Question:
For Mother’s Day, I received beautiful silver-gray foliage, pink flowering Bromeliad. It’s thriving and there are several new plants forming at the base. How would I go about transplanting these plants?Answer:
- Bromeliads are an ideal indoor flowering plant as they are in bloom for months.
- They reach maturity and stop producing new leaves when it's in bud and bloom. It is at this point that a healthy bromeliad produces offshoots from the base called pups. The main plant is often referred to as the mother plant.
- Once the pups reach about one-third the size of the mother plant, they're easily transplanted, and it’s pretty easy to do.
- First, cover your work area with a layer of newspaper. You then gently remove the mother plant from the container, exposing the area where the pups are joined. If necessary, remove any additional soil from the crown area, so you have a clear view of the base of both plants. The pups may or may not have their own root system.
- The pups should easily separate from the mother plant without the use of any tools. If they resist, give them a firm but gentle tug, or you can cut them off near the base of the mother plant with a sharp knife or use a pair of pruning shears.
- The pups are not replanted right away. Instead, place them in a dry location for a couple of days to allow the cuts to seal themselves. This is called callusing. The callusing prevents any soil-borne diseases from entering through the soft tissue wounds.
- The pups, one per six-inch pot, are centered in the new container using any commercial type of potting soil. You gently press the pre-moistened soil down around the base of the pup to keep them upright and don’t forget to add water to the center of the leaf whirl. Transplanting shock should not be a concern.
- You can transplant all the pups or just the most vigorous. The pups mature in less the nine months, flower and form their own pups. The mother plant is usually discarded after removing the pups as they very often naturally die.
Question:
I have several established rose bushes that I would like to give away. Is it possible to transplant mature roses? Also, can I replant new ones in these locations? I’ve been told that this was a no, no.Answer:
- A. Mature roses in the ground or in containers can be transplanted.
- The transplanting window is now through the middle of March. Old or new roses are very resilient, so there is a high success rate in moving them. If you prune them back first, the plants are easier to handle. Roses have a wide-spreading root system so do not be concerned when you slice through or leave some roots behind. Roses can be, and they survive beautifully.
- I’m not aware of any issues that would prevent you from planting new roses in the old location(s).