Question about Bromeliad blooms

I bouhgt a small (3" pot) Bromeliad last year at a local garden center. The "flower" was almosy ready to open. It finally opened and was absolutely beautiful. My question is this: Will it bloom again? There are no other small plants forming around the main plant. The foliage is still really pretty and looks as good as ever.

Thanks, Jennifer

Hi Jennifer ...........

Bromeliads only bloom once - the bloom is their apical growth; when it's done - the only thing left to grow is the "eyes" which form around the main trunk - usually at or below ground level. Be patient ............ your plant will pup in due time.

John

Thanks John, I guess I need to move her to a bigger pot?

Hi Jennifer ..........

No ........... you don't have to repot; the pups will grow. When they are between 1/3 and 1/2 the size of the host plant you will cut them off very close to the main stem, let them dry for a day or two - and then pot them up. The "mother" will eventually die - but you will have have (hopefully) several clones of the original. I will look up a thread where I gave potting mix recipes, etc. - and move it to the top of this category for you to read!

John

The pups will grow during the warmer months usually. A bit of weak liquid fertiliser will help to encourage vegetative growth. Sometimes the removal of the old flower spike will send the energy back into growth of pups. what type of Bromeliad is it? Do you know?
Some produce pups with a bit of stem between, (stolons) and some grow almost amongst the leaves of the original plant and are a bit harder to remove. Can you describe the flower? Flat paddle shaped? A spike with spaces between the brached flowers? Flowers that resemble berries? Drooping flowers that last a short time?
We have a good book over here by a man called Andrew Steen from NZ, and I think if you google his name you might be able to look at some of his publications. Its all quite interesting, especially if your hooked like me!
Good luck!
Sue

Here she is:

did the flower look like this? If so its a Tillandsia cyanea. The pups grow out of the middle, and you usually have to wait until the pups are quite large, and try to peel off the parent leaves and then break away the pup, trying to keep a bit of stem attached. Sometimes you lose the parent, but it only flowers once anyway, so what the hey?

It had the tall braided looking part, but no real "flower" like the one in your picture. It is beautiful by the way!

Mine was red as opposed to yellow, and lasted about 3 months. It dried up and fell off about 3-4 months ago.

Thanks for the input! Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, it might be a Vriesea then. Theres not a great deal of difference, and still the same deal for dividing them up. Its a real treat seeing the flowers! they have a fragrance you know, and the paddle is starting to go hot pink.
Sue