Name: Puya mirabilis
Brand: Surreal Succulents
SKU: C605-mirabilis

Puya mirabilis

£13.50

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What size is this plant?

Why we ship our plants without pots and soil

Most of our plants are shipped bare-root. Please note that the plant you receive may not be an exact likeness of the images shown.

An unusual, spiky bromeliad from the Andes with soft, silvery-green leaves and a dramatic presence. After 3-5 years of healthy growth, it will produce 1.5m tall flower spikes with luminous yellow-green blooms that glow in evening light. Drought-tolerant and cold-hardy down to around -5°C with good drainage. A rare architectural plant that thrives on minimal care and maximum sunshine.

Also known as:

Where it thrives

Sunlight Full Sun 5+ hrs of sun

Recommended location In the Ground

Recommended location Rockery

Recommended location Conservatory

Plant characteristics

Growability Beginner

Growth form Clumping

Growth rate Moderate

Minimum temperature -5°C

Mature size, height and width 70cm x 50cm

Foliage colour Green and Red

On Arrival

Puya mirabilis is delivered bare-root and will need time to establish in its new pot. Unpack it carefully, remove all protective material and check the leaves, stems and roots have arrived in good condition.

Plant Puya mirabilis in fresh, free-draining compost, spreading the roots naturally rather than forcing them in. Keep every healthy leaf and the growing point above the surface, then tap the pot on the bench to settle the mixture without pressing it down hard.

Wait five to seven days before watering so small root injuries from lifting and transport can dry. After that, water lightly while the roots establish and move to the normal 3 D's routine once the plant is firmly rooted. Keep Puya mirabilis bright, sheltered and out of fierce midday sun while it settles.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Watering

Water Puya mirabilis using our 3 D's method: drench, drain and dry. Water thoroughly so the whole root area is moistened and every excess drop escapes through the drainage holes, then wait until the compost has dried before watering again.

Judge watering by the compost and the weight of the pot rather than a fixed timetable. A small terracotta pot in bright warmth dries quickly, while a large or glazed pot stays wet far longer. Water in the morning and avoid leaving water sitting in the centre of a rosette.

Reduce watering considerably through cold, dull weather. Fleshy leaves and stems store moisture, so a healthy plant tolerates a dry spell far more safely than cold, permanently wet compost.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Light and position

Provide Puya mirabilis with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions can include In the Ground, Rockery, and Conservatory. Most succulents need strong natural light to keep compact growth and their best Green and Red colouring; too little light causes stretched, pale, leggy growth.

Rotate a pot-grown plant regularly so it develops evenly, and introduce it to stronger sunshine gradually after winter, delivery or a spell indoors, as unadjusted foliage can scorch. Provide temporary shade during intense heatwaves.

A few succulents prefer bright indirect light rather than fierce sun. If Puya mirabilis's leaves bleach or brown in strong summer sun, move it to a slightly shadier spot.

Compost and drainage

Plant Puya mirabilis in a free-draining mixture. A standard multi-purpose compost or a John Innes No.2 (sandy) mix with around 30 to 40 percent by volume of drainage media, such as horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite, suits most succulents well. Always choose a pot with unrestricted drainage holes.

Choose a container only moderately larger than the root system, as surplus compost stays wet for too long. Terracotta is a useful choice in the cool, humid UK climate because its porous sides help the compost dry evenly.

A thin layer of horticultural grit around the base keeps the lowest leaves off damp compost and helps the surface stay open and airy.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural grit perlite

Feeding

Fresh compost should contain enough nutrients to support Puya mirabilis for approximately three to six months. Once these are used, apply a balanced liquid feed at half the recommended strength every two to four weeks while the plant is in active growth.

Feed only when the compost is already moist, preferably shortly after watering. Stop feeding through autumn and winter, or whenever growth has paused.

Do not overfeed to force colour or size. Strong light, sharp drainage and correct watering matter far more than fertiliser.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost liquid seaweed feed

Winter care

The recorded minimum temperature for Puya mirabilis is -5°C. Unless the product page confirms it is hardy, treat Puya mirabilis as tender and move it into a bright, airy, frost-free position before conditions fall below its recorded minimum.

Keep the compost much drier through winter, as cold, wet roots rot readily. Avoid standing the plant above a radiator, where dry heat and weak light cause soft, distorted growth. A greenhouse, conservatory or bright, cool windowsill gives good protection.

Where Puya mirabilis is genuinely hardy, its main enemy is winter wet rather than cold: keep drainage sharp and clear wet debris from around the crown.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Summer care

Spring and summer are the main growing season for most succulents, so check the compost regularly and water thoroughly whenever it has dried. Many can spend the frost-free months outdoors once acclimatised gradually to sun, wind and rain.

Ventilate greenhouses and conservatories in hot weather, as heat trapped behind glass can scorch leaves. Provide temporary afternoon shade during exceptional heatwaves.

Strong light often deepens red, bronze and purple tones. If Puya mirabilis flowers, enjoy the display and remove the dried stems afterwards if you prefer a tidier plant.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Repotting

Repot Puya mirabilis in spring when the roots fill the pot, the plant becomes unstable or the compost has broken down. Ease it out while supporting the base rather than the leaves, and remove as much old compost as possible.

Inspect the roots and cut away any brown, hollow or soft ones with clean snips, leaving fresh cuts to dry. Replace with a fresh, free-draining mixture in a pot only one or two sizes larger.

Keep Puya mirabilis at its previous depth and wait three to five days before watering so any root injuries can seal.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Common problems

Stretched, pale, widely spaced growth almost always means Puya mirabilis needs more light. Move it gradually somewhere brighter and rotate the pot.

Soft, translucent, mushy leaves, a darkening stem base or sudden collapse point to excess moisture and rot. Remove the plant from wet compost, cut away damaged tissue and roots, and let healthy material dry before repotting or taking rescue cuttings.

Check leaf joints and the root area for white, cotton-like mealybug, which shelters in sheltered spots. Isolate and treat affected plants promptly. Dry brown patches usually indicate sun scorch, so introduce direct light gradually.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

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Puya mirabilis

Where it thrives

How to care for Puya mirabilis

Plant characteristics

On Arrival

Watering

Light and position

Compost and drainage

Feeding

Winter care

Summer care

Repotting

Common problems

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