Comments on: How To Care For A Bromeliad http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad the official Flower Shop Network blog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:51:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jamie Jamison Adams http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10229 Jamie Jamison Adams Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:54:47 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10229 Michelle, You can separate the "pup" from the mother plant. According to The Bromeliad Society International "Bromeliads start forming pups after they bloom (and many times before). These pups are ready to be separated when they reach about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the parent plant. If the pup is starting to form roots, that's a good indication that the plant can survive on its own. Pups may be removed by cutting with a sharp knife or clippers as close to the mother plant as possible." If you need more information about separating the "pup" check read the rest of the information on the <a href="http://www.bsi.org/" target="_blank" title="Find Information on Bromeliads" rel="nofollow">Bromeliad Society International site</a> and go to their FAQ section. Good luck and keep me posted. Michelle,

You can separate the “pup” from the mother plant.

According to The Bromeliad Society International “Bromeliads start forming pups after they bloom (and many times before). These pups are ready to be separated when they reach about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the parent plant. If the pup is starting to form roots, that’s a good indication that the plant can survive on its own. Pups may be removed by cutting with a sharp knife or clippers as close to the mother plant as possible.”

If you need more information about separating the “pup” check read the rest of the information on the Bromeliad Society International site and go to their FAQ section. Good luck and keep me posted.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10227 Michelle Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:27:57 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10227 Dear Jamie, Thanks so much for your advice! I moved the plant away from the window and trimmed the most damaged leaves off the plant. (Trimming all the leaves with some brown on them would've meant trimming off all the leaves!) Then, today, as I was watering it, I noticed a tiny baby plant at the base. The main plant still looks very sickly, and seems to be yellowing from the top down. Is there a way to save the baby plant, because I think the mother is a lost cause...? Yours, Michelle Dear Jamie,

Thanks so much for your advice! I moved the plant away from the window and trimmed the most damaged leaves off the plant. (Trimming all the leaves with some brown on them would’ve meant trimming off all the leaves!) Then, today, as I was watering it, I noticed a tiny baby plant at the base. The main plant still looks very sickly, and seems to be yellowing from the top down. Is there a way to save the baby plant, because I think the mother is a lost cause…?

Yours,
Michelle

]]> By: Jamie Jamison Adams http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10093 Jamie Jamison Adams Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:49:33 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10093 Michelle, Once the leaves turn brown they will not recover, so trim all the brown off the plant. Now as to why they became brown in the first place. If the bromeliad is to close to the window, the glass might be acting as a magnifier and may be scorching the leaves. Move the plant slightly away from the window. You should water the bromeliad only when the soil feels dry to the touch. When you do water saturate the soil completely. You will know that it is completely saturated when some water trickles from the bottom. Once a plant becomes stress it takes a little while for it to recover. So be patient and watch your leaves. Once you cut the brown off and you keep your soil moist but not soggy, the leaves should not turn brown. If this still occurs move the plant farther away from the window. Good Luck and keep me posted. Michelle,

Once the leaves turn brown they will not recover, so trim all the brown off the plant. Now as to why they became brown in the first place. If the bromeliad is to close to the window, the glass might be acting as a magnifier and may be scorching the leaves. Move the plant slightly away from the window. You should water the bromeliad only when the soil feels dry to the touch. When you do water saturate the soil completely. You will know that it is completely saturated when some water trickles from the bottom. Once a plant becomes stress it takes a little while for it to recover. So be patient and watch your leaves. Once you cut the brown off and you keep your soil moist but not soggy, the leaves should not turn brown. If this still occurs move the plant farther away from the window. Good Luck and keep me posted.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10090 Michelle Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:29:32 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-10090 Hi. I bought a bromeliad about two months ago from a local greenhouse. They told me to water it 3-4 times a week and I've been doing that faithfully. I keep it on a windowsill with southern exposure, so it gets plenty of sunlight, and the temperature in the room stays at about 70F or so all the time. However, the tips of the leaves are brown and crunchy, one leaf is brown all the way through (I'm very tempted to just remove that leaf from the plant), and there is similar damage lower on the leaves (in other words, not just on the tips). Before, I was noticing some white powder on the leaves as well. My friend, who works in the greenhouse where I bought it, told me they had been having some problems with mealybug infestation, so I bought a combination fungicide-miticide-insecticide spray (thought I'd cover all the bases) and have been spraying it down every Monday for three weeks now. The white powder is gone (perhaps that was a fungus?) but the leaves are still very crunchy. Should I be watering it more than 3-4 times a week? Is it too much sunlight that's causing the damage? Or maybe I'm just expecting it to get better too quickly and I should relax and wait a few more weeks. It just tears me up that it's so unhealthy. What am I doing wrong? I'd be really sad if I couldn't save it. I'll be very grateful for any advice you could give me! Thanks! Hi. I bought a bromeliad about two months ago from a local greenhouse. They told me to water it 3-4 times a week and I’ve been doing that faithfully. I keep it on a windowsill with southern exposure, so it gets plenty of sunlight, and the temperature in the room stays at about 70F or so all the time. However, the tips of the leaves are brown and crunchy, one leaf is brown all the way through (I’m very tempted to just remove that leaf from the plant), and there is similar damage lower on the leaves (in other words, not just on the tips). Before, I was noticing some white powder on the leaves as well. My friend, who works in the greenhouse where I bought it, told me they had been having some problems with mealybug infestation, so I bought a combination fungicide-miticide-insecticide spray (thought I’d cover all the bases) and have been spraying it down every Monday for three weeks now. The white powder is gone (perhaps that was a fungus?) but the leaves are still very crunchy. Should I be watering it more than 3-4 times a week? Is it too much sunlight that’s causing the damage? Or maybe I’m just expecting it to get better too quickly and I should relax and wait a few more weeks. It just tears me up that it’s so unhealthy. What am I doing wrong? I’d be really sad if I couldn’t save it. I’ll be very grateful for any advice you could give me! Thanks!

