It was totally green when I went on vacation. I watered it heavily beforehand knowing I would be away a couple weeks. Got back and boom, ready to eat! Not sure if it was because the soil got a bit dry. Smells very good.
Historywise, the bud started to emerge in June 2025. The plant was about 1.5 or so years old.
In terms of starting them, it’s been hit and miss. This is the 3rd time I’ve tried and the first time I’ve succeeded at getting a top to root. I recall I trimmed away more flesh and peeled more leaves off the bottom than I had done before, and I think I was much more patient when it was in water to wait for roots to emerge.
My understanding is they like well draining soil and don’t like it too wet. I watered it about once a week with about 6 oz water – watering the plant itself so the water is primarily trapped in the bottom of the leaves and maybe the soil gets an incidental light sprinkle – and a bromeliad fertilizer every other week. It was outdoors during the summer but once it dropped into the mid 50s at night I brought it indoors. (ETA I’m in zone 10a or b).
Since this is a giant sample size of 1 I’m definitely not going to claim any definitive must-dos. Just reporting on what I did.