How to propagate a pineapple plant and its care very easily

Do pineapples grow from their crown? Yes, you can grow a pineapple plant (ananas comosus) from the top of the fruit. Here’s how to prepare the fruit, take the appropriate cutting and root it for a new plant. Let’s see how to grow pineapple easily.

How to grow pineapples from a crown

This is a very easy way to grow a new pineapple plant from a store bought pineapple.

The ideal way to start growing pineapples from a crown is to do so in the spring, but if you’re doing it indoors and the temperature is above 15 degrees Celsius, you can try it throughout the season. ‘year.

1. Select a healthy, ripe pineapple.

Look for healthy, vibrant green leaves (not all gray or brown) with no signs of disease or insects.

Ripeness is indicated by the golden color, which builds from the bottom up: the golden the pineapple, the sweeter (and riper) it is.

Overripe pineapples are orange in color and smell of fermented fruit. A supermarket brand pineapple is sure to be ripe enough.

2. Remove the top

Remove the top by firmly grasping the leaves and twisting them. The crown will easily detach from the base.

3. Remove the bottom leaves

Strip several layers of leaves from the base of the crown so that they are exposed. You will see small brown knots that the leaves covered. New roots will spring from these nodes.

In tropical climates, home gardeners can plant it directly in the ground. But for container growing, it is best to follow the steps below.

4. Dry the crown

Dry a pineapple crown for spreading.

Lay the wreath on its side and let it dry for 1-2 days in the shade, away from direct sunlight.

The idea is that the crown is less susceptible to disease. Some gardeners skip this step and put the wreath directly in water as shown in step 5.

You can then root the plant directly in moist potting soil or use the water method below.

5. Root the crown in water

Place the wreath in a pot of clean, lukewarm water, immersing only the leafless area in the water.

Keep the crown out of the sun during the rooting process and change the water every other day, you must keep the water clean and fresh.

Here is the crown after a week. You can see the roots starting to form.

Don’t panic if the leaves begin to dry out and turn brown. It’s normal. Some stay green, some don’t.

If the plant does not take root, the crown can suddenly dry out completely. If this happens, try another pineapple.

6. Plant in potting soil

After about a month, when you have lots of nice long roots, plant the crown in potting soil suitable for succulents and cacti or any good organic potting soil.

Pineapple plants don’t like their roots to be restricted, so choose a pot with room to grow.

For the next few weeks keep the plant out of the sun and make sure the soil is consistently moist but not too wet. This is when the roots will grow into the ground.

After about two months, the plant should be firmly attached to the soil (indicating root growth) and you should see signs of new leaf growth coming from the center of the plant.

Pineapple Plant Care

Light

Pineapple is a tropical fruit plant, so give it plenty of sun without burning the plant or drying out the soil.

It is necessary to take into account the possibility of placing it outside, near a wall, so that it receives more heat.

You can also use grow lights if you don’t have natural sunlight.

Temperature

Pineapples will die in freezing temperatures. Growth stops below 15.5°C (60°F) and above 32°C (90°F).

The sweet spot is right in the middle: 20-30°C (68°F and 86°F).

The water

Pineapples are fairly drought tolerant, but it’s very easy to overdo it when grown indoors in a container. For this reason, I keep mine moderately moist at all times.

Drought also slows or stops growth. The leaves turn light green, then yellow or red and curl when dry.

It is not uncommon for the tips of the leaves to turn brown. I have seen this happen from both over watering and under watering.

If this happens, cut out the brown parts with clean scissors. If the center of the plant turns yellow or brown, the whole plant is probably dying.

Fertilizer

As the plant grows, it will need a balanced slow-release organic fertilizer (5-5-5 NPK) or similar every six months or so. Follow the directions on the product label.

To bear fruit or not to bear fruit, that is the question

Pineapple plants need at least 2-3 years of maturation before flowering and fruit set, so be patient.

If the growing conditions are optimal, the plant will send up a stem that will gradually flower and produce fruit. It is usually a small pineapple.

But this can be difficult, especially in a cold climate with long winters, unless grow lights are also provided.

Some indoor pineapple plants neither flower nor produce fruit, but grow quite large (up to 6 feet tall indoors).

Others stay quite small if light levels are lower than desired or the pot is small.

You might also be interested in reading: 15 Vegetables You Can Regrow in Water.

If you started with a small pot, your pineapple plant will outgrow its pot several times and will need to be repotted.

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