Have you ever considered growing a pineapple plant? It's easy to grow your own pineapple plant, regardless of where you live. The pineapple has long sword-like light green leaves with saw-toothed edges and may grow to three feet in height. It is topped with a stem bearing small purplish flowers and a pineapple.

Start with a fresh pineapple. Inspect the base of the leaves for small grayish spots which are scale insects. If these are found, the crown should be discarded and one selected which is free of these insects. The crown is removed, with about one inch or a little more off the pineapple, with a sharp knife. The crown should be left in a spot out of the sun and heat for three or four days. The rind is then pulled off using the fingers of one hand while the leaves are held in the other. Two or three rows of leaves can be removed. Leave it dry out for another day. Then place the crown into a four inch pot which has been partially filled with damp perlite or coarse sand. The crown is set down in the media between one and two inches deep. It should be watered daily and placed in a sunny spot. Rooting will take about a month.

After the pineapple has rooted, it can be potted in an eight inch pot with ample drainage material in the bottom. Use a humus soil mixture comprised of a good light potting soil mixed with up to one-third well composed organic matter (peat). It should be watered, but not over watered until the plant becomes established.

The pineapple prefers a temperature of 65 - 75 degrees F. with plenty of light and will withstand full exposure to the sun. Watering should be done moderately in winter (let the soil dry out between watering), but freely in summer. Use a house plant food for fertilizing your pineapple plant. Follow the label directions for amount to use and how to use it.

If you are lucky, a large spike will grow from the center with a small pineapple at its peak. It takes about two years for the plant to reach the fruiting stage. Even if your pineapple doesn't fruit, it makes an attractive foliage plant, which is easy to care for and grow.

This page was last updated April 2003

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