I'm not trying to be mean, or overly critical of inexperienced growers, but....You see this often in inexperienced orchid and bromeliad growers. I often wonder just who it is that goes around in the worlds jungles and swamps, cleaning out all those messy plants? Bromeliads have that cup shaped growth habit for a reason, and that reason is to capture and retain water so a great number of amphibians, bugs, slime, and bacteria can live and poop in the captured water and supply the plant with food. In bromeliads, the roots function as much, or more as support mechanisms, than food gathering. Now, I'm not saying you should allow the cups of your bromeliads to become filthy havens for various insects and animals in your home, but you also should keep in mind that the water collects in the cup for a reason, and a weak solution of a water soluble fertilizer should be kept in the cup and exchanged occasionally. Refer back to kniphopia's post, it is spot on. In the bromeliad world, after blooming, mama B usually produces one to four pups around her lower stem, and then she dies. That's life in the bromeliad world. I wonder if perhaps someone unknowingly harvested the pups from your plant before they offered it at the club? I would suggest finding a bromeliad at a plant store, (mark down table is fine) or from a local hobby grower, and start over with a healthy plant. If the plant is in bloom, or past blooming, with pups starting at the base, that's fine, when they get large enough to have roots, remove them, and discard mama. Don't let this experience discourage you, bromeliads really are fun, and easy to handle in a home environment. Learn as you go. Bill
