Growing a pineapple from a pineapple top can be a bit tricky but also rewarding. The process is straightforward and yet you get a free pineapple plant from what is essentially considered "plant waste". This method might need a week or two to get started but most commercial pineapple cultivars are seedless and other techniques take even longer.
This is also a fun project for an entire family to partake in and may be quite the mesmerizing experience to watch a tree grow from a pineapple crown. Here is all one needs to know to get started with how to grow a pineapple tree from the top.
When and Where to Plant Pineapple Trees
Before we teach you how to grow pineapple from a pineapple top, first, we must make you aware of where and when the pineapple can be planted so that you can decide the best location to plant from the pineapple top for the highest chances of success.
Pineapples do not like to sit in water, so the most ideal growing medium for pineapples would be well-draining sandy loam soil or DIY it by mixing potting soil, sand, and perlite.
Make the soil rich in organic matter and mix well the compost or aged manure. The soil should be slightly acidic with the pH of the soil sitting between between 4.5 and 6.5.
Location and Light
Pineapple plants are fond of full sun, therefore they need up to six to eight hours of bright light each day to grow and flower well. Position the tree so it will get consistent and direct sunlight without any obstruction during the day.
If you plant them indoors, then place your pineapple in a sunny window; if your space does not get enough sunlight, place an artificial grow light. A lack of sunlight leads to much weaker growth and increases the risk of pests and diseases.
Site Preparation
If you are planting it in the soil, prepare your site for plantation in advance to avoid any complications. Clear the area of any weeds, grass, or other debris to decrease the competition for water and nutrients.
That is not the only benefit as it also minimizes the risk of pests and diseases due to ample space and air circulation, which prevents stagnant musty air, which attracts insects. All of this should allow the pineapples to spread their canopy without any issues.
The spacing is usually not a problem when growing pineapples from the top, since most people would opt to grow them in flowerpots. However, if you want to grow several pineapples in the soil, then you may want to consider planting pineapples in trenches.
The spacing between pineapples in a trench should be about 2 feet (60 cm) between the two rows and 1 foot within the row to allow for good aeration, sunlight exposure, and room without being overcrowded.
Planting Time
Pineapples should be planted in late winter to early spring from December to March depending on your region. Essentially it's ideal to plant them 12-15 months before the peak flowering seasons under natural conditions.
However, for people living in tropical climates, it can be grown throughout the year by having the harvest fall between March and July. Indoors, the plant may take up to 3 years to bloom if it does not get enough sunlight or will never flower at all.
Methods To Plant Pineapple: Step-By-Step
So how do I grow a pineapple top? There are two common planting techniques to go on about with the planting of pineapples from top. The first method is to submerge a dried pineapple stem in a cup of water before transplanting it into the soil.
The second method skips the soaking steps entirely and plants the crown directly into the soil, while the second method is quicker, the first one ensures a higher chance of success by ensuring a successful rooting as well as disease resistance. Here's an in-depth look into both the methods:
Before we can get started, first we need to prepare the pineapple. After lopping off the head, twist off the leafy top of the pineapple. Make sure to ensure that the leafy top is undamaged all the way to the base as much as possible.
Luckily removing them shouldn't be a problem as the top of a properly ripe pineapple will come right off. Strip off the lower leaves of the top so 1-2 inches of the inner stem are exposed as this is where the new root buds will emerge from.
Step 2: Dry The Pineapple
After removing the lower leaves, it's not strictly necessary but it would be good for your rooting success rates if you were to set the pineapple stem aside for 1-2 days outside of direct sun and allow the cut end to dry out.
Doing this just before planting allows you to help reduce the chances of your pineapple contracting root rot as pineapples are especially susceptible to diseases from simply being exposed to water.
Once you have dried the pineapple top for a day or two, place the stem in a small cup in a location with bright and indirect sunlight. Make sure to keep the crown in clean warm water and change the water every other day.
After a week the crown should start to grow roots which should be visible. Continue this process for about three weeks at which point the plant will be ready to be potted into the soil after the roots have grown 2-3 inches long.
Step 4: Transplant The Stem
Transplant the crown in a potting mix suitable for succulents and cacti or any good organic potting mix if the previously mentioned mix is unavailable or alternatively you can create your potting mix.
Make sure to choose a container with good drainage and plant the stem such that the lowest leaves are just above the soil. Pack the soil tightly around the stem to keep it standing upright.
Step 5: Place In Bright Spot
After having transplanted the plant into a pot, place it in a bright and indirectly lit place, trying to emulate its natural tropical environment. Water the plant when it starts to get dry, fertilizing once a month in spring and summer.
After about two months, the plant should be snugly grabbing the soil which should indicate a successful root growth and you should also be seeing signs of new leaf growth, coming from the middle of the plant.
Yet again, prepare the pineapple for planting by slicing the top of the pineapple just below the crown. Then twist off the leafy part of the pineapple which will comprise the stem once grown.
Since this method has lower rates of germination, you should prepare multiple pineapple tops in case some of them fail as the entire process takes about a month to find out whether the planting was successful.
