How to Divide a Pineapple Bromeliad

A pineapple bromeliad is, quite simply a pineapple plant. Like the flowers of other types of bromeliads, the pineapple grows on a single stem surrounded by a whorl of leaves.Eventually, a healthy plant will develop offshoots commonly known as pups. It is these pups that can be cut away from the primary plant to propagate new plants. After one pineapple has formed and matured, the plant will never again produce another. It is, instead, from a pup that the next fruit will emerge and grow.

Although to divide many species of plants, it is necessary to dig up and expose the root ball, the presence of these secondary plants, or pups, in bromeliads means that it is not always necessary to disturb the entire plant to divide and propagate new plants.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knife
• Sharp gardening trowel

Dividing Offshoots from a Pineapple Bromeliad

1. Watch for the formation of pups next to your pineapple bromeliad. These can be distinguished from the main plant by the fact that the leaves of the main plant will always directly surround the single central stem of the plant. Any leaves on the periphery of the plant forming their own whorl are offshoots or pups.

2. Wait until the pups are about the size of a mature pineapple top before separating or dividing them from the main plant.

3. Use a knife or a short gardening trowel to dig into the soil between the pup and the main plant to sever entangled roots of both plants.

4. Be careful to disturb the main plant as little as possible while you lift out the pup.

5. Refill the space left by the pup and tamp the soil around the main plant. It will continue to produce new offshoots

6. Plant the divided pup in good soil and water thoroughly.

References

• Bromeliad Fact Sheet
• Bromeliad, Pups and Offshoots