Buzz
To grow a pineapple plant, all you need is a fresh pineapple. Next time you're at the store, pick one up, remove the top, and place it in water. After a few weeks, roots will begin to form, and you can plant it in a pot and watch it grow day by day. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow your own pineapple.
Steps
Preparing the Pineapple for Planting
Purchase a fresh pineapple. Choose one with green, firm leaves that haven't turned yellow or brown. The pineapple's skin should be golden-brown and firm to the touch. Smell the fruit to see if it's ripe: it should emit a sweet, fragrant aroma, indicating you've chosen the perfect time to start growing a new pineapple plant.
- Ensure the pineapple is ripe. It needs to be ripe for the new plant to grow.
- Check for over-ripeness by pulling gently on the leaves. If they come off easily, the pineapple is too ripe to plant.
- Make sure there are no mealybugs around the crown. They appear as tiny gray spots.
Twist the crown off the top of the pineapple. Hold the body of the pineapple firmly with one hand and use the other hand to grip the crown, twisting it off. This method ensures that the leaves stay intact. It may leave a bit of unnecessary pineapple flesh when planting.
- If twisting doesn't work, you can use a knife to cut it off. Be sure to trim any excess pineapple flesh around the roots.
- Make sure the base of the crown, where the leaves connect, remains intact. New roots will grow from this point, and without it, the plant won't grow.
Peel away some of the leaves below the crown to expose the stem. This will help the stem root when planted. Peel until a few centimeters of the stem are exposed. Trim away any remaining pineapple flesh without damaging the stem.
Invert the pineapple crown and let it dry for a week. The areas where you cut and peeled the leaves will harden, which is necessary before proceeding to the next step.
Soaking the Pineapple Crown
Fill a large glass with water. The mouth of the glass should be wide enough to fit the pineapple crown, but small enough to keep it from sinking.
Insert a few toothpicks into the pineapple crown. Position them diagonally close to the top of the pineapple stem. Push them in just enough to secure the crown in place. These toothpicks are used to prevent the crown from sinking into the water.
Place the pineapple crown into the water. The toothpicks will rest on the edge of the glass. The crown should be submerged in water, with the leaves sticking out above the surface.
Place the glass in a sunny window and wait for the roots to grow. It may take several days or even a few weeks for the white roots to emerge and start growing.
- Keep the plant at a suitable temperature. Avoid placing it in an area that's too hot or too cold.
- Change the water every few days to prevent mold growth.
Planting the Pineapple Crown
Prepare a pot with soil for planting. Fill the pot with loose garden soil mixed with 30% organic matter. This nutrient blend is ideal for the plant's growth.
Plant the pineapple crown into the pot of soil. Plant the crown when the roots have grown a few centimeters long. Wait until the roots are long enough to penetrate the soil. If planted too early, it won't develop properly. Press the soil around the stem without covering the leaves with soil.
Keep the plant warm and moist. The plant needs a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight where the nighttime temperature does not drop below 18ºC. If the air is dry, regularly mist the plant.
- If you live in a warm climate, you can place the pot outdoors. When winter comes, bring the plant indoors and place it near a sunny window. It's important that the plant gets sunlight year-round.
Water and feed the plant. Water the soil thoroughly once a week. Fertilize twice a month throughout the summer.
Wait for the flower to bloom. It may take a few years, but eventually, a red cone will appear in the center of the leaves, followed by blue flowers, and finally, the pineapple fruit. It takes about six months for the fruit to fully develop. The pineapple will grow from the flower, rising above the ground at the center of the plant.
Tips
- It is a good idea to plant two pineapples just in case one of them does not grow well. This way, you'll have a better chance of getting a plant that flowers and bears fruit.
- To encourage the plant to flower, place it inside a bag with two halves of a ripe apple. The ethylene gas released by the apple can stimulate the flowering process.
- For the pineapple to reach its largest size, the plant will need about 1 meter of space in width and height. Unless you specifically care for it to reach that size, don't be surprised if the pineapple you grow is smaller than those you see in the supermarket.
- Be very cautious when using wild pineapples. The sap from green pineapple plants contains extremely strong enzymes that can irritate your skin.
What You Need
- Pineapple
- Pot
- Soil
- Water
- Glass
- Toothpicks
- Fertilizer
