Chris, to be safe, wait until the pup is about 6" or more before cutting, cut down along the base below the soil. Grass pups are extremely slow growing once detached from the parent. (I've seen concrete grow faster!) In fact, it's often wiser to just buy another small plant than to wait for growth. With my Alcanterias I keep one offset attached to the base of the mother and let it grow naturally from the base. These pups are much faster and sturdier.

no luckly i havnt yet i now am busy having fun with our new 20 ton excelvator hmm which dam needs to be bigger. thanks rick that sounds good i was thinking of taking in my alcantarea extancia it has 3 grass pups but would they look difernt to the alcantarea imperialis 'rubra' pups. Not sure how the picture would come out with my printer last time i printed a realy nice pick it came out ordanary. maybe thats just me. aroideana the reason i am asking is that i have never seen an alcantarea in flower and of the pictures that i have found i cant get a good look of it if i had a close up of a pick i could most probly name it as i have couple sheets on flower shapes. so if any one has a close up of an alcantarea flower ill like it if you could share it with me.

Hi sdandy,yes i have read the article and heard a lecture on this 'principle' now i dont doubt that that may occur,but i am sceptical as i have had those lines appear on Neo.hybrids but only from the tip of leaf to about halfway to the centre of the plant but not any where near the centre and there are thousands of Nea's that never do it so is this than selective damage,or only some plants do it,and i have had it on some only on the older lower leaves ,for me if thats the principle involved (damage)than would not all suffer that way ? I will keep an open mind for the sake of others,its easily tested at home, me personally ? i doubt it very much .but thats just me . Jack

Thanks Rick, i only just saw this post. Phone been playing up again. Unfortunately I removed 3 pups an hour ago 2 hair pups and a big pup. I just got a new budding knife ( first one since my days of Tafe 20yrs ago) It has a flat blade and a curved blade. Bloody brilliant! The first grass pup came off a little short so I got my knife to do the other 2. Worked a treat! The big one has some small roots on it which I'm very happy about. Its gonna flower soon so I'll leave the other big 2 on until spring. I'll post an update as the flower comes up. I just put it in a big urn with some Primulas around it. Thanks a million for walking me through this. Any ideas on what it could be if not Vampira? Kinda looks like it has some Extensa in it judging by the purple edges. I love it either way but I'd be happy to hear anyone's advice on what it could be. Has been grown in quite abit of shade since I've had it. Take care Tim