First time Tillandsia cyanea owner and need help

21 years ago

I got a T.cynanea for xmas and at the time, the bract was pink and flowering. I took of the dead flowers and then went away for 3 weeks giving it lots of water. Im back now and the bract has lost its colour and started to go green even though it is till flowering. Didnt I give it enough water? The bract also has brown patches even when it was still pink. do I cut the bract off? I read somewhere that my plant will dye but pups will come through to replace it. Is this true? Do I hav to repot the pups seperatly? How much water a week should I give my plant? If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Featured Answer

fresh_tendril

21 years ago

Hi Elk,

The bracts turning color is natural. No need to worry. This was recently discussed in this thread:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bromeliad/msg0114505819901.html?2

Was your plant completely dry when you returned?
Lack of or excessive watering as far as i know shouldn't cause the flower bracts to turn green, unless maybe it is stressed from absolutely no water. Or maybe you have the plant in very high light. That may make it green and hot temps would brown the edges. Just move it into a shadier but still bright spot and that may preserve the pinkish color somewhat. But it will eventually turn green anyway. With watering, I would wait until the leaves are clear of water and then fill them again with water. On mine that's about once/week. During periods of fast growth and hot temperatures that may be 2-3 times per week. This probably sounds tricky, but don't have it wading in water, as well as try to keep it from drying out either. They are pretty durable so you shouldn't have to worry.

Yes, when Tillandsias (and all bromeliads) finish flowering the mother is finished growing and will bloom no more. But soon it sends out small pups which will eventually mature. You can split them off with a sharp knife, but I would wait until the pups are large enough before you separate them from mommy. On mine I like the clumped look so I just leave them be. A colony of T.cyanea in bloom is breathtaking.
Hope this helps.

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Comments (10)

Dark_Elk
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanx a lot Fresh. Though I havnt seen any pups yet hopefully they will come. Should I cut the bract off once it has finished flowering? Does the mother plant die altogether or does it still live and grow leaves? Once I have pups, would I need to repot all the plants into a bigger pot as the one my plant is in now is not huge? This is (obviously) my first bromeliad and they are quite different from some of the native plants we have here in NZ.
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madabouteu
21 years ago
Cut the bract off once it has faded. The mother plant no longer has the ability to grow new leaves, and will eventually die. You do not really need to repot; with Tillandsias, the roots are essentially only anchors so only a small pot is needed.
Dark_Elk
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanx a lot. are the pups just shoots and where do i find them?
fresh_tendril
21 years ago
Yeah, the pups are new shoots. Usually the pups sprout up between some of the basal leaf blades and you see some short, tiny leaves forming a new rosette between a widening gap between the mother's blades. You could have multiple pups around different parts of the mother, or only one, its hard to say. You may not see them now, but hopefully they will appear when they are ready in the next few months.
bingojesus
18 years ago
I have had a T.cyanea for 5-6 months now and the bract as lost its pink colour it turned green and now it turning brown at the top. which i no happens when the mother plant is dying i have two new pups growing at the base and just wanted to no were do i cut the old dying bract off which i have been told to do and when do i do this when the the plant is all brown or green.
Ana Sy
7 years ago
Hello,

Am with my first plant that I bought because of its it's nice pink color. you fortunately it turnturned green just after a week. This thread has been most helpful to tell me at least that my plant is not dying. Can we continue on what to do now please?
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
7 years ago
Best to start a new thread and include pictures, how you care for it, and where on the planet it is growing..

tj
Ana Sy
7 years ago
hello,

can someone start a new thread hopefully with photos please? Not sure where the bract is in a caput medusae :( and when to cut off the one of the T.cyanea
splinter1804
7 years ago
Hi everyone - I just thought I'd mention while we are discussing Tillandsia cyanea, it has had a name change and is now Wallisia cyanea

All the best, Nev.