Pineapple Plant Growing and Planting Guide

Last Updated on January 11, 2022 by Real Men Sow

Pineapple plants have taken the houseplant world by storm. Growing pineapple plant is easy to see why the idea of growing tropical pineapples in your home is appealing. They are also attractive with their rosette of exotic-looking, spiky leaves and interesting flower spikes.

Pineapple Plant

There are two kinds of pineapple available in the UK. The kind that is large and produces edible fruit. The ornamental varieties, such as dwarf or pygmy, are smaller and produce edible, but bitter fruits. These are best for their novelty value and good looks.

You can grow your own pineapples from the crown of a supermarket-purchased fruit. If the conditions are right, you can grow edible fruit in three to four years.

Bromeliads include pineapple. It is a wild plant that grows on the ground, and is pollinated in the wild by hummingbirds. It will die back once it has produced a fruit and flowered, as with all bromeliads. Baby plants, also known as offsets or pups, should be found at the base. These can be potted and used as new plants.

How to Grow Pineapple Plant

Plant your pineapples in a mixture of peat-free multi-purpose compost and orchid compost in a bright, warm place. When the top of the compost begins to dry in spring and summer, water and keep it moist all other times. Once the plant has fruited and flowered, it will cease to exist. However, it should still produce baby plants at its base that can be potted and used as new plants.

Where to Grow Pineapples

Pineapples thrive in warm rooms (the warmer, the better but not less than 16°C), with lots of light. A conservatory, heated greenhouse, or bright windowsill are ideal. Although your plant can tolerate direct sunlight, too much can cause damage to the leaves. To prevent your plant leaning towards one side, it is a good idea to rotate it from time to time.

Your pineapple plant can be moved outside during the summer months. It will thrive in high-light conditions. As autumn temperatures drop, make sure to bring it indoors.

Planting Pineapple Plant

It is best to keep your plant in the same pot it was placed in, as it is not an extremely long-lived plant. If you wish to repot the plant or grow a new one from it, mix orchid compost with peat-free multipurpose compost.

Taking Care of Your Pineapple Plant

Allow the compost to dry for a few minutes in spring and summer. In winter, keep it moist.

Take off any dead leaves and dust them with a fine brush. Make sure to rotate the plant every other day to promote even growth. You should feed your plants once per month with a liquid fertilizer in spring and summer, and once every two weeks in winter.

Before you harvest an edible pineapple, wait for it to turn orange-yellow and then pick it up.

Propagating Pineapples

Your pineapple plant will not live again after it has produced fruit. It will still produce offsets (baby plants) at the base and you can simply remove them from the mother plant using a sharp knife. Make sure to cut away any roots. Then, you can pot each offset in a small container and continue growing.

Pineapple can also be grown from the fruit. Simply cut the top off and remove the lower leaves to expose a stem. Let this dry for at least a day. Place it in a container with water and compost.

Real Men Sow
Real Men Sow

Hello, I’m Pete and I’m currently based in the west of Scotland, in a small place called Rosneath, where I’m exploring my garden adventures. I personally started gardening around 6 years ago and initially, I started out by growing my favorite fruits and berries, such as strawberries, Raspberries & Gooseberries. Since then I’ve added a lot of vegetables and working closely with my neighbor, it’s been a lot of fun.