I face many quandaries when gardening. Many involve recalling the name of the plant. I finally remembered the one above is an Aechmea aquilega bromeliad, then I looked it up online and found several photos and only one looked like this? And what are the black things on the tips of the flowers- seeds? Rarely I will get a new bromeliad from seeds, but it takes forever.
These are called grass pups, they are from an Alcantarea bromeliad, as far as I know the only genus that makes grass pups. After putting them in a pot together I read they hate this and should be separated – I am thinking not since they are just starting to do well. I am not sure which Alcantarea these are, either.
Another tropical dilemma. This is a Leafless Bird of Paradise, a very interesting plant. This one is perpetually plagued with scale. I am thinking of cutting all the foliage off and letting it start over. I did this with a nearby Coontie, similarly plagued and it is much improved.
The Coontie and my big toe. Coontie (Zamia integrifolia) is a cycad native to Florida. The very poisonous roots are a source of arrowroot flour and were nearly harvested to extinction. The scale is gone.
Several blog friends asked for an update on the decapitated Papaya tree. It produced a few weak flowers and then passed on. The trunk is nearly loose enough for me to pull out.
Here is the Papaya last June, probably a month after decapitation. This is a practice endorsed by Floridians, supposedly reinvigorating the plant to produce more fruit. It seemed like a bad idea at the time.
Another thing to wonder about. What is happening here? A two headed pineapple?
There! My Six Quandaries for this Saturday. To see more posts, visit http://www.thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com.
Happy Gardening. I’ll just be in the garden, wandering and wondering.
The Shrub Queen 
You certainly have problems we don’t encounter here!! Goo Luck with your gardening.
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I like that two-headed pineapple. I find there can be a lot of mysteries in gardening.
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It’s a fun thing.. waiting to see what happens. Yes, lots of mysteries.
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That bird of Paradise is an odd one. I have not seen many. Their familiar flowers from such unfamiliar foliage makes them seem even weirder than they are.
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It is odd. There’s an enormous one down the street When I first saw it I thought someone was sticking fake flowers on it.
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That is exactly what it looks like!
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I know, it is weird.
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Seriously, it is all a mystery to me. All I know is that when it works it works and when it doesn’t it doesn’t. Does that help at all? Have a great week 🙂
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Same here.. it’s like baking bread.. thanks. Happy Sunday 😊
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And the same to you 🙂
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You are growing some truly amazing things! This pineapple with 2 heads (one more and it would have been a pineapple-cerberus 😂) or this decapitated papaya tree. I remember well when you cut it last year.
Mine are starting up again slowly and really enjoy the high heat of these days.
It’s a pity that it doesn’t last very long for exotics but the other plants in the garden are not used to that heat and suffer a lot from these high temperatures ….so rain and mild weather are welcome tomorrow.
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Thanks Fred. Maybe I will get another pineapple! Cerberus in the garden. Hopefully rain tomorrow 🤞
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Your grass pups might hate their treatment, but they seem to be doing really well.
It isn’t easy these days to find someone who smokes, but if you soak cigarette buts in water and then water the plant with it, perhaps that might help with scale. It works with mealie bugs, also sucking insects.
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Thanks, Jane. I remember my grandfather using nicotine spray. A neighbor smokes so I will give it a try..
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The pineapple is exciting and Jane’s mealy bug advice sounds interesting.
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Yes! I have a neighbor who smokes.
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