Well My 'AfterGlow' is on its way from Michaels! I finally got ahold of Michael, himself!, and got the price/shipping/etc,and it should be here tomorrow. I also bought a Neo. Morana for $10. It is a very odd looking small ball shaped bromeliad. Very pink, spiny, and it says that it puts out a lot of stolens very fast. So for $10, why not give it a shot. It was in the online catalog, with a pictures and description. He says the AfterGlow is over 3/4 grown,and very red/colored. I asked what size they send. Online as I am sure you all know, you can get pups with no roots, thats what I usually get, to nearly fully grown plants with pups on it. Well this is 3/4's grown and fully rooted! I am shocked. Cant wait to see it, pot it up and get it growing and putting out pups. and see this Neo. and how it grows here.

Hi everyone. Sheila - You are correct; you plant is a Billbergia and possibly a hybrid. As for its name, sorry but I can’t help you as there are several similar looking Billbergia hybrids. I have found the best time to divide and re-pot these plants is during late spring when the weather is warming up and plants are starting to grow again after their winter “go slow”. Because of their shape and being taller than many other bromeliads, when first re-potted, they are inclined to topple over until a new root system is established. To prevent this I stake them by equally spacing three wooden chopsticks or thick wooded kebab skewers around the plant. The plant must not be allowed to move otherwise the new roots will be broken off and won’t grow. Billbergias potted three months previously as pups (stakes still in place) I find they do better in a smaller pot than usual, but unfortunately because of their height they are inclined to topple over, so I support mine in wire mesh cradles until established and then I hang them from the shade house roof timbers using plastic hangers. This solves two problems; it stops them toppling over and it also provides access to good light which is essential for them to produce good colour. I find they’ll grow OK without fertilising but if you do chose to fertilise, avoid fertilisers high in Nitrogen as this will rob them of their colour. Check the N.P.K on the label and make sure there is a higher percentage of Potassium than Nitrogen. All the best, Nev.

Hi everyone. ahelaumakani – You’re quite right; that plant definitely isn't Billbergia nutans; nutans is a species and is usually plain green. Occasionally it can have very faint spotting but the genuine species is usually a plant with very thin grass like, plain green leaves as shown in the picture below. Billbergia nutans There is however a very good chance that your plant is a Billbergia nutans "hybrid" as the flowers look identical to the flowers of Billbergia nutans with the same light green petals and contrasting bright blue margins. The bracts on your plant are light scarlet however and the bracts on Bill. nutans are more of a lolly pink colour. Billbergia nutans flowers Yours is still a very attractive plant, but unfortunately I can't help you with a cultivar name as there are just so many spotted types around. All the best, Nev.

Yes, just narrower, more grass-like leaves. lavandula, that single spike will soon produce multiple offsets and rapidly fill that pot!! I find I need to divide mine rather routinely to prevent it from outgrowing its container (the straight species, not the dwarf, although its habit will be identical).