Tropicals & Tender Perennials: bromeliads ..how to propogate?????, 0 by weed_woman

weed_woman wrote:
Sometimes, when you remove the pups from the mother plant, if the weather is still warm and the mother plant is still looking good, you might get another batch of pups. These may not mature enough to be removed before the cool weather sets in, and in this case, it would be better to wait until late spring before removing them and growing them on. A little fertiliser added to the potting mix after separation, might help to encourage a few more pups from the mother plant.
As Goth has said before, it's not nessecary to remove the pups (unless you want to have more individual plants), as the container and soil size is not an issue with MOST bromeliads, because alot of them are epiphytical and can grow in crevices in rocks (as in Dales photo) and forks in trees. A pot brimming over with flowering bromeliads is a wonderful sight.
lismil's pups have probably outgrown the size of the mother because they have recieved more space to spread out, and possibly less competition for nutrients from the soil. (would love some pictures lismil)
Alot of the Neoregelias achieve a higher level of colour if they are not too well fertilised, but when trying to get more pups, you may have to forgo the colour intensity in favour of fertilising for reproduction. These plants are also well known for having an open habit, and if allowed to pup up, they may lose the nice shape acheived when grown individually.
You can see on this mini Neoregelia 'Bucaneer' that the new pups are beginning to push the leaves out of shape. Personally, I don't care! lOL