Bromeliad plants only bloom once in their lifetime and die out, but what enhances its worth is before dying out, it produces offsets that are often known as “pups.”
After the pups are removed from the mother plant, you can repot them.
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Bromeliads can be tricky to work with but imagine having a plant with an unlimited source of new offsets.
Doesn’t that sound fun? Let’s try it.
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Reasons to Repot a Bromeliad Pup
Bromeliads have very small root systems, and these plants will not need to be repotted during their lifetime in your home.
That said, growing an entire plant from their offshoot is the main reason to repot a Bromeliad pup.
After a while, the pups will become fully grown Bromeliad plants, and voila, you got yourself another Bromeliad plant just like that.
Moreover, starting a Bromeliad from seed takes forever, which could be another possible reason to prefer repotting the plant’s pups.
You can save time and effort and get an infinite source of Bromeliads for the future.
When to Repot a Bromeliad Pup?
Bromeliad pups can be harvested and repotted as soon as they reach a certain level, approximately 1/3 the size of the mother plant.
Mostly, the offshoot appears after blooming during the summer months.
While you remove the pups to grow them separately, the mother plant will still last about a year or two and keep producing more pups as time passes until it stops and finally dies.
How to Remove Bromeliad Pups from Mother Plant?
The longer the pups are attached to the mother plant, they will leech off nourishment from it and grow faster.
But if you let that happen, the mother plant probably will not produce more pups.
However, if you want the mother plant to produce more pups, it’s better to remove the ingrowing pups around 1/3 of the size of the mother plant.
While removing the pup, be careful and cut it as close as possible to the mother plant without damaging it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Repot a Bromeliad Pup
Repotting of the Bromeliad pup is simple and similar in almost all varieties.
After separating the pups, here are some steps to repot the Bromeliad pup.
Step 1: Prepare the Potting Mix
Take a small 4″ terracotta pot with some drain holes and fill it with a suitable potting mix.
Meanwhile, do not compact the pot with the mix for pups to have easy root growth.
Step 2: Place the Pup
Dip the wounded end of the pup in fungicide and rooting hormone to prevent infections and promote rooting.
You should ensure not to place the pups deep, or it would hinder their growth and might also result in rotting.
Further, you need to add orchid bark on top of the pot. This will help store the plant’s moisture while draining the excessive water.
Use a wooden stick to help the pup stand on its own until its roots are fully formed within the pot.
Step 3: Provide Optimum Requirements
The most common and perfect place to keep a bromeliad is on top of a table just a few meters away from the window, where it can fall under the sunlight.
But it would be best if you were careful not to place the Bromeliad pup directly under the sun.
Here are a few tips to keep your Bromeliad pup healthy and safe.
- Pups are better at facing bright indirect light than directly placed under the sun, as they require less light than fully grown Bromeliads.
- You need to water the pup once a week. Keep the soil moist but not completely wet, as overwatering the pups might cause them to rot.
- Eventually, remove the wooden stick as the pups form their roots and become stable.
- You must keep the humidity around the plant at 40 to 60%.
- Maintain an average temperature of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the perfect health of the plant.
Reasons to Repot a Bromeliad Pup
Bromeliads have very small root systems, and these plants will not need to be repotted during their lifetime in your home.
That said, growing an entire plant from their offshoot is the main reason to repot a Bromeliad pup.
After a while, the pups will become fully grown Bromeliad plants, and voila, you got yourself another Bromeliad plant just like that.
Moreover, starting a Bromeliad from seed takes forever, which could be another possible reason to prefer repotting the plant’s pups.
You can save time and effort and get an infinite source of Bromeliads for the future.
FAQs about Bromeliads pup
Can you root Bromeliad pups in water?
Terrestrial bromeliads can successfully root in water.
Allow the callus to form on the pup before rushing into the water. This prevents the pups from rotting.
How often should you water Bromeliad pups?
Ideally, Bromeliad pups can go for about a week without watering.
However, do not allow the water to stay stagnant on the pot or root zone, as it harbors pest and root infections. The soak and dry method could be the best for the plant.
Wrapping Up!!!
Growing a Bromeliad pup is fun as you witness its growth from a tiny pup to a full-grown plant over the years.
Repotting the pups helps you grow your own leathery textured Bromeliad colony.
Moreover, place it at the southeast-facing entrance to welcome the feng shui benefits.
