If you are looking for an easy way to bring the feeling of the tropics indoors no matter where you live, then you need to grow a pineapple plant as a houseplant! And believe it or not – anyone with a little patience and a bit of space can grow one using just a portion of a grocery store pineapple!
Even though many people assume pineapples grow as trees, they are actually much smaller perennial plants. And even better, ones that when growing in containers only reach a maximum height of around 3 to 5 feet tall – which just happens to make them perfect for growing indoors no matter where you live.
Pineapples are only hardy in growing zones 10 and 11. But even if you live in a location with harsh winters, you can grow them indoors using containers and a sunny location. And all it takes is a piece of a supermarket pineapple and a little time to make it happen!
Pineapple plants grow and mature very slowly. In fact, it can take anywhere between two to three years before a plant will flower and produce its first fruit. But the wait is definitely worth it – especially since they make for an outstanding houseplant while they grow!
Ideal Conditions For Pineapple Plants
Pineapple plants are native to tropical locations. When grown in zones 10 and 11, they need temperatures of around 65 to 85º Fahrenheit (F) and at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Any temperatures above or below and the plants will struggle with slow growth or be damaged by frost.
But the good news is that wherever you live, pineapple plants can survive indoors in containers. Similar to other tropical plants like hibiscus, they can handle inside temperatures of around 65 to 75º F and only be brought outside when weather allows. See: “How To Keep Hibiscus Plants Alive Indoors Over Winter”
How To Grow A Pineapple Plant
Pineapples can be grown either from seeds or from the crown of another pineapple plant. Seeds can be harvested from a store-bought pineapple or purchased online. They then require a period of cold dormancy before you can plant them.
Unfortunately, most pineapple seeds are not viable and are rather difficult to get to grow. In addition, plants grown from seeds take much longer to produce than those grown from pineapple crowns.
But luckily, it’s quite easy to simply cut the top off a grocery-store pineapple to create a crown. That’s right – you can enjoy a fresh pineapple from the store and simply use it’s top to start another plant!
How To Cut A Pineapple Crown
To create your own crown, it all starts with purchasing a healthy, ripe pineapple. Be sure to select one that looks deep in color and thoroughly ripened. Avoid selecting any damaged or decaying fruit.
Using a sharp knife, cleanly cut the top 2″ of the pineapple off. Remove the bottom few inches of leaves from the bottom of the shoot area. This will be approximately 6 to 8 leaves. In addition, remove as much of the fruit flesh around the stem, leaving the 2 inches of woody central stem attached.
Now it’s time to let the pineapple cutting rest. Set the pineapple top on a paper towel or paper plate and let it sit for 7 to 10 days. This allows the cutting to cure before planting.
Potting Up The Cured Cutting – Grow A Pineapple Plant Indoors
After the cutting has cured, it’s time for planting! To plant, place in a coarse potting soil that drains well. You can purchase cactus potting soil mix or create your own with a bit of potting soil, coarse sand, peat, and perlite. Affiliate Product Link: Cactus Potting Soil
Add a cupful of compost at the time of planting and mix well into the soil. This will give the cutting a nice boost of nutrients and help encourage strong rooting.
Plant the crown portion of the pineapple about an inch and a half down in the soil mix. Choose a container that is around 8 to 10″ in diameter. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes or add some if needed.
You will need to repot the pineapple plant in a larger container as it continues to grow, but using a smaller container at the time of planting will help to keep the moisture levels regulated as the plant roots into the soil.
Rooting can take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. Watering at this point is the most critical part of success of all. The soil needs to stay consistently moist while the roots start to produce. With that said, do not allow the soil to become soggy, too much water will cause the roots to rot out.
You can, of course, purchase pre-potted pineapple plants as another option. You can find potted pineapple plants in garden nurseries or online. Just ensure that the plant is an edible variety since some ornamental pineapples are available. Affiliate Product Link: 4 Live Pineapple Plant
Caring For Your Plant – How To Grow A Pineapple Plant Indoors
Place your pineapple cutting or plant in a warm location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight each day. Keep the plant in a south-facing window or use a grow light to make sure it is getting plenty of light.
When it comes to watering, over-watering is far more detrimental to pineapple plants than not having enough moisture. Allow the soil to almost fully dry out in between watering. This means you will likely only be watering once a week when growing indoors.
Apply a low dose of all-purpose fertilizer or worm castings every other month. Give the plant half a dose of the recommended amount of a balanced fertilizer. It can take up to 28 months before your potted pineapple plant starts flowering. From then on, it will be another half a year before fruit development occurs.
Although not necessary, if the temperatures are above 60º F, the plant can be kept outside. As an outdoor plant in the summer, the plant will usually speed its growing habits considerably. When the threat of frost or winter approaches, you will need to move your pineapple plant back indoors.
Managing Your Plants – How To Grow A Pineapple Plant Indoors
Potted pineapple plants will grow to about 2 to 3 feet in both width and height at full maturity but can grow up to 5 feet tall. You will need to re-pot plants into larger containers as they continue to grow.
These shrub-like plants produce spiky leaves and in the middle of these spikes, it produces a thick stalk of multiple small flowers. These flowers are self-fertile and eventually fuse together to form a single fruit. Most pineapple plants produce a main single fruit. You might get lucky with pineapple plants grown outside by getting a few additional smaller offshoots as well.
After fruiting for the first time, plants will continue to produce a new pineapple on an every-other-year basis. For most pineapple plants, you can get three “harvests” before the plant finally begins to fade. To ensure a continual harvest of pineapples, start a new fruit every couple of years.
Here’s to growing your own pineapple plant this year and having a little tropical fun!
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