I rescued her from the trash --- the roots were very wet and rotting. I took her home and I put her in dry soil. Do you think she will make it? What should I do next if anything.

Here's a photo of her:

I think it's a Vriesea and since she is blooming she is on her last phase of life anyway; unless you have pups I would just enjoy it for the time being.

Thanks, Hetty, didn't know they die after flowering...learned something new
How long before the pups appear?

The pups usually start showing while they bloom. Keep an eye out underneath.

If you got pups then you have a future wih the babies/ if you dont... better toss it.

I grow hundreds of bromeliads, and it is simply impossible to know if/when pups will form. I have had small plants grow pups, long before blooming, and have seen plants grow pups long after blooming ended. There is just no way to know. For me at least, if a plant has finished blooming, and has gotten noticeably dry and withered, and if there is no pup, I will toss her.

Does anyone have a picture of pups so when I check I will know what to look for. Bought my first one it had one purple bloom. That died then I got 2 more now one bloom is left, does each point bloom a flower them if no pups the plant dies. Since I am new to this plant help would be appricated . Thanks

MsPalm

Welcome, MsPalm.

This is a different bromeliad but you see one and then two beginning pups and one pup that has just been separated from its "mother" plant and mount.

MsPalm that one's actually a Tillandsia, same family, different species as the one Ken showed. I have that same one, and it puts up multiple blooms from one crown, not like other broms that only bloom once, then make pups and are done. Mine is on its third year, finished blooming about a month ago and no sign of pups.

I have a scarlet star with three pups currently. Here are what two of mine look like.

I listened to a seminar on bromeliads once; and was so surprised to hear the lady tell us that she gets beautiful blooms on her bromeliads by forcing them and she does this by gently poking a stick into the center of the plant. She said this forced it to produce a great bloom. Has anyone tried this ?

Look, there's a pup! Hurray!

Elfie, I'm constantly shoving bamboo stakes in my bromeliads to chase out the invasive Cuban Tree Frogs so I can kill them. If that worked, ALL my bromeliads would be blooming. Never heard that one before. The only thing I've ever heard about forcing a bromeliad is the apple trick. Here's a good explanation and tutorial: http://www.bromeliads.info/for...

Yep, the apple-trick is the only way I have heard to force them. I am sure that the large commercial growers have a way to force them (maybe they "gas" them ).

MsPalm said:Does anyone have a picture of pups so when I check I will know what to look for. Bought my first one it had one purple bloom. That died then I got 2 more now one bloom is left, does each point bloom a flower them if no pups the plant dies. Since I am new to this plant help would be appricated . Thanks

Mine wad identical color and bloom. I don't keep mine in dirt. it's a round glass bowl. I water the middle out rinse out the glass every so often. My flower turned green and is still firmly attached. I have a big pup growing from inside. 5 small ones around the plant and 3 in the little cup in front I already pulled off. I frequently pull off bottom leaves.

Not only is this a novel way to grow them (in glass) but is a great way to show off the pups and watch those pups grow.

Need to try that want to pick up another one. When the plant is done flowing does it die, if so will the green spike leaves live on. The leaves are quite pretty just wondering. My flower is getting pale from a vibrant pink at the start with each bloom it is getting lighter and lighter almost white
:

Yes, bromeliads will only flower once and then begin to die. It could take quite a long time to die though. I have had some that took well over 6 mo. The pups are what you want to see, since those will grow to "adult-size" and flower. I have seen pups form months before flowering, during flowering, and months after flowering. That's why you should leave that post-flowering plant alone so that it has time to form a pup(s). When the leaves begin to brown, typically from the bottom leaves up, you can remove them just for esthetic purposes.