With its magnificent ornamental leaves and colorful flowers, the bromeliad makes a passionate plea not to limit it to a one-time appearance as a houseplant. Good to know that the tropical beauty fulfills the desire for uncomplicated propagation with ready-made offshoots. This green guide explains how to properly care for baby bromeliads for offspring.

Adult bromeliads form children

Dying mother plant gives birth to daughter plants

The floral swan song after their one-off flowering period is characteristic of the fascinating bromlia species. As the mother plant wilts, she puts all her effort into growing offshoots as daughter plants. We owe this strategy ready-made mini bromeliads. In order for the children to turn into magnificent adult ornamental plants, it is important to separate them at the right time and to take care of them professionally. How to do it right:

  • Place a faded bromeliad in a bright, warm location
  • Do not remove the withered inflorescence
  • Continue the previous care program with watering and fertilizing
  • Include all side rungs at the base in the care

A daughter plant is only prepared for an independent existence when it has a rosette of leaves and its own roots. Furthermore, it should have exceeded a growth height of 10 cm. Ideally, a child has reached half the height of the mother plant by the time of separation.

Properly separate and care for daughter plants - this is how it works

Once the mini bromeliad has met the requirements for an independent plant life, separate it from the mother plant with a sharp, disinfected knife. After the cut surface has dried slightly, pot the daughter plant as follows:

  • Fill a medium-sized growing pot with expanded clay drainage (€19.73) and acidic bromeliad soil
  • Plant the rosette up to the lower leaf crown
  • Press and water the substrate
  • Fill the small cistern with soft, room-warm water

The focus of care during the first few weeks after separation is high humidity. Therefore, put a transparent plastic bag over the breeding pot, with two wooden sticks as spacers to prevent direct contact with the small bromeliad. Keep the substrate slightly moist and regularly top up the water level in the funnel (€4.85). Add a liquid bromeliad fertilizer to every fourth watering. When new leaves sprout, the hood has done its job.

tips

The propagation of bromeliads by sowing is proving to be complicated and time-consuming. The seeds can only be germinated under constant conditions in a partially shaded location with 28 to 30 degrees Celsius and a humidity of more than 80 percent. A long line of patience of 5 years and more is required until the hoped-for flower rises above the leaves.

Category:

Vegetable garden