Pineapple plants are special edible fruits that everyone likes. You can plant pineapples indoors with benefits for mental health, productivity, and they are much tastier than those you buy. If you are interested to know how to grow pineapple in your home, it’s quite easier process to grow than you think. Many people fail to grow a pineapple tree due to a lack of knowledge of planting tricks, you can try pineapple planting by simply purchasing the pineapple top from the supermarket and read the following guidelines to learn how to grow a pineapple tree and its care at your home. It takes patience for a few years to bloom fruits after planting; this guide will help you grow pineapple fruits in your home environment.
Pineapple information and tips for beginners:
Pineapple tree, also known as Ananas comosus (Botanical name) is an indoor plant. It is an herbaceous plant, called a perennial. It belongs to the family of bromeliads (Bromeliaceae).
- Plant size: A mature-sized plant may grow to 2-4 feet tall, 3-5 feet wide. It has long, sword like leaves; these leaves may range from 2-8 inches long in young plants and up to 5 feet long on mature plants. Some varieties of leaves have spines, or some are spineless.
- Plant Growth region: It has good quality to grow in warmer regions (full sun exposure) where the climate is less than tropical.
- Soil type: It requires well-drained, loamy, sandy soil and consistent warmth at 65°F-95°F. Due to their tough leaves, a low amount of water evaporated and maintain soil quality.
- Temperature: It requires 6-8 hours high-intensity light.
- Bloom time: It is a seasonal plant, grow in 18-24 months after planting. Pineapple plants will die when they produce flowers and only burst again in spring.
How To Grow a Pineapple Plant Indoors:
There are two types of pineapple planting: Plant purchased from the supermarket and plant yourself at home. One of the easiest ways to try at home is planting a pineapple top.
Planting a Pineapple Top:
Pineapples can be propagated from the original plant. It has four ways of planting: from suckers which arise from the leaf axils of leaves, slips which arise from the stalk below the fruit, ratoon which arises from underground portions of the stem and crown of the fruit. Commercially, it plants from slips and suckers, but the easiest way of indoor planting is to start from the crown of the fruit.
- For crown propagation: Slice the top of the fresh pineapple, remove the bottom of the leaves to expose the stem, and let it dry for a few days. and put in a 5 cm hole in the container of potting soil. Keep the soil slightly moist for 1-2 months until roots establish.
- For planting pineapple pups: The process is very similar as crown propagation. Remove the pup from the pineapple and leave it for a few days to air dry before planting. After that, follow the same process as crown propagation.
- For slip and sucker propagation: The process is similar to crown propagation.
How To Care After Planting:
Pineapple plants are tropical seasonal plants that are easy to care at home. After planting, it needs more care to grow healthier plants and fruits, it takes time to grow approximately 2 years from planting to fruiting.
- Light: Place the pot in sunlight for 6-8 hours daily, it takes energy for plant growth.
- Watering: Weekly watering may stabilize soil moisture. If the soil looks dry, keep watering regularly, but do not water too much.
- Humidity and Temperature: Maintain medium humidity between 40 and 60 percent and a temperature range from 68°F-86°F.
- Soil: Plant your pineapple in potting mix that contains perlite for good drainage and peat moss for acidity.
- Fertilizer: Feed weekly or monthly in the spring and summer season. In fall and winter, feed your plant every six months. You can add bromeliad fertilizer to the soil if it looks rejuvenation.
- Repotting: Once the plant establishes, it moves to 5-gallon container for the maturity of the growing cycle.
- Pruning and maintenance: Pruning the plant is important for healthier growth. For pruning cut down longer, older, and damaged leaves for better results.
- Moving outdoors: In summer, pots move to the outside for direct sunlight.
Harvesting the Pineapple:
For harvesting the pineapple fruit, it may take 24-30 months after planting. It takes 5-7 months from flower induction to fruit harvest depending on variety, weather and cultural practices. Pineapple is ready to harvest when it appears ripe and golden yellow. Only a single fruit is produced per plant. Caring for the plant is important during the whole process. After harvesting, the pineapple fruit will produce pups at the base of the plant. These pups can be used for new plant cultivation.
