Find out how to get more flowers on bromeliad plants. This video shows how the mother bromeliad produces pups, which are baby plants that can be removed from the mother plant, and after grown for a few months, will produce their own flowers. Bromeliads only bloom once, but you can get more flowers from pups. The pups eventually become mother plants, and the process continues. This video shows you how to remove and pot up the bromeliad pups.
#HealthyHouseplants #BromeliadCare #IndoorGardening #HouseplantPropagation #Bromeliads #PlantCareTips #RootingHormone #GardeningIndoors #Houseplants #PineappleFamilyPlant
Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below. Today, we are checking back in with this beautiful bromeliad, which I have another care video on from when it had a nice bloom. Now, I’m going to show you what to do when the mother plant stops blooming in order to have more plants that will bloom for you.
What happens is, once the mother (which is right here) is done blooming, she won’t produce any more blooms. You can still see some of the remnants of her bloom in here. Sadly, once the bloom is done, she won’t produce any more flowers. But what she does give you is a bunch of pups—think of them as babies! You can see these plants around the edges that have grown in around her—those are her pups.
Today, we’re going to remove the pups and pot them up so they can produce flowers, which are also known as bracts. These pups are exact clones of the mother plant and will eventually produce the same beautiful bract (which you may refer to as a flower, though it is technically a bract). I’ll put a photo here of the other plant, so you can see how pretty it is. I also have a video that shows the mother when she was blooming.
You want to wait until the pups are one-third to half the size of the mother plant before removing them. You can see that’s the case for many of these pups, although some are still a little smaller. If I kept them all together in this pot, some might bloom, but others may not. Bromeliads, which are in the pineapple family, do like tight quarters, but for each of these pups to bloom, they need their own pots.
The longer you keep the pups with the mother, the bigger they’ll get. Once separated and repotted, they’ll mature faster. I should see blooms within two to four months, maybe even sooner. I’ll show you how to separate and repot them now.
One thing you can use during this process is rooting hormone. This helps the pups create roots if they don’t already have a strong root system. I didn’t bring mine, so I’ll grab it quickly.
Okay, I’m back with the rooting hormone. Rooting hormone helps plants create roots, especially if they don’t have many or any roots. I suggest using this during the procedure to increase your chances of success. You can do it without the hormone, but your results may not be as good. It’s important to be careful with rooting hormone—don’t inhale it.
Now, let’s get to separating the pups. This plant has a bunch of pups—six, if I remember correctly. I recently watered the plant, and I suggest watering it before you do this, so there’s moisture in the soil. After transplanting, you’ll want to keep the pups warm and moist to encourage root growth.
To start, take a sharp, serrated knife and carefully cut the pups away from the mother plant. Be sure to cut as close to the mother as possible to get as much of the root system as you can. Be patient and don’t rush it—avoid pulling or ripping the roots apart.
As I cut away the pups, you can see that this section has three pups, and they have a decent amount of roots. That’s great because it’ll help them grow and bloom more quickly. I’ll continue to separate them and show you when these pups start blooming in the future.
When repotting the pups, you’ll want to make sure the pot isn’t too big. Bromeliads need good drainage, so I’ve prepared the soil with my Green Gourmet Houseplant Food, Perfect Pumice, worm compost, and rock dust for nutrients. Put the pup into the pot, making sure it’s stable. You can also use plant stakes to help keep them upright.
Keep the plant warm and slightly moist, but avoid overwatering, as that can lead to root rot. Once you see new growth, you’ll know the plant is establishing itself, and it should bloom soon. If the plant grows too large for the pot, you can size up, but don’t go too big—you don’t want excess soil that could hold too much moisture.
Once I finish separating the rest of the pups, I’ll pot the mother plant again. She’ll keep producing more pups, which I can continue to propagate for more flowers.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask below. It’s always exciting to see new flowers forming in the center of the bromeliads. Thank you for stopping by! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and hit the bell to be notified when new videos are released.
Bromeliad Care and Propagation FAQ
What should I do when my bromeliad stops blooming?
Once the mother plant stops blooming, she will no longer produce flowers. However, she will produce pups, which are baby plants that grow around her. These pups can be removed and replanted to grow into new flowering plants.
What are bromeliad pups?
Bromeliad pups are baby plants that form around the mother plant after it finishes blooming. They are exact clones of the mother plant and will eventually produce their own flowers (also known as bracts).
When should I separate the pups from the mother plant?
Wait until the pups are one-third to half the size of the mother plant before removing them. This will ensure they are strong enough to survive on their own and have the best chance of producing blooms.
How do I remove bromeliad pups?
Use a sharp, serrated knife to carefully cut the pups away from the mother plant. Be patient and cut as close to the mother as possible to get a good amount of the root system with each pup.
Do I need to use rooting hormone when propagating bromeliad pups?
Using rooting hormone is highly recommended, as it helps the pups establish roots more quickly. While you can propagate without it, the hormone increases your chances of success.
What kind of pot and soil should I use for bromeliad pups?
Use a pot that is just big enough for the pup, as bromeliads prefer tight quarters. The soil should have good drainage, so prepare a mix that includes pumice, compost, and a well-draining houseplant mix.
How should I care for bromeliad pups after replanting?
Keep the pups warm and slightly moist, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. You can mist the plant or water the soil, but be cautious of excess moisture.
How long will it take for bromeliad pups to bloom?
Once separated and repotted, bromeliad pups usually take about two to four months to bloom, though it could happen sooner in optimal conditions.
Can the mother bromeliad produce more pups?
Yes! After you separate the first set of pups, the mother bromeliad will continue to produce more. You can keep propagating her pups to enjoy more flowers.
Patreon: 
/ healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.
Espoma organic houseplant food: https://amzn.to/40U51xe
Full-spectrum Light Bulb-Large: https://amzn.to/3yR6VBu
Share to Social Media.