Oh, what nice responses! (and Hi back atchya, Hoop!)
Dianna and Bill were right, it's an Aechmea fasciata of the Rio bromeliads. And Will, your information is priceless, as when I went to look up further information, I found lots of conflicting advice about keeping the cups full. Looks like my friends kept the cups watered, I can see it down there. But I'll take your advice and water the soil, instead.
What I have here is a 12-in. pot with four
plants in it, one of which has the spiky pink
flower head with the purply buds which stands almost two feet from the rim of the pot, or would if it wasn't leaning to one side. I have just watered the soil, maybe that will help it stand a little better? Or should I try to support the
flower head?
Do you think it's okay for me to go ahead and seperate the individual
plants and re-pot them in smaller pots? It's going to take gauntlets to avoid being scratched by those serrated edges, but I'll do it. Is it safe to mess with the blooming one, or will I be risking the
flower?
Also, we're expecting lower temperatures this weekend, perhaps dipping into the low fifties (F) at night. Should I take it in off the porch?