Bromeliad lasts a long time but droop and die after blooming once.
However, that is not the end, as the mother plant produces pups to let us separate and propagate.
The article will lead you through removing Bromeliad pups from their mother plant and when and how.
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Do You Need to Separate Bromeliad Pups from Mother Plant?
Yes, it is better to separate the pups as soon as you notice one on the mother Bromeliad plant.
It is because almost all Bromeliads have only one bloom. The plant’s lovely blossom will bloom fully after reaching maturity but ceases the production of leaves.
Fortunately, knowing that you will have generations of Bromeliads if all goes according to plan is comforting.
Most Bromeliads will send up offshoots from their base before they die. You can utilize these tiny plants, sometimes known as pups, to start the next generation of plants.
So, you will be able to keep growing and enjoying the beauty of your plants even if the original plant dies of old age.
All you have to do now is transfer them correctly when it arrives.
When to Separate Bromeliad Pups from Mother Plant?
Mother Bromeliad can start producing pups anytime, although most plants do so after blooming.
And you can frequently wind up with more Bromeliads than you started with because one plant usually produces numerous pups.
However, leaving the pups attached to the mother Bromeliad can also be an option as the pups take nourishment till maturity from the mother plant.
But it will be a loss to you because Bromeliad’s separate and small pup gets ready to be a mother plant and can shift its focus to producing its puppies.
How to Separate Bromeliad Pups from Mother Plant?
Removing the entire plant from the container is preferable if the mother Bromeliad is nearly dead or if the original plant has become unappealing.
So follow the instructions below to separate bromeliad pups from the mother plant.
- Step 1: Wear gardening gloves and hold the parent plant firmly in one hand and the pup you intend to remove with the other.
- Step 2: Cut the pups from the point of connection using a sharp knife or clippers.
- Step 3: Pull the pups away from the mother plant carefully, making sure to catch the roots of the smaller plant as well—if they don’t, it’s ok. Pups will grow roots after being potted.
- Step 4: Sometimes, the pup’s base is protected by an outer leaf. To reveal the entire foundation, gently peel back this protecting leaf.
How to Pot Bromeliad Offsets?
One of the many reasons Bromeliads are so much pleasure to collect is that they are easy to cultivate and propagate.
They thrive in shallow pots and flourish in low-nutrient soil mediums such as Orchid mix, Sphagnum moss, and other organic components.
To pot Bromeliad offsets or pups, follow the steps below.
- Step 1: Fill a tiny container with the potting mix (generally, a three or 4-inch pot is large enough).
- Step 2: Watch for drainage holes and steady air circulation while selecting the pot for Bromeliad.
- Step 3: Plant these pups, keeping them at the center.
- Step 4: Push the pups into the mix to get them to stand. Do not bury them too deeply to avoid damaging the root.
Remember that the leaves of Bromeliads store water, so they may be a little heavy to hold by the young pups, so maintain the upright position using wooden sticks.
Make a DIY mix using perlite or sand, peat moss, and pine bark in a 1:1:1 ratio or peat-based soil and sand in a 2:1 ratio.
When planting these pups, the potting mix must be moist and rich in organic matter.
Make sure to use the low-nitrogen fertilizer of NPK 5-10-10 or a more balanced 20-20-20 ratio.
The pups can reach the blooming stage in about three years under proper care.
Take reference from the video for visual help!
Tips to Take Care of Bromeliad Pups
Give appropriate surroundings for newborn pups to grow healthy as they mature.
The presence of plenty of light, warmth, and humidity stimulates the development and makes flowering more likely.
- Give the pups good indirect light in the mornings, especially in summer and shade, for the rest of the day.
- Bromeliads grow well inside homes with humidity levels of 40-60%.
- Maintain a temperature of 60-80ºF and keep the plant away from heaters, air conditioners, and cold openings.
- Watering the Bromeliads once or twice a week should suffice. However, do not overwater the separated Bromeliad pups, as it can cause root rot at the base.
- Choose a well-draining soil and maintain a pH between 4.0 and 7.0.
- Bromeliads sometimes attract pests and bugs like Mealybugs, Aphids, and Scale. So use neem oil spray or insecticidal soap to keep them in control.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
Although the pups live independently after you separate them from the mother Bromeliad plant, they will not mature until they are a year old and give blooms in the third year.
Provide love to the freshly rooted Bromeliad pups because the root systems take a few weeks to mature and settle, and support the plant with tiny stakes if required.
I hope you learned something from this article and are ready to give your Bromeliad pups a new life.
