(by Bob Reilly)
Photo: Neoregellia 'Sheba'
Occasionally, variegated bromeliads (and much more rarely, non-variegated ones), produce a pup without any chlorophyll in its leaves. The leaves of these pups are usually completely white. This is a form of albinism.
Because their leaves lack chlorophyll, and thus cannot produce the sugars or “food” the plant needs, such pups will ultimately die if detached from the mother plant. So, if you wish to enjoy them, leave them attached to the mother plant and they may survive for several years. As the photograph on p.yy of Neoregelia ‘Bossa Nova’ shows, these pups can be quite attractive.
If you do not wish to keep the albino pup, then remove it as soon as possible, as it “drains” the mother plant’s resources, and reduces the number of pups it will produce.
Some pups have a few leaves which are not entirely white. Depending upon the amount of chlorophyll they have, such pups may be able to be detached, and produce a mature plant. However, they will probably need careful attention as they are usually much “weaker” then normal plants. Unfortunately, the extra stress associated with flowering often kills these plants before any worthwhile pups are produced.