Bromeliads flower only once. Their brightly colored flowers are mostly “bracts” or modified leaves. Small flowers are nestled within these attractive bracts. Once a bromeliad has flowered it no longer produces new leaves. The colorful bracts (flowers) may last 3 or more months and are cut off once it looks unsightly. Several months later, new young plants, called offshoots or “pups”, form at the base of the mother plant.

The mother plant will form one or several pups at the base. When each pup grows and is big enough, generally 3-5 inches wide, carefully cut off each one with clean razor sharp utility knife or pruners. Plant eachin a separate pot. The pup may require support until few roots have formed. Within 4-6 weeks pups should become better anchored and form the central cup or basin characteristic to bromeliads.

Individual pups may take 2 years or more to reach flowering stage.
In a home environment a young bromeliad may be artificially forced to flower by exposure to natural ethylene gas. An apple or banana gives off ethylene gas as it decomposes. Make certain that the bromeliad’s central cup is dry before starting. The forcing procedure is quite simple: place the plant inside a transparent, airtight plastic bag with a ripe apple for nearly 10 days. Depending on the type of bromeliad you are growing, flowering will be initiated within 6-12 weeks.