How to prune tillandsia polystachia

Any time for dead tips; after flowering for spike removal. Trim brown leaf tips diagonally with clean scissors. Once the mother plant has finished flowering, cut or gently pull away the dried bloom spike. Separate pups when they reach about half the mother's size.

Rarely — cosmetic trimming only; remove spent flower spike once after bloom. Tillandsia polystachia is an air plant that needs almost no pruning. Simply remove dead or brown leaf tips by trimming with clean scissors, cutting at an angle to maintain a natural look. After the plant flowers and begins to decline, remove the spent bloom spike. Focus on the pups that will replace the mother.

Trim brown leaf tips diagonally with clean scissors. Once the mother plant has finished flowering, cut or gently pull away the dried bloom spike. Separate pups when they reach about half the mother's size.