]]> By: Melissa http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9322 Melissa Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:22:20 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9322 Thanks, Jamie. Thanks, Jamie.

]]> By: Jamie Jamison Adams http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9301 Jamie Jamison Adams Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:02:17 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9301 Melissa, You can try to cut the bloom off and save the plant but it looks really damaged. Keep the soil moist and not soggy hopefully the plant will recover. However it probably won't look good. The best that you can hope for is that babies will form and you can harvest them to create new plants. Sorry. Melissa,

You can try to cut the bloom off and save the plant but it looks really damaged. Keep the soil moist and not soggy hopefully the plant will recover. However it probably won’t look good. The best that you can hope for is that babies will form and you can harvest them to create new plants.
Sorry.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9299 Melissa Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:38:22 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9299 Hi, I received a bromeliad plant as a gift. It was beautiful I went out of town and my husband didn't water it for about 3 1/2 weeks. When I got back the red at the top had turned brown and some of the leaves are turning brown also. Should I cut off the top? I took a few pictures, but I'm not sure I can attach more than one. Thank you so much for your time and help.<p><a href="/blog/wp-content/uploads/c-9299/100_7843.jpg"><img style="padding: 0" src="/blog/wp-content/themes/icon_attachment.gif">Attached Image: 100_7843.jpg</a></p> Hi, I received a bromeliad plant as a gift. It was beautiful I went out of town and my husband didn’t water it for about 3 1/2 weeks. When I got back the red at the top had turned brown and some of the leaves are turning brown also. Should I cut off the top? I took a few pictures, but I’m not sure I can attach more than one. Thank you so much for your time and help.

Attached Image: 100_7843.jpg

]]> By: Jamie Jamison Adams http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9141 Jamie Jamison Adams Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:52:40 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9141 Debbie, Your plant looks healthy but the bloom is in its natural state of decline. All blooms have a life cycle . In this particular one the color will fade but the bloom will hang on for quite a while. Keep doing what you are doing to maintain the health of the plant. You can however dead-head the bloom to encourage it t produce another one. Simply follow the bloom stem to the base of the plant and cut it off. Good luck and keep me posted. Debbie,

Your plant looks healthy but the bloom is in its natural state of decline. All blooms have a life cycle . In this particular one the color will fade but the bloom will hang on for quite a while. Keep doing what you are doing to maintain the health of the plant. You can however dead-head the bloom to encourage it t produce another one. Simply follow the bloom stem to the base of the plant and cut it off. Good luck and keep me posted.

]]> By: Debbie Michelson http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9139 Debbie Michelson Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:23:15 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-9139 I bought a pink spear/flower (?) bromeliad a few months ago and have kept the soil decently moist and in medium-bright light. The plant gave us a small purple flower off the spear a month or so ago, but otherwise has not opened and the spear has faded to green. It otherwise seems healthy. What am I doing wrong and/or need to do differently to get the color back and main flower to bloom?<p><a href="/blog/wp-content/uploads/c-9139/plant1.jpg"><img style="padding: 0" src="/blog/wp-content/themes/icon_attachment.gif">Attached Image: plant1.jpg</a></p> I bought a pink spear/flower (?) bromeliad a few months ago and have kept the soil decently moist and in medium-bright light. The plant gave us a small purple flower off the spear a month or so ago, but otherwise has not opened and the spear has faded to green. It otherwise seems healthy. What am I doing wrong and/or need to do differently to get the color back and main flower to bloom?

Attached Image: plant1.jpg

]]> By: Jamie Jamison Adams http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-2898 Jamie Jamison Adams Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:51:09 +0000 http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/how-to-care-for-a-bromeliad#comment-2898 Marijane, Always cut the flower stalk out completely. When the plant delvelops pups it is best to remove them and pot them in their own pot. Make sure during the watering process that the soil is moist but not soggy. Don't leave water in the cups of the plant. I would repot the main plant and any pups into individual pots with a peat based potting soil. good luck Marijane,

Always cut the flower stalk out completely. When the plant delvelops pups it is best to remove them and pot them in their own pot. Make sure during the watering process that the soil is moist but not soggy. Don’t leave water in the cups of the plant. I would repot the main plant and any pups into individual pots with a peat based potting soil. good luck

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