Give a pineapple from the grocery store a second life as a houseplant.
Pineapple Care
The pineapple plant is native to South America.
Indoors, place your pineapple houseplant near a sunny window.
Credit:Home Depot
If your space doesnt get enough light, use anartificial grow light.
Pineapple plants require good drainage and prefer slightly acidic soil.
Water it when the soil surface feels dry and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Temperature And Humidity
Pineapples aretropical plantsthat need temperatures of at least 50oF, preferably 65oF to 85oF.
Temperatures under 60F slow the plant’s growth, but damage doesn’t occur until temperatures drop below freezing.
Pruning
Pineapple plants dont need much pruning, but it helps to keep them healthy.
Cut off any dead or damaged leaves and brown tips.
Prune indoor plants any time of year and outdoor plants in the spring.
Propagating Pineapple
Pineapple plants bloom and produce fruit only once.
After the fruit has been harvested, the mother plant begins to die off.
The pups can be planted into another pot to grow a new pineapple plant.
Potting And Repotting Pineapple
Once the pineapple plant is established, repot it into a 5-gallon container.
This size should accommodate the plant during its entire lifespan; pineapple plants rarelyneed to be repotted.
Keep the soil barely moist during winter.
It is normal for the growth to slow down in temperatures below 60F.
Common Pests And Plant Diseases
Scale and mealybugs are common pests that invade pineapple plants.
Wipe them off the plants leaves and treat them with neem oil until the pests are gone.
Remove the plant from its container, cut off any dead roots, and plant in fresh soil.
Harvesting Your Pineapple
A pineapple plant produces a single fruit in its lifetime.
Once the fruit turns golden brown and begins to smell ripe, remove your pineapple with a sharp knife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both methods work and have their pros and cons.
You might have better success rooting the pineapple too directly in the soil although it takes longer.
Applying rooting hormone may speed up the rooting but it is not required.
