Hi, I have several of the little pups that grow on the edge of the leaves. If wanting to trade for seed make a offer. Im also sasbe on these.

This has been a fun thread. I don't think I'd have the stomach to assault one of my plants with a stake or screwdriver! I am glad it works! As for seeds, i've never tired growing any bromeliads from seed, but my guess is pollinating is pretty easy. As long as you can locate the appropriate flower parts, a soft paintbrush should do the trick. if you have lots of bees, providing the plant is outdoors, they should do the job too. Good luck! P.S. Beware what you wish for! I got this crazy idea to grow cacti (cleistocactus and trichocereus) from seeds, and have thousands of babies. now what do I do? Let's see, there Christmas, and.....

Hi zayco, pictures are worth a thousand words...do you know what kind of bromeliad it is? Depending on the brom, the snapping can usually be a good thing. The pup doesn't need roots to still be alive and healthy. Look at and feel the base of the pup. If it is firm and woody things are probably alright. If you can see the concentric rings of the leaf bases (from underneath) it won't make it. Gently tug at the inner-most leaves of the pup. If they pull out, that is bad. If you don't know what kind of bromeliad it is, can you describe it? Color, size, shape? Are the leaves soft and smooth or do they have spines on the edges? Was the pup growing off the side or in between the leaves of the mother? Good luck, -andy

I'm not even sure they all necessarily die after flowering. Mine certainly doesn't. And it produced offsets before flowering too. Mine's and Aechmea. Paul yours must be tiny if it's in a 2-3 inch pot. Give the poor thing a chance. And a picture would really help so we can id it before we pontificate.