Brom pup stopped growing?

10 years ago

The mother is in the process of dying and the one pup it has seems to have quit growing. Any advice on why that is? Or is it a goner?

Thanks, Ronda

Featured Answer

splinter1804

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Rhonda - At this stage the pup is still drawing its nourishment from the old mother plant and sometimes there just isn't sufficient nourishment to sustain a growing pup and consequently growth slows down.

When a plant such as this is in flower, the inflorescence is drawing nourishment from the mother plant; add to this the developing pup which is also drawing food from the mother. Eventually there just isn't sufficient food to go around and pup growth slows down.

This draining of nourishment has to be replaced by the addition of some supplementary food such as fertilizer otherwise the rate of decline will increase and because the mother just can't provide sufficient food for a pup and the inflorescence something misses out (usually the pup).

I've found that many people just disregard the mothers when they get to this stage and just accept that they are naturally declining and will eventually die anyway.

The thing is, that with a pup to support, she doesn't have sufficient food to sustain herself, the inflorescence (flower spike) and the pup, so the first thing to do is cut off the dying inflorescence this will allow all of her remaining nourishment to be directed to the pup.

You can't just keep taking nourishment from the mother plant, it has to be replaced and the quickest way is by regular fortnightly foliar fertilizing at half strength which will help sustain her and offset the nourishment the pup is drawing from her.

Other things to look for when a pup suddenly stops growing are a sudden change in temperature which can sometimes confuse the plant and cause it to stop growing, however once the temperature returns to normal growth should start normally again.

Is the pup healthy? Sometimes a pup will rot for various reasons and initially there's no outward sign of trouble and the first you know is when the centre drops out of it; this can be caused by too much water or perhaps being wet and in a cold drafty environment. This is common when pots are stood in a saucer of water (a definite "no no") and the potting mix becomes waterlogged and the roots start to rot. In cases such as this, take the plant out of the pot and remove the water-logged potting mix and re-pot in a fresh new suitable potting mix.

Problems also occur when a plant is in an air-conditioned environment and situated in line with the duct from which the cold air is blowing.

Does the white container you have your plant standing in have holes in the bottom? If not, make sure that any water draining from the plant is emptied out regularly.

These are all possible explanations for the pup to stop growing, but sometimes this sort of thing just happens for no obvious reason.

All the best, Nev.

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Comments (8)

Ronda
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks. The container I have it setting in does not have holes. However, when I water it, I let it drain in the sink, take it out when it has stopped then I put it back in the container.

Also, I started giving it some plant food two watering a go. This is the first pup I've ever had on a brom before. So, I'll take your welcomed advise and bust my butt trying to jump start it.

It may be redundant, but you did say to cut the mother down or out, yes?
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splinter1804
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Rhonda - I didn't say to "cut the mother down or out", this would surely kill the pup as it would have no supply of nourishment and without roots is too young to fend for itself.

What I said was to cut off the old flower spike (the inflorescence is what it's called) just follow the stalk down as far as you can comfortably reach and cut it off.

All the best, Nev.
Ronda
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm glad you cleared that up for me. I'm going to be really mad if I end up losing this one. I guess it's trial and error, oh what a teacher it is. Anyway, we'll have to see how it goes. Thanks again for all your help.

Ronda
Photo Synthesis
10 years ago
Plants produce their own food via photosynthesis. Even tho we "feed" our plants fertilizers, this only provides them with the proper nutrients to manufacture their own food. And they can only achieve this with adequate sunlight. I would also recommend providing your plant with as much winter sunlight as possible. Winter sunlight is not as intense as sunlight is during the summer months. No amount of fertilizers can compensate for sunlight.

That being said, my bromeliad has three pups budding out from it at the moment. With the cooler weather and lower light levels, they haven't really progressed all that much. But when spring rolls around and the temps warm back up, they'll simply pick up where they left off, as tho they're making up for lost time.

With growing plants, patience is most definitely a virtue. Your plant looks healthy, so just keep doing what you're doing. Give it plenty of winter sunlight, to help it replenish its energy reserves. And when spring rolls around, it will grow with a vengeance from all of that stored up energy.
Ronda thanked Photo Synthesis
Ronda
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm new to broms and am happy that you said that it looks healthy. I think the location I have her in is perfect, plenty of winter sunlight. I'll definitely take your advice and patient. Thank you for the info. I now say, I've been educated again. Ha ha
mosasaur47
10 years ago
I'll comment that this is a Guzmania and I have found this genus to be fussier than any of the other common genera of bromeliads!
Ronda thanked mosasaur47
Ronda
Original Author
10 years ago
Great, lucky me. Just what I wanted to hear. Ha ha. Hope that didn't offend you. So far, all the advice I've received has educated me including yours. It's more than I knew before. Seriously, thanks for the tip. I hope it won't be too fussy.