Step 2: Dry The Top
While this step was optional previously due to the method having a higher rate of germination, we do not recommend skipping this step for the second method as it will help you improve your chances of successful rooting.
First, remove 1-2 inches of lower leaves on the stems and allow them to dry for several days out of the sun. Once this step is completed, we can get planting.
Step 3: Planting The Top
You can plant the rootless top in the same soil mixture mentioned in the previous method such as a potting mix suitable for succulents and cacti or a DIY mix made of potting soil, sand, and perlite.
Make sure to bury the crown only up to the base of the leaves. Water the plants thoroughly and then move the pot to a location with bright indirect light.
After about 2 to 3 weeks have passed from the planting of the pineapple top to the soil, you should be able to see the emergence of new leaves from the middle of the grown which will indicate that the plant has rooted successfully and is now starting to grow.
If you do not see any signs of further pineapple activity and they still remain loosely attached to the soil then the particular plant stem failed to germinate roots and will not grow into a pineapple plant.
Pineapple Plant Care
When growing a pineapple from a top, you can't let your guard down even if the top of your pineapple has managed to successfully grow roots. You need to monitor them affectionately and give them the appropriate care in order to allow them to thrive and eventually produce a fruit.
Pineapples are drought-tolerant and are highly susceptible to root rot, so it can make sense for you to keep the plants moderately moist and mostly dry for fear of water-induced root diseases. However, pineapples are drought-tolerant, not drought-proof.
If the leaves turn light green, yellow, or red with some curling, drought has set in and you should increase your water levels. If possible you should buy a moisture meter to check the moisture at the root level for pineapples due to how finicky they are.
Fertilizer
As your pineapple plant grows, if you want it to flower earlier rather than 3 years later, you should provide it with a steady well-balanced supply of a slow-release organic fertilizer (1:1:1 NPK).
Follow the instructions on how to make use of fertilizer on the label to the letter and store it well to avoid runoff fertilized water from reaching the river or the water system which can cause eutrophication.
Repotting
Usually, repotting is not needed if you have already set up your pineapple plants in a container of big enough size right in the very beginning. However, if on the off chance, your plant starts growing too large for its container, then it is time to repot it.
You can repot the plants once they are established which should be about 3 months from their time of planting. Ideally, move them into a 5-gallon container if you want them to continue growing to their maximum size without any further repotting.
Pruning
Generally, pineapple plants don’t need any pruning as they have no winter cycle where they brown their leaves deliberately in preparation for the fall. However, it can keep them healthy by pruning any unnecessary deadweight that could weigh down the delicate plant.
If the plants are indoors then they can be pruned at any time while outdoor plants should be pruned in spring. Make sure to cut off any dead or brown leaves and prioritize removing leaves near the bottom.
It's no secret that pineapples as tropical plants will die in freezing temperatures. But even if you are lucky enough to live in a USDA hardiness zone region without freezing temperatures, you should still know that a temperature above a certain level isn't good for the pineapples either.
Since the growth of the pineapples halts below 60°F (16°C) and above 90°F (32°C), you should ideally attempt to control the temperature of the environment to keep the pineapples right in the middle between 68°F to 86°F (20-30°C) which is the sweet spot. If you're lucky maybe you can even get them to flower in the first year.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Some of the most common pests that invade pineapple plants are scales and mealybugs. Luckily they are pretty easy to deal with on pineapples than on other plants as you can just wipe them off the plant and treat the pineapples with neem oil as the pineapples are resistant to the side effects of neem.
Regarding the diseases, if you happen to notice your pineapple leaves yellowing or blackening at the base then it's possible that the plant may have root rot which is caused by having too much water. In this case, remove the plant from its container, cut off dead roots, and plant it again in fresh soil.
When to Grow Pineapple Outdoors?
If you are growing pineapples in a non-tropical climate then it would be best for you to provide overwintering care or move the plant indoors if potted as like most tropical plants, pineapples can't handle the cold. While damage doesn't occur above freezing temperatures, being under 60°F (16°C) will greatly slow the growth.
If your pineapple is in a flowering plant then luckily you can still get the best of both worlds by moving the pineapples into filtered shade outdoors during late spring and summer to soak up warm rains and humidity and speed up their growing process. This should allow your pineapples to fruit before 3 years.
If you can't move your pineapple plants somewhere else such as a patio greenhouse due to permanently being anchored to the outdoor soil then worry not. Once the temperature starts to dip below 50°F (10°C), cover them with a lightweight blanket, old bedsheets, or frost blankets.
If the blankets are too heavy, make sure to make a frame and cover the plants by placing the blankets over the frames to prevent stressing the leaves of the plant. Keep the soil barely moist and use rocks to secure the lighter blankets to ensure that they don't get blown away by the wind.
Do Pineapples Grow On Trees?
No, pineapples do not grow on trees, nor are their plants considered trees, contrary to popular belief owing to the usage of the word "pine". The pineapple plants are herbaceous perennials and grow as shrubs.
The plant itself is mainly a series of long, narrow leaves that stem from a central base and reach up to a maximum height of