I still just have the "one" Neo hybrid, but it produced a couple of pups.  It is in a container, where it will remain, but I was wondering whether I should separate the pups or not, if so at what size/stage of development and how to do it.

I realize this is probably a fairly simple process, but I have never separated a plant from a parent before.

Please someone help us out here...... I too would like to know how to separate banana pups..... I have 3 on a HUGE 15ft mother plant

Sometimes I like to let the bromeliads clump as seen with this billbergia:

Others are at their best with a single or double:

Generally, the pup should be 1/3 to 2/3 the size of the mother plant.  Very small pups will not easily survive division.  After taking the plant out of the pot or ground, feel among the roots for the thick connecting stem-like part (that's a technical term).  Take your hand pruners and separate the two plants well below the very base of the plants.  The form of some plants makes this easier than others; not all have a lot of stem to work with.  If there are a lot of thick hairy roots in a solid mass, I go at it with a serrated knife to separate them, sawing the cake into wedges, if you will.  Some of the resulting wedge of massed roots can be trimmed and discarded. If you have a wet cut (into the base of the plant) because of the closeness of the two plants, let the plant stand in an empty pot for a week or so to allow the cut to dry out (but keep water in the cup) before potting in medium.  

I am certainly no expert, so perhaps someone with more experience can better describe the process, but it's really not brain surgery.  The worst mistakes are  cutting pups when they are too small, cutting off the base of the plant, or potting up too soon so they rot.

Excellent, Kim...... That was a very detailed description on how to do it... I'm gonna give it a shot.

My pups need to grow a little more yet, by the sound of it, but that was very helpful, although now I'm not sure whether or not I will let them clump.

Neo

If the pups have produced roots of their own then they are safe to remove. I preffer to break the pup off by hand as I have had fewer losses due to roting this way. All you do is grab the pup firmly towards the base and pull downwards.......good luck

Cheers

Dennis

One more thing Neo. Remove the pups...this will induce the mother plant to produce more. I only let plants clump when I have sufficient numbers already.

Neo

If the pups have produced roots of their own then they are safe to remove. I preffer to break the pup off by hand as I have had fewer losses due to roting this way. All you do is grab the pup firmly towards the base and pull downwards.......good luck

Cheers

Dennis

Dennis,

I was gonna try that but I figured it would snap off.

Only wish I had a real humid climate to give broms a real try perched in trees and even Spanish Moss would be fine.

I am restricted to Puya alpestris which seems very happy in raised gravel bed and flowers yearly. Cant grow most other Puyas as most are too large for a small garden.

One tip which most Brom growers probably are already aware of is that virtually all Broms are very floral responsive to Potash especially if they havnt yet flowered.

Regards

"Bilbo" as I had to log in as!

Jon

Coastal West Sussex, UK

I think I'll leave mine as a clump, unless I decide to start a Brom cottage industry type thing.  I certainly don't want all my space taken up by one species of Brom, when there are so many others that I like.

(Bilbo @ Aug. 23 2006,15:14)

QUOTE

Only wish I had a real humid climate to give broms a real try perched in trees and even Spanish Moss would be fine.

I am restricted to Puya alpestris which seems very happy in raised gravel bed and flowers yearly.

Jon, you might like to try Tillandsia bergeri.  It does seem fairly tolerant of dry air and I'm sure you could give it a splash of water every few days.  It must be one of the hardiest of the Tillandsia and can be a rewarding plant to grow.  

It doesn't produce many if any roots and simply requires being tied to a tree that can provide overhead protection from open skies in winter.  The underside or a large branch would be enough.  I've got one lashed to a Yucca trunk where it has gradually expanded over the past 4 or 5 years.  It was originally a single offset, but this year managed to produce 9 flower spikes.  

Depending upon how much frost you get, T. juncea grows and tolerates dryish air as well.  It's fine, scale-covered leaves soak up any morning dew and my plant never receives additional watering.

Cant grow most other Puyas as most are too large for a small garden.

Hmm. I agree - as spectacular as some of them are, many are big and quite lethal.  I just stick with alpestris 'cause I've no wish to leaf-razored in stereo!