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Grow a thriving pineapple plant from a pineapple with these simple instructions
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With its sweet, tangy taste and unique shape, there’s not another fruit quite like the pineapple. If you’ve been wishing for a way to grow this delicious fruit, the great news is that it’s super easy to do in your own home! In this article, we’ll teach you how to grow a pineapple plant from a pineapple. Then, we’ll tell you all about how to care for your plant and know when it’s ready to harvest. Read on to get growing this tropical fruit!
Things You Should Know
- Twist the leaves off the top of a fresh pineapple to separate the fruit from the crown. Leave the crown to dry for 1 week.
- Set the dried pineapple crown in a glass of water and place it in indirect light to grow roots.
- Plant the crown in well-draining soil once the roots are about 3 inches (7 cm) long.
- Place your pineapple plant in a sunny window that gets direct light, watering it when the soil is dry.
Steps
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Pick out a fresh pineapple. Choose a pineapple with perky green leaves that have not turned yellow or brown. The skin on the fruit should be golden brown and have a little bit of give when you squeeze it. Smell the pineapple to see if it's ripe , too. It should emit a sweet, heady smell. [1] X Research source
- Your pineapple needs to be ripe in order to grow into a plant, so make sure it isn't underripe. An underripe pineapple is usually very green, hard, and has a faint smell.
- Check that your pineapple isn't overripe, too. Overripe pineapples are easy to squish and often have wrinkled skin. Tug gently at the leaves, too. If they come right off, the pineapple is too ripe to plant.
- Make sure the pineapple doesn't have scale insects around the base of the leaves. They look like small grayish black spots.
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Twist the leaves off the top of the pineapple. Grasp the body of the pineapple with one hand and use your other to grab the base of the leaves. Simply twist the leaves to pull them off the pineapple. You are now left with the crown, or stem, of the pineapple, and the pineapple fruit. [2] X Research source
- If you're having trouble twisting off the crown, slice off the top of the pineapple with a knife. Then, cut off any excess fruit around the crown.
- When twisting the leaves off, do it gently to make sure the crown stays intact. New roots sprout from the end of the stem, so without it the plant can’t grow.
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Strip off some of the lower leaves to expose more of the stem. Removing the bottom leaves helps the stem sprout roots once it is planted. Just pull away a few of the bottom leaves so several inches of the stem is exposed. If there is any fruit still attached to the stem, cut it away with a knife, being careful not to cut into the stem. [3] X Research source
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Turn the crown upside down and leave it to dry for a week. The inside of the pineapple crown is still wet when you cut it, so it needs to dry out. Planting a moist stem can encourage rotting, giving your pineapple less of a chance to grow. Just place the stem upside down in your kitchen to fully dry out for about 1 week. [4] X Research source
- Once the stem is dry, it is fine to plant into well-draining soil . It’s not necessary to put it in water first, but it is helpful to know when it starts growing roots. Plus, it’s fun to watch!
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Fill a large glass with water. To grow strong, healthy roots, your pineapple crown needs a lot of water. Choose a glass that’s large enough to fit the pineapple crown inside, but small enough so the pineapple can be propped up without getting completely submerged. Then, fill the glass up with water.
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Stick toothpicks into the pineapple crown to suspend it in the water. To make sure only the bottom of the crown is in water, place 4 toothpicks around the top of the stem. Push them in just far enough so that they'll stay in place. [5] X Research source
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Put the pineapple crown in the water. Rest the toothpicks on the rim of the glass. The bottom of the stem should now be submerged in the water, while the leaves stick out the top. [6] X Research source
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Place the crown in bright, indirect light and wait for roots to sprout. Pineapple plants love light, so find it a warm place to rest where it gets lots of filtered light. Over the next 3 to 6 weeks, little white roots will start to poke out of the stem and begin to grow. [7] X Research source
- Pineapples grow best at temperatures between 65 to 85° F (18-30° C), so keep it away from drafts and harsh, direct light.
- Change out the water every few days to prevent mold from growing.
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Fill a 6 inch (15 cm) pot with well-draining soil . Pineapple plants are drought-tolerant and don’t love to sit in soggy, moist soil. Choose a well-draining garden soil that has a 30% blend of organic matter. This allows excess water to drain out of the pot and gives your pineapple the right blend of nutrients to grow healthily. [8] X Research source
- When choosing a pot for your pineapple plant, make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom.
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Plant the crown in the pot once its roots are 3 inches (7 cm) long. When the stem has lots of long, thick roots, it’s time to put it in soil. Poke a hole into the soil with your fingers and nestle the pineapple crown inside. Make sure that the base of the leaves are just above soil level. Then, press the soil firmly around the base of the stem and water it thoroughly. [9] X Research source
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Set the planted pineapple in bright light and keep its soil moist. Your new pineapple plant needs a warm, sunny, and humid environment to grow big and strong. Let it adjust to bright, indirect light for about 2 to 3 weeks before moving your plant to a place where it gets at least 6 hours of direct light. Water it about once a week, or when the top 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) of soil are dry. [10] X Research source
- If you live in a warm climate, keep the pot outside if you prefer. When temperatures start to drop below 60° F (15° C), take your pineapple plant inside.
- To help your plant root faster, make a mini-greenhouse over its pot. Simply slip a plastic bag over the top of the pot, removing it when you water.
