Pineapple is a tropical plant that doesn’t require much care, but it should be kept in mind that it is native to South America, so it will grow best in tropical or temperate climates.

Next, we show you how to plant a pineapple so you can enjoy its benefits and rich flavor. Just buy a ripe pineapple, not too green or too ripe: with firm green leaves, brown to golden skin and firm to the touch.

Steps to Plant a Pineapple

1. Cut or tear off the crown of the pineapple, being careful not to remove the leaves or the plant will not grow well. The crown will be the root and you need to cut off the part of the fruit that has been left around. Remove some of the lower leaves so that the stem is exposed, which will help it produce roots better.
2. Leave the stem upside down near a window for about 1 week to dry and its wounds close. After this time, you can plant the pineapple directly in a pot, but there are those who prefer to soak the crown. To do this, select a container with a mouth that is large enough to fit the crown of the pineapple and small enough that it can be held and not completely submerged. Glue 4 toothpicks around the stem just enough to hold it, just below the leaves, so that they are supported in the container by submerging the stem by only a few fingers and the leaves protrude from the surface.
3. Place the container near a sunny window and wait for the roots to grow, a process that will take a few weeks. Avoid extreme temperatures for the pineapple plant and change the water every 2 to 3 days to prevent mold from growing in the submerged area.
4. Prepare a pot of about 25 cm with garden soil containing organic matter to plant the wreath. Mixing equal parts coconut coir, earthworm humus and peat is highly recommended. When the roots are a few inches long, it is the perfect time to plant it, because if you do it before time, it will not take well. The base of the leaves should be above the ground, pressing hard around it.
5. Keep the plant perfectly hydrated and in a warm, humid environment where the nighttime temperature never drops below 18º C. You can take the plant outdoors if you live in temperate climates, but you’ll need to keep it indoors as houseplants during the winter months and place it next to the window exposed to the sun. A light watering once a week will suffice and you can spray water on it for better hydration.
6. During the summer months, you will need to fertilize the pineapple plant with medium solubility fertilizers 2 times a day. It will be convenient for you to move the plant to a larger pot from time to time until you transplant it directly into the ground. But be careful with the place chosen, it must benefit from the same care as indoor plants.

Where do pineapples come from?

Most pineapples do not contain seeds, so they are grown through the stem. This makes it much safer because a new plant won’t always grow through the seed.

Once we plant the plant, it can take years for the flowers to appear. Then you will see a red cone between the leaves that will be followed by some blue flowers and, finally, the fruit will come, which will take about 6 months to complete its development. The pineapple will grow from this raised blue flower in the center of the plant.

But there’s a quicker method if you know someone who already has a pineapple seedling, so they just have to give you a sapling. To do this, separate the young tree from the mother plant, leaving at least one for its death, and plant it in a small pot or seedbed until it grows and we can change it to a larger pot.

Plant Care Tips

Unlike other plants, pineapple needs to be fertilized throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to add fertilizer or organic fertilizer every 15 days. Don’t let the soil dry out, but don’t overwater it either, and if possible, don’t overwater it with tap water.

The ideal time to plant pineapple is in the spring, when the temperature begins to rise, so that it can grow and strengthen during the warm months and prepare for the winter months. It is also advisable to plant 2 pineapples in case one does not become a new plant.

Finally, even if you think it can be used as a houseplant, to get pineapples of an optimal size the plant should be 1.8 m high and 1.8 m wide. And be careful when picking pineapples, as their sap contains powerful enzymes that can irritate the skin.

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