Whether in a fruit salad, a smoothie or a pizza, pineapples find a lot of play in the kitchen. Originally from South America, today it is grown in tropical areas around the world. With proper care, pineapple plants can also thrive in your home.
However, you must be patient, because Plants take a long time to bear fruit. Growing pineapples at home is not as difficult as you might think, but it does require a significant dose of patience that will ultimately be rewarded.
How to grow pineapples in your home
1. Choose the right pineapple
If you want to grow a pineapple, you must first look for a suitable fruit in stores. Look for a firm, medium-ripe specimen. Additionally, you should make sure that the leaves look fresh and have no wilted parts. The pulp should be yellow and firm.
In general, It is better to choose an organic pineapple, They are usually of better quality and their cultivation has not contributed to polluting the environment. You can also do something good by buying pineapples with fair trade seal, because you support cooperatives of farmers who work in decent conditions.
2. Cut the pineapple stem
Put the pineapple on the table and Carefully cut the stem with a sharp knife. Remove the remaining pulp and tear off the bottom three or four rows of leaves. This allows the roots to grow unhindered later.
You can also «unscrew» the stem, but this requires a little force. If you want to do it this way, then you must cut off the excess pulp and also remove the lower leaves.
3. Let the stem dry
Now you must dry the stem. Put it on the heater for two or three days so that it dries and does not rot. If you feel like the crown of leaves is drying out, spray it with water.
Disinfect the stem by soaking the cut in remains of charcoal or ash before it dries. This reduces the risk of rot and possible mold growth.
4. Put the stem in the water
When the stem is very dry, put it in a glass of water. Only the bottom should be in the water. The leaves should not get wet, otherwise they will rot. Place the glass in a place near a window where it gets sunlight.
Make sure the stem is always in water. Change it every two or three days; If it is absorbed, refill it.
The first roots should be visible after a few weeks. Keep in mind that Pineapple plants like soft water low in calcium. If it takes too long, you can also plant the stem immediately after it has dried. However, in that case the success rate will be lower.
5. Put the stem in the ground
When the roots are three to five centimeters long, the stem can be planted. Choose a substrate that is poor in nutrients and permeable. Palm soil or a sand mixture is also suitable.
The leaves grow quite a bit, so The pot should not be small, but not too large either. It must have sufficient drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and therefore root rot.
Once you have filled the pot with the appropriate substrate, Place the stem in a well just below the base of the leaf and lightly press the soil around it. Then water everything well.
6. Give it time
If the stem sprouts in the middle, the plant has grown successfully. Now patience is required, because It takes one to four years before seeing the first flowering. The fruit then takes another six months to ripen.
YesIt can be harvested when the pineapple smells fruity and sweet and has a yellowish color. After harvesting the pineapple, the «mother plant» gradually dies. However, it has formed daughter plants everywhere, which you can replant.
It is true that you need patience to grow pineapples. But it can wait a beautiful and exotic houseplant, even while it doesn’t bear fruit for you. We give you some more tips that you should keep in mind when caring for the pineapple plant.
The perfect place
Since the pineapple is native to subtropical areas, It needs high temperatures and high humidity. It thrives particularly well at an ambient temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 60%.
These conditions are not easy to create. However, there are some things you can do to make the plant feel good in your home. The place where the pineapple grows plays an important role. Above all, it needs a sunny room. A heated conservatory, a bright bathroom or a south-facing window are ideal. Pineapple, on the other hand, does not tolerate the scorching midday sun as well.
A special LED plant light or heat lamp can help on dark days. You should avoid temperatures below 16 degrees, they are fatal for the fruit. Also, the plant should not be placed directly on a radiator.
This creates a humid climate
You can add a little more humidity placing several bowls of water next to the pot and misting the plant with warm water from time to time.
The pineapple also needs to be well ventilated. Therefore, you should place it in a place where air can always circulate well. However, he doesn’t like currents at all.
If it is very cold, you can cover the pineapple with a transparent plastic bag until the plant forms flowers, this will build up heat and humidity. However, you should remove the bag from time to time so that air can circulate and mold does not develop.
Water and care for the pineapple plant properly
You should water your pineapple once a week, in winter it can do with less water. The soil should always be slightly moist, but not wet. It is best to pour the water directly into the center of the leaves.
Since pineapple grows slowly, It is rarely necessary to transplant it. This is necessary, for example, if it grows above the edge of the bucket. It is best to start transplanting in spring. By the way, the plant usually does not need fertilizer.