I received a plant last November when my father-in-law passed away. Actually no one wanted it because no one knew what it was! (Obviously not a family of gardeners!) After looking on this website, I believe it is an Aechmea Fasciata. It did bloom last winter, but I have noticed that it's leaves are looking a little ragged. And it has a pup. Now what-do I need to repot it? It is still about the same size as when I got it and I would love for it to grow really large. Any information, the more basic the better, would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
KD
Newbie Question
Hi KD
What a special plant you have ! We had one about five years ago abd gave a few away . Now we have about six of them blooming ! Our's are now growing in the ground though was in a pot and had a few pups before we got them in the ground . I know you can pot the pup up on it's own. I do cut dead foliage off. We have never had any die.
Others will have to help you with more ours in the garden just keep growing and having pups !
Once it blooms, that shoot will no longer grow. The primary growing bud in the Bromeliads is very dominant and supresses branching from the dormant buds below (in the leaf axils). Once the plant blooms, that bud no longer affects the plant and the once dormant buds start to grow. These are the "pups" or offsets. As a rule of thumb they can be removed when 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the mother plant. The sooner you take them off the more you will get but you risk the pups not surviving. You don't have to take them off at all and some people prefer multi-head plants.
There's a good FAQ at http://www.bsi.org/ containing cultural and propagation information.
Thanks for the info!
KD