Water whenever the top few centimetres of compost feel dry in spring and summer; allow any excess to drain away. Keep barely moist in winter. Snip off any dry leaves and give the occasional dust with a fine brush. Rotate occasionally to ensure even growth.
Place the plant in an area that receives at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily. Water the plant only when the soil dries out, and fertilize it twice a month with general indoor plant fertilizer. You can even place the plant outdoors in a shady area that gets good ambient light for the summer.
Pineapple plants tolerate drought and sandy soil so long as careful attention is placed on water and fertilizer needs. Water once every seven days unless the soil does not hold water well. During long, hot, dry periods, water the plant more frequently, especially if it is flowering or setting fruit.
Site Selection. In general, pineapple plants should be planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production. Select a part of the landscape away from other trees and buildings and structures. Remember, pineapple plants need full sun for best growth and production.
Much less well known is the smaller version of the fruit, the mini pineapple or baby pineapple. This fruit does not grow much larger than 10-20 centimetres. EAT ME mini pineapples weigh no more than 400 grams.
Given the right conditions, it may produce edible fruit within three or four years. The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. In the wild, it grows on the ground and is pollinated by hummingbirds. Like all bromeliads, once it has flowered and has produced a fruit, it will start to die back.
Pineapples love warm, sunny conditions. Keep it at warm room temperature, ideally between 22 and 28 degrees Celcius. Pineapple plants are able to absorb some water through their leaves. They do not need a lot of water, so wait until the soil has dried out before watering, and then water the leaves and soil.
Growing Pineapple Outdoors: Pineapples can reliably be grown outdoors only in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 11-12. Growing Pineapple in Containers: Consider keeping the pots outside until freezing temperatures threaten, then moving indoors to the brightest spot in the house (a south facing window is best).
That's because the pineapple plant is one of the few tropical fruits that are really well suited to growing in pots, and that means you can grow pineapple plants indoors. Having said that, to grow good pineapple fruit (and in reasonable amounts) you need to live somewhere that is warm and sunny year round.
When it comes to light, bromeliads aren't super fussy, and they make great low light indoor plants. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves, but some bromeliads grown indoors can suffer it they're not getting enough light too. For best results, put your bromeliad in a spot where it gets medium to bright light.
Though the fruit of your Bromeliad Pineapple is edible, please note that it is not organically grown. Do Not Overwater!
Bromeliad pups can be safely removed when they are 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the mother plant. Another good indicator that the offsets can survive on their own is the presence of roots. Root formation is not necessary for a pup to survive so don't be alarmed if they don't exist yet.
It's important you spot this asap because if ignored, your plant will start to rot. To stop this, you'll need to repot it. So take it out of its current home, making sure you remove any affected roots. Then pop in a new pot full of fresh soil.
Did you know: Lifespan of a pineapple plant is 7 years. First fruit is borne only after the 2nd year. Every year thereafter each plant produces only 1 fruit.
Coffee Grounds. Coffee grounds have a high nitrogen level, and Pineapple needs nitrogen. Sprinkle over the coffee grounds and sprinkle a little water on it. Pineapples prefer a well-drained soil pH of 4.5 to 6.5.
As mentioned above, the best fertilizer for pineapple is an NPK fertilizer with 6-6-6 or 10-10-10 values. Solid fertilizer applications are made in months two and four after planting the pineapple, while foliar fertilizers are applied every two weeks from months six to fourteen.
Also known as Dwarf or Miniature Pineapple plants, they have smaller fruits than the pineapples we're used to seeing in the supermarket. It is grown more as an ornamental plant and the fruit it produces is edible but very bitter.
Only one fruit is produced per pineapple plant. Sometimes you can harvest a second crop, the ratoon crop.
Water/Humidity: Since tropicals can handle lots of water and moisture, remember to water this plant regularly to help its flower and fruit eventually develop. Water the soil directly and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water once a week when the soil surface is dry.
Potting and Repotting Pineapple
Pineapples typically should not need repotting. A newly-rooted pineapple will grow long, strappy leaves (about 30-inches long in a healthy plant) that are fiercely serrated (so be careful when handling them!).
Since pineapples are stored stem side up, gravity makes the juices run to the bottom. Resting the pineapple upside down for 30 minutes helps the juices to run back down and distribute for evenly juicy pieces. After 30 minutes, cut off the other end of the pineapple.