven months after the implementation of the experiment and considered the increase in height, number of leaves per plant, leaves and rosettes diameters. It was observed that the supply of B + Zn provided less increase in height and width of the leaves. The lower number of leaves in seedlings occurred when the fertilization with B or B + Zn were provide, with no differences between them. The worst value of rosette diameter occurred when plants were cultivated with fertilization of substrate. It was also observed the occurrence of necrosis in the tips of the leaves of bromeliads as a result of fertilization leaf. It was found that the plants treated with boron showed a higher incidence of necrosis on leaves.