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is it possible to cut off the bromeliad pups too soon?

17 years ago

Hello, any help would be great. These are my first bromeliads. I bought them half price at a garden center because they looked really sick. Blooms were dried and falling off and leaves were curled and drying up. I followed directions and they look happy now. Both have put out two pups already. I went back to the garden center and they told me I could cut off the pups and replant them. I did this and then thought maybe it was too soon. I read somewhere after that the pups should be about half the size of mature plant and these were nowhere near that. More like 2-3 inches for one and about 1 inch for the other. Is it too late for these pups or can they survive? THanks!!!!

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ballethel
Original Author

17 years ago

Thank you, thank you!!!! I can tell I am getting addicted to these plants. I am also pleased to find a helpful community such as this one!!!

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Comments (6)

LisaCLV
17 years ago
What they told you at the garden center is correct. Pups should be at least 1/3 the size of the mother plant, and for more difficult species the bigger the better. You don't say what kind you have, so it's hard to tell from the size how close to mature your pups were, but by your own description I'd say that was too soon.

Maybe you could glue them back on and see if they'll grow some more! Okay, no, that won't work. There's a chance they may make it, depending on what type it is, but even a tough species (like some of the Aechmeas, for example) will grow very slowly if it's not mature enough. If it was a Guzmania or something a bit more touchy like that, then kiss them goodbye. :-(

If the mother is still alive you should be able to get at least one more out of her, though.
ballethel
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you so much for answering. All it says on the plant is 6 inch bromeliad, although the pups may survive, I thonk they look healthy enough so far. These are indoor, somewhat close to a window and the pups actually look a bit taller than when I transplanted them, but this could be wishful thinking. I really appreciate your help, though. Both of the mature plants do have one other pup so all is not lost.
One other question about forcing them to bloom. I was told to put a cut up apple in a brown paper bag and cover the plant. Can you do this when they have pups or should you wait until the pups are bigger? THanks!!!
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Dave nailed it on the classic meathod for pup seperation. I'd highly recomend, as stated by dave, to dig out around the parent and get view of what's going, so that way, you can make a precise cut. I seperated a plant 10 days ago, and the junction of the parent and the pup was wayyy lower than what I expected. SO the end result was that I got a whole lot of stem and zero corm or roots. I planted it anyways and it is still doing fine. Can't promise that it will live, but it made through many a hot day here in San Antonio. I think the pup psuedo-stem actaully has, in it's own wierd way, some corm. So I expect the plant to live. But along those lines, keep in mind that this was active growing pup. It was about a foot and a half tall. The ideal height, in my book, for transplanting. If it was smaller or dormant, I think it would have died. So let it get about 1-2 ft tall before moving. 2 ft is even better. That way if you mess up, you have a good chance of the plant being able to live. Good luck!
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Ok bud here's the deal, if you plan to overwinter the plants, take the pups from mother plant when you dig them up for the season in Va do this before first frost, if the pups are still small under 24" replant them in a pot v/s trying to get them to go dormat for the winter they will more than likely die if they are too small, if you plant them in pot they should do well with little water & light. You can leave the pups with mother plant & they will prolly grow back next season. The pups you can leave the leaves on if you pot them, if you are overwintering them cutt all the leaves back to the main stem but don not cut the main stem it may cause rot & kill plants, again do not cut the psuedostem just trim the leaves to the main stalk about an inch or so from stem is ok. Shake all the loose soil from rootball & store in cool dry place, dark is best as well, and you are good to go, main thin is to keep rhizome/root from freezing that is sure death to plant if it freezes. Bill
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LisaCLV
17 years ago
Are you talking about trying to force the mother plants to bloom again? That won't work. Each rosette blooms only once. The pups, once they've grown into mature plants, can be forced, but if they are not fully mature the flowers will be small and weak. It's also not a good idea to force a plant that has pups on it because it will force the pups to bloom too, before they're ready.

Very often the plant will bloom on its own when it's ready. I'd save trying to force it until you have a fully mature plant that refuses to bloom on its own.
Christy Metzker
7 years ago
I have a bromeliad that has two pups and they are now taller than the mom. Is it still possible to harvest them, or have I waited to long?
splinter1804
7 years ago
Christina - See answer in your other post.

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