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Fertilize your pineapple plant about once a month. Giving your plant nutritious fertilizer helps it grow strong. In the spring and summer, fertilize it once or twice a month with water-soluble fertilizer. In the fall and winter, feed it only once a month. [11] X Trustworthy Source University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Division of the University of Georgia focused on research and community education Go to source
- Pineapple plants generally prefer fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
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Wait for flowers and fruit to grow in 1 to 3 years. Be patient, as it can take several years for your plant to grow the flowers that develop into a juicy pineapple. As you continue to water and care for your plant, eventually a red cone will appear from the center of the leaves. It will be followed by blue flowers and eventually a tiny, budding fruit. The pineapple fruit takes about six months to fully develop. [12] X Research source
- The pineapple fruit grows from the flower, above ground, in the center of the plant.
- When the pineapple fruit is ripe and ready to be harvested, cut it off from the stem, just below the base of the fruit. Don’t cut your pineapple off before it’s ripe, as it won’t ripen once it’s off the stem.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionAfter you grow one pineapple, can you grow another one from the same plant?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Yes. In a few years, the plant may produce another pineapple. You can harvest this pineapple and plant it just like the first one.
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QuestionCan I care for a pineapple plant outside?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Pineapples can grow outside in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. In the US, this includes the south, west coast, and Hawaii. Pineapples need lots of sun, but don't require much water.
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QuestionCan the pineapple plant be planted into the ground?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, you can plant your pineapple plant in the ground if you live in a warm location. Just choose an area in your yard that gets at least 6 hours of direct light. Make sure the area you choose doesn't flood or pool with water when it rains, as pineapple plants don't do well when they're constantly wet.
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Tips
- While wild pineapple, or Bromelia pinguin , is also edible, the juice is especially tangy and can irritate your mouth. Most people boil or roast it first to prevent irritation. You might find it in Florida, but it primarily grows in Central and South America. [13] X Trustworthy Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition Go to sourceThanks
- To encourage your plant to flower, put it in a plastic bag with two very ripe apples cut in half. The ethylene gas released by the apples can trigger the blooming process. [14] X Research sourceThanks
- The full sized pineapples that you’re used to from the store grow from 6 feet (2 m) tall pineapple plants. Yours probably won’t get that big in 1 to 3 years, so don’t be surprised if your first fruit harvest is smaller than you expect.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Pineapple
- Planting pot
- Soil
- Water
- Clear glass or jar
- Toothpicks
- Fertilizer
References
- ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2003/12-5-2003/pineapple.html
- ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2016/05/16/grow-your-own-pineapple/
- ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/resources/plantid/fruits-and-nuts/pineapple/
- ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2003/12-5-2003/pineapple.html
- ↑ https://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Gardening/Coastal/Veg-Fruit/Pineapple/
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ananas-comosus/
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/bromeliads/
- ↑ https://publish.illinois.edu/rgreis2/2016/04/20/about-pineapples/
- ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/1997/112497.html
- ↑ https://www.naplesgarden.org/container-gardening-all-about-the-pineapple/
- ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success
- ↑ https://libguides.nybg.org/pineapple
- ↑ https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/organicexports/docs/Organic_sugarloaf_pineapple_manual.pdf
- ↑ https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/PineappleOwnGrowing.htm
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To grow a pineapple, start by cutting the leafy crown off the top of a fresh pineapple. Then, pull off a few of the lower leaves to expose the stem. Hang the crown upside down for about a week so it dries and hardens. After a week, stick a few toothpicks in the stem of the crown and use them to suspend it over a large glass of water so the stem is submerged but the leaves are not. Place the crown in a sunny window, wait a couple weeks for the roots to sprout, then plant the crown in a pot with soil! For tips from our Gardener reviewer on how often to water your pineapple plant, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I haven't planted a pineapple yet, but I really love this article. I never knew that you had to let the crown dry out or anything like that. The instructions were easy to follow, and the pictures really helped!" ..." more
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"I haven't planted a pineapple yet, but I really love this article. I never knew that you had to let the crown dry out or anything like that. The instructions were easy to follow, and the pictures really helped!"
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"I have had really good luck growing pineapples using the crown of the plant. I find that twisting the crown off of the pineapple works best. I remove the bottom leaves about an inch from the bottom and let it dry for 4 days. I then suspend it in water. After about 10 days, I start to see roots growing. I let the roots grow to about 4 to 5 inches before planting in a 6-inch pot using potting soil for indoor plants. I have them in my kitchen under a full-spectrum LED kitchen light."
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"I’m so excited! After trying three times last year to grow a pineapple plant, I finally followed your instructions, and voilà, I have new leaves growing out of the middle. I will cut off the outer dead leaves and wait for next spring to replant it in the ground."
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"I was given a pineapple top in water by a friend moving away over 2 years ago. She said put it in a big pot outside (Delray Beach, Florida) in the sun and see what happens! These articles helped me to know what to expect. I harvested the first pineapple at an unexpected 5" size and was thrilled with the sweetness!! Well worth the wait. But as article advised, I am fertilizing the main plant, looking for suckers, and starting 2 more! Thank you for a great tutorial!"
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"My daughter just bought me a plant. I said it looks like a pineapple. It just said ananas. So I looked it up and sure enough, it was a pineapple plant. So I came across your article and found out you can grow them! I never knew. I have one sitting on the kitchen table that I bought yesterday and I am going to try my hand at growing one. Thanks for the "how to"!"
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