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Pineapple Plant Growing Guide

pineapple plant

Pineapple is considered to be a tropical fruit because it needs ample sunshine and water to grow, and it can thrive even in very hot environments. The pineapple plant is hardy and has minimal maintenance requirements. However, there are a few things that can hinder its growth or lead to the plant’s decline. While it is easy to assume that this plant would not grow well indoors because of its preferred growing conditions, this is not the case. In fact, you can easily grow this plant in your home and share the delicious fruit with your family.

Choosing the Right Pineapple Plant Species

pineapple

The pineapple plant is a bromeliad with five distinctive botanical varieties. Some plant species are smaller than others. While all can grow well indoors, the mature height of the plant should be taken into account. Generally, the pineapple plant will grow to a height of between 3.3 to 4.9 feet tall. Many people may prefer to grow a smaller species indoors, but you will need to consider the amount of space available for the plant in your home. You can usually propagate your new pineapple plant from fruit that you purchase in your local grocery store. The mother plant will produce identical offspring, so you can also choose your specific plant based on how flavorful the mother plant’s fruit is. Keep in mind that smaller plants typically produce smaller fruit.

Pineapple plants prefer to be exposed to a significant amount of direct sunlight throughout the day, but they can grow in areas with speckled sunlight. When you are deciding how much space is available in your home for your new plant, consider the ideal placement based on the plant’s needs. The ideal spot is close to a window that receives direct sunlight throughout most of the day, and you should keep the blinds open most of the time. You can also tote your pot to your patio during the day to expose it to more sunlight.

Preparing Your Pot for a Pineapple Plant

After you have decided which pineapple plant species to grow and where you will place the pot in your home, you will need to choose the right pot. While the root system of the pineapple plant is relatively small compared to the size of its foliage, the pot needs to be large enough to support the root system. By choosing a larger pot to establish your new plant in initially, you can avoid needing to re-pot the plant later. Generally, you should choose a pot with a 12-inch depth or slightly larger, but you can choose up to a 5-gallon pot. Clay pots are most ideal because they allow the soil to dry at a faster rate after watering. If you prefer to start with a smaller pot, you can choose a 6 to 8-inch pot.

The roots of these plants can rot easily, so you should never water your plant excessively. In addition to selecting a pot that promotes rapid drainage, you should select a soil type with rapid draining traits. One option is a cactus potting mix. This usually has a blend of sand, peat and perlite. The pineapple plant may extract all of the nutrients that it needs to thrive with this soil blend initially, but some light fertilization is beneficial after the roots have been established.

pinapple fruit

Propagating the Pineapple Plant

When this plant grows, the flower will blossom from the central point of its foliage. This flower will turn into the pineapple fruit, and new foliage will sprout from the top of the fruit. The cycle will continue indefinitely unless it is interrupted by external forces. One of the easiest ways to grow a new plant is to select a pineapple from your grocery store.

Simply lop off the top of the fruit with a sharp kitchen knife. Ensure that all of the leaves remain intact, and leave a few inches of the fleshy fruit in place below the leaves. The leaves and the fruit can have sharp points that can make a painful prick on your hands. Consider wearing thick gardening gloves when working with your pineapple plant. You can discard or eat the lower section of the fruit as desired. The top portion will be used to propagate your new plant. Place the entire fleshy portion of your cutting in the soil that you have prepared. The stalk of leaves should be flush with the top of the soil.

An alternative is to use a “plantlet” or shoot from a maturing plant. You may be able to find these in some nurseries, but the best place to get them is from a friend or neighbor who is growing a pineapple plant at home. After you establish your first pineapple plant, you can extract your own shoots to increase your collection of plants and to enjoy access to more fresh fruit.

After taking these simple steps, water the soil. It may take several weeks for the roots to get fully established in the new pot. Even though your plant is growing indoors in a temperature-controlled environment, its growth will vary seasonally based on its exposure to sunlight. During the warm season when there are several additional hours of sunlight, you may notice significant plant growth until your pineapple plant reaches maturity. The growth rate will slow substantially during the cooler months of the year when the days are shorter.

Maintaining and Nurturing Your Plant

With the exception of watering your pineapple plant and ensuring that it is exposed to an ample amount of sunlight regularly, it will require minimal attention. Pests, such as aphids, are not usually problematic. Occasionally, you may need to fertilize the soil to ensure that your plant has access to adequate nutrients for optimal growth. Excessive fertilizer can damage the plant. Choose a weak liquid fertilizer, and only apply the fertilizer sparingly during the growing or warm weather season.

While root rot can be problematic for these plants, they are tropical plants that need ample hydration. You will need to water your pineapple plant profusely, but you should also allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering it again. Water your plant from the top down.

Your pineapple plant should bloom within a 3-year time period. If it does not bloom naturally, you can encourage blooming. During the winter months, place a few ripe apples close to your pineapple plant. Enclose the pot and apples with a plastic bag. The apples will release ethylene gas, which stimulates flowering in your plant. Within a few months, the flower will transform into a ripe fruit. You can pluck it from the plant when it has a golden exterior. The mother plant typically will decline rather than produce another flower and fruit. Therefore, you can use the same pot to establish a new plant as desired.

It can take several years for a pineapple plant to fully mature and to produce fruit. However, minimal effort is required during this period of time. The plant delivers aesthetic appeal to your home while it is maturing, and the end result is a delicious fruit.