HELP! what is this plant?
 

Hello all. I'm casey and new to the OB, I have this really pretty plant that i bought at a yard sale. It was on my windowsill and the kitty knocked it off. Has a little damage, but not hard to care for. i love it and need a name for it.

Looks like a bromeliad.

Yup, I do believe it's some sort of brom. As long as the soil is fast-draining, you should be all set. And it looks as though you've got a pup growing off the mama plant! A general rule is once it's about 1/3 the size of the mother plant, you can cut it off & repot it. My experience with broms has been limited to growing neoregelias in vivariums, so I'm not too sure about potted culture, but good luck!

ty, i did not know that! just cut it off and replant it then, or does it need to be rooted 1st?

I don't think that is a Bromeliad. To me it looks more like a Dracaena massangeana, or something like that. The way it seems to have a stem, and the way the leaves broaden as they go farther away from the plant, and the leaves seem more succulent/fragile than most Bromeliads.

If it is indeed a bromeliad, http://www.bromeliads.info/archives/beginners-guide-bromeliad-pups is a good guide to dealing with pups. However, I'd suggest you get an I.D. from someone more knowledgeable than I. Good luck. :)

I have this plant as well, it is not a bromeliad, though nobody seems to be able to tell me what it is; to me it most resembles something from the Tradescentia family, both in growth and in leaf composition...I've not yet had mine flower, but I figure that I'll know more when that happens. Good luck with yours and welcome to the board,
Adam

After pulling out my plant and doing a bit of googling, I think mine and yours are most likely Tradescantia spathacea. Commonly called oyster plant.

I have one as well, and have been unable to identify. Pup/Keiki/given to me by a horticulture student 4 months ago, main plant is now 10"-12" tall, and has 8-10 babies on 2' offshoots. I was told the inflorescence comes from the base of the plant as a spike of white flowers, however, mine appears to be more interested in reproducing at this time. I am concerned this unidentified species may be invasive, to say the least. I haven't seen any dracaena or bromeliads that reproduce this way, however, I do know this plant is virtually indestructible, and is taking over! I too would like to know the name of this plant.

yes, mine too is reproducing, since the picture was taken last week, i now have 2 more shoot coming off of it, very pretty and i love it, just wish i knew what it was!