Bromeliad "Pink Quill" - Do you know how to care for it?

[Schila]

I received a Bromeliad “Pink Quill” as a gift. It was part of a set of flowers that included a Phalaenopsis. The phal died and all that was left was the Pink Quill. I was not going to even care for it but then something in my mind told me to not let it die. I did a little bit of online research and decided to repot it from potting soil to orchid bark. Then a saw what is supposed to be the bloom and decided to cut it because it was not Pink like the name says, it was more like brown and it felt dry to the touch. The thing is that I don’t know if this “bloom” needs to be cut close to where it starts to grow or like 2” inches above the growing point.
Please see pictures and if you have one, how do you care for it.
The picture was taken before I cut the "pink" floweret????

[katrina]

The flowers will come out of the sides of the "quill". I'll see if I can find a pic of one of mine and post it. For now though...leave the bloom...it may still do something. I leave mine until they are dried and crispy and brown and then I cut or just break it off as close to the leaves as I can.

As for care...less toil than orchids. I have mine in lava rock. The roots don't really absorb anything...they are just there for gripping. They get most of their water and nutrients from the leaves and the "cup" in the center of the "crown" of the plant. I keep that cup filled w/water...flushing it out once a month or so. I never fertilize mine.

They like bright but indirect light. This one can take some direct morning sun but nothing in the afternoon.

Same temps as a phal would suit them but they can take it quite warm if they are kept wet ("cups" filled) enough.

If you can keep it happy it will make lots of babies (around the edges) called pups (I believe) and you will eventually have a ton of them.

Bromeliads and tillandsia (air plants) are in the same family....all Bromeliads. I only have a couple of bromeliads these days...they were taking over my house. I still have quite a few tillandsia...and most of my friends and family have babies. I am constantly giving these things away.

Oh yeah, some people say only "pure" water...meaning no tap water BUT I only use tap and all of mine are happy as happy can be.

Good luck w/it!

[katrina]

I found pics!

See how the flower emerges from the side? This is a red w/yellow/green flowers...very cool!

[Schila]

Originally Posted by katrina

I leave mine until they are dried and crispy and brown and then I cut or just break it off as close to the leaves as I can !

That is how mine was: brown, dry and crispy. I didn't cut it down to the leaves, but will do it as you say.

As for care...less toil than orchids. I have mine in lava rock. The roots don't really absorb anything...they are just there for gripping. They get most of their water and nutrients from the leaves and the "cup" in the center of the "crown" of the plant. I keep that cup filled w/water...flushing it out once a month or so. I never fertilize mine.

I repot it mine to orchid bark. Like you say, I fill the cut with water and mist it all over everyday.

If you can keep it happy it will make lots of babies (around the edges) called pups (I believe) and you will eventually have a ton of them

I will cross my finger. Haven't seen any "pups" yet.

I still have quite a few tillandsia...and most of my friends and family have babies. I am constantly giving these things away.

What do you mean by the babies? How do you cut the babies and give them away???

[koshki]

Schila, thanks for posting this, and to Katrina for your helpful advice.

I've been plantsitting an in-bloom bromeliad for my best friend who got it in August from her mother's funeral. I haven't really known what to do for it...I'll just go fill that cup now!

[Schila]

Originally Posted by koshki

Schila, thanks for posting this, and to Katrina for your helpful advice.

I've been plantsitting an in-bloom bromeliad for my best friend who got it in August from her mother's funeral. I haven't really known what to do for it...I'll just go fill that cup now!

Koshki, what is the media (soil) on yours? Is it soil or bark?

[koshki]

I think it's just plain old soil. To be honest, I didn't think I'd have it so long as to need to check that out. Guess I need to give my girlfriend a call...!

[katrina]

The pups/babies (or whatever they are called) are easily removed w/a little twist and tug. They pop off pretty easy really. You'll always lose a few of the outer leaves when you do it so I try to wait until they have a decent amount of size on them.

Bark will be fine. I don't know about potting mix though...I've never seen them planted in that.

These type of plants take about 2yrs (or more) to get to bloom size. They bloom only once per growth. After blooming they can last quite awhile but you'll never see another bloom on that one plant. The babies that come on will be your future blooms. You could think paph when it comes to the growth and flowering habit.

[pikkumyy]

ooh, i have one of these too, except i think mine is a tilandsia pink quill
and yes to my knowledge the babies are called pups.

and about the pottting mix, i have a heap of these and i ran out of potting mix so i put them in red clay/red dirt...... yeh im going to be repotting this weekend, i have a heap in the garden and they are in the bark mulch layed and are pupping like mad. i just try keep the crowns full of water, and at the moment mine gets sun for most of the day, because the tree that it is sitting under lost all of its leaves for winter, so it my pink quill has gone a very cool red colour, and im talking about the 'leaves' also what ive discovered is that, it is the sun that gives them the colouring, because the side of the 'quills' that are facing the sun are pink, but the other sides are green

i dont really have a definite care guide, but i just give it light, to what extent i can't really say..... just when/where it is happy (i know, that was soo unhelpful ), and i just try keep the crowns full of water. good luck

[lmartiny]

Where we are we put them in the ground, so they are in dirt. Most if not all will die off where there has been a bloom and they put out pups and continue to proliferate. I would cut off dead parts and repot new pups if you are growing in a pot. They do like their "cups" filled with water. Here, we also call them skeeter breeders. (standing water)

[bearded orchid]

I've never grown one myself, but I've seen them quite often throughout my local shopping mall. They always have them planted up in giant ceramic pots with palm trees and antheriums (sp?) They are always in potting mix from what I've seen. I didn't know about the cups! I always just thought they were neglected and would get crown rot for sure, haha.