While you have likely eaten the bright yellow pineapple fruit, you may not know that you can grow a pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) as a houseplant. What’s great is they’re typically available year-round from most plant delivery specialists, and it’s generally easy to grow these terrestrial bromeliads at home, as long as you provide the tropical conditions they love. Their large leaves and exotic look liven up any home. But, producing fruit takes some patience. Once you are rewarded with the exquisite flower and fruit, you’ll fall even more in love with this plant.
- Pineapple Plant Care – The Essentials
- About Pineapple Plants (Ananas comosus)
- Pineapple Plants Meaning & Symbolism
- How to Grow Pineapple Plants Indoors at Home
- Pineapple Plant Care
- Common Pineapple Plant Problems & How to Treat Them
- Essential Tools for Pineapple Plant Care
- Wrap Up
- The Best of Petal Republic
Pineapple Plant Care – The Essentials
Pineapple plants are native to tropical South America and thrive in conditions that mimic this environment. They require temperatures between 65-95ºF, high humidity, and at least 12 hours of sun during the summer. Choose a well-draining soil with a pH of 4.5-6.5, and water only when the soil is dry.
About Pineapple Plants (Ananas comosus)
What is a Pineapple Plant?
The pineapple plant is a short-lived perennial plant with large leaves that form a rosette. Plants grown as ornamental houseplants are the same species as pineapple plants grown for edible fruit production.
Botanical Classification
Pineapple plants are members of the bromeliad family. Its genus is Ananas, and its species is comosus.
Origins and History
Pineapple plants are native to the tropical forests of Southern Brazil and Paraguay. Native people carried these plants throughout much of South and Central America to cultivate them as food.
Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover pineapple plants in 1493 on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. After this first encounter, Europeans went on to carry pineapple plants throughout the world during the 1500s and 1600s.
Popular Cultivars
‘Smooth Cayenne’ is one of the most common cultivars in commercial pineapple fruit production.
‘Variegatus’ has brilliant red, green, and yellow striped leaves. However, its fruit is not edible.
Will Pineapple Plants Produce Fruit When Grown Indoors as Houseplants?
Pineapple plants are capable of producing fruit when they are grown indoors, but this process requires some time.
After two years, the plants are mature enough to produce a flower. However, sometimes plants won’t produce blooms due to cold temperatures, a lack of sun, or other factors.
Depending on the variety and environmental conditions, the fruit may or may not taste good. Ornamental varieties produce small fruits that serve as decorations, while culinary varieties produce larger, delicious fruits.
How Long Will Pineapple Plants Typically Live?
While pineapple plants are perennials, they rarely live more than six years if they produce fruit. After producing fruit, the plant quality will decline. However, the plant will begin producing offshoots which may be propagated to form new plants.
Are Pineapple Plants Toxic to Humans and/or Pets?
No. Pineapple plants are safe for humans and pets, but they may cause slight skin irritations upon touch.
Uses & Benefits of Pineapple Plants
Both the fruit and vegetation of pineapple plants have many uses. Mature fruit is sweet and provides vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and magnesium.
People sometimes use the toxic flesh of immature fruits to induce abortion and remove intestinal worms.
Pineapple plant leaves contain a strong fiber that can be extracted through a process that involves pounding and digestion via microbes. Once the process is complete, humans use the fibers to make fishing nets, cigar wraps, and clothing.
Pineapple leaves and fruit also contain an enzyme mixture known as bromelain. Cooks use this substance as a meat tenderizer and scientists are researching medical uses.
Pineapple Plants Meaning & Symbolism
After the initial discovery of the pineapple, Europeans viewed the plants as a symbol of beauty, due to their unique fruits. Pineapple plants also symbolize hospitality, since it required a large amount of effort for Europeans to provide guests with a ripe pineapple fruit.
How to Grow Pineapple Plants Indoors at Home
Growth Expectations
Pineapple plants are relatively slow-growing plants that max out at 2-4 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. As the plants grow, they produce more leaves. Once the plant has 25 leaves, it may flower and fruit under the right conditions.
What to Do Before Planting
- Select a container. Even when pineapples grow to a large size, they have a shallow root system. Therefore, they don’t require huge containers — a one-gallon container works for a juvenile plant and a five-gallon container is large enough for a mature plant. Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes.
- Find a warm and sunny location. Pineapple plants will struggle if the temperature falls below 65ºF, so find a location away from any cold drafts or windows. Make sure the area receives at least 12 hours of bright, direct light during the summer.
- Account for growth. When you choose a location for your container and plant, remember that pineapple plants can grow up to five feet wide.
What’s the Best Soil Mix for Pineapple Plants?
Pineapple plants perform best in a soil mix with the following characteristics.
Slightly acidic: Aim for a potting mix with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5, as pineapple plants do not like basic soil.
Well-draining: Even though pineapple plants are native to the tropics, they hate sitting in standing water. Materials such as perlite, coco chips, and pine bark will increase drainage.
How to Plant Pineapple Plants
To plant a pineapple plant, follow these steps.
- Fill the container with soil mix. Using a soil mix similar to that described above, fill your container 2/3 of the way full.
- Place the plant in the container. Place roots into the soil and cover with more soil mix. It’s okay to cover the base of the bottom leaves.
- Loosely tamp the soil. Pineapple plants like a little air around their roots, so don’t compact the soil too much.
Pineapple Plant Light Preferences
Pineapple plants need lots of bright light. In the summer, they should receive at least 12 hours of light a day. Unlike a lot of houseplants, they prefer direct light.
An area near a large south-facing window is often the best choice.
Temperature & Humidity Preferences
As a tropical plant, it’s no surprise these plants love hot and humid conditions.
Aim to keep the air temperature between 65-85ºF to keep your plants happy. Also, make sure to avoid areas that receive cold drafts, such as near exterior doors.
To provide humidity, mist your pineapple plant once a week.
Pineapple Plant Care
How To Water Pineapple Plants
Pineapple plants need regular watering, but they are also drought tolerant. The most important tip is to not overwater since these plants hate sitting in standing water.
As with most plants, the frequency of watering depends on a number of environmental factors. With that said, water your pineapple plant when the top inch of soil dries out.
Plants require more water in the summer when they are actively growing and transpiring. As the darker days of winter arrive, plants will require less frequent waterings.
Your pineapple plant will also require more water in hot and dry conditions than in humid, cooler conditions.
How to Fertilize a Pineapple Plant
During the late spring through early fall, fertilize every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. In the late fall through early spring, fertilize once every two months.
How to Prune a Pineapple Plant
Pineapple plants don’t require regular pruning, but you may choose to remove suckers as they appear.
When you see suckers, aka pups, growing from your pineapple plant, you can remove them with a sharp knife. Simply cut the pups off at their base.
How to Propagate a Pineapple Plant
Fortunately, it’s easy to propagate pineapple plants via a number of different methods.
Propagating from a Pineapple Fruit
Even if you don’t have access to a pineapple plant, you can start growing one at home with the help of a store-bought fruit. By following these simple steps, you can add a pineapple plant to your home.
- Choose a healthy fruit. Look for a pineapple that has bright green leaves.
- Remove the top. Once you get your fruit home, remove the leafy top from the fruit. Make sure to remove any remaining fruit flesh from the base of the top. Strip off a few of the lower leaves to remove 1/4” of the leaf base.
- Place in soil. Place the top into the soil so the bottom leaves are flush with the soil surface.’
- Place in a warm sunny, location. The cutting will thrive in an environment similar to established pineapple plants.
- Water. As the plant is forming roots, water about once a week.
- Wait. Within two months, the plant should form roots. After this point, you will notice new growth.
Propagating from Suckers and Slips
Although pineapple plants die once they produce fruit, they will produce material that can be used to propagate new pineapple plants.
A sucker is a small plant offset that forms on the stem from auxiliary buds. A slip is also an offset, but it grows from below the pineapple fruit from a leaf axil.
You can propagate suckers and slips following these steps.
- Remove the sucker/slip. Use your hands to grab the sucker or slip at the base and twist off from the rest of the plant. Alternatively, you can use a sharp knife to remove the starting material.
- Dry. Once you’ve removed the material, set it in a dry, dark location to dry for two or three days. This allows the tissue to form a scar over its wound.
- Plant. Place the sucker or slip in a container filled with a well-draining soil mix. Only cover the bottom 1/2” of material with soil.
- Wait. Place the planted material in a location preferred by mature pineapple plants. After one to two months, your offset should from roots and resume growth.
How to Repot a Pineapple Plant
Since pineapple plants have shallow root systems and don’t live for more than five years, they rarely need to be repotted. If you see your plant is outgrowing its current container, it’s time to repot.
It’s best to repot pineapple plants in the late fall to winter when they are not actively growing. Chose a pot of a similar size, add fresh potting soil, and place the plant in the pot.
Common Pineapple Plant Problems & How to Treat Them
Pineapple plants are easy to care for, but that doesn’t mean they’re problem-free. Keep an eye out for the following.
Common Pineapple Plant Pests
Mealybugs are white, waxy insects that suck sap from pineapple plant leaves. They deposit a sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the growth of black mold.
Scale insects are flat, round insects that also suck sap. They often cause rust-colored spots on pineapple leaves.
If you notice a small number of mealybugs or scale insects, remove them by hand. If your plant has a large infestation, you may spray the insects with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Why won’t my Pineapple Plant flower?
Even after your plant reaches full maturity, it might not produce flowers and fruit. If this is the case, the first step is to check your environment.
Make sure your plant is receiving at least 12 hours of light in the summer and the temperature is above 65ºF. If the environment looks good, you can attempt to induce flowering.
Flowering in plants is triggered by the gaseous hormone ethylene. Apples produce large amounts of ethylene, so they’re helpful for encouraging plants to flower.
Place an apple near your pineapple plant. You may cover your plant with a bag to keep the ethylene in. Replace the apple if it starts to deteriorate. You should notice a flower forming within 2-3 months.
Essential Tools for Pineapple Plant Care
Pineapple plants don’t require any specific tools. Some varieties do have spiny, sharp leaves, so a pair of thick gloves can make handling the plant easier.
Wrap Up
Pineapple plants add a stunning bit of the tropics to your home and may even provide a beautiful fruit. As long as you provide the warm, humid environment these plants love, they will thrive in any home.
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Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.
