How to Grow a Potted Pineapple and Things to Keep in Mind

The pineapple is a very popular fruit, and after eating one you can grow it at home. A potted pineapple has an attractive shape and makes a wonderful potted plant. Let's take a look below at how to grow a potted pineapple.

1. Transplanting into a pot

First, you should select a healthy pineapple. Pineapples are generally stored for a period of time, and some of the leaves may already have withered. If you want to grow a potted pineapple, it is better to choose one with very fresh leaves, where you can still see the white powdery bloom on the leaves or the leaves are emerald green. You can buy two or more, as this will give you a higher survival rate.

When handling the pineapple leaves, leave a little more of the tissue at the base, then use a knife to gently cut off the crown, tear away the lower bracts, and place it in a cool, shady spot to dry for two or three days so the wound can heal. Then you can root it in water. Fill a transparent bottle about half full with water, then insert the crown to encourage rooting. After 7 days you will be able to see the root tips. The water level must not cover all of the roots; you need to leave a certain gap so the roots can breathe.

After completing the previous steps, pot it up. A potted pineapple is not demanding about soil, and it does not need frequent watering; water only when the soil is dry. However, sunlight must be plentiful. It takes more than half a year before it produces a flower bud, and from flower to fruit takes about 7 months. The pineapple is a tropical fruit, so growers in the north need to pay attention to the temperature. When potting up a small pineapple, growers should watch out for the spines on the leaves to avoid getting pricked. At the same time, the potting soil should be loose and airy.

2. Light

The pineapple likes an environment with plenty of light; the more sunlight the better, as this will give it better flowering quality. It is best to grow it on a south-facing balcony!

3. Temperature

The pineapple likes a hot, humid environment, so our indoor temperature should be above 10 degrees. Even in winter, the temperature should be kept above 5 degrees. Do not let the pineapple get cold, as this will cause its tissues to dehydrate and lose their green color, leading to drying out.

4. Humidity

The pineapple is fairly drought-tolerant, so when caring for it, growers can wait until the potting soil is half dry before watering. In winter, wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering, and also avoid problems with waterlogging.

5. Fertilizing

Generally, in the first half of the year, you can apply a compound fertilizer to the pineapple once every half month. The ratio of this compound fertilizer can simply be prepared with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In winter, stop fertilizing, because when the temperature is too low the pineapple cannot absorb the nutrients from the fertilizer, and it may instead burn its roots.

A potted pineapple has a rather graceful plant shape. Placed indoors, it can effectively green up the environment, and it is also fairly simple to grow. If you like pineapples, do not throw away the crown after eating one; grown indoors, it can become a beautiful potted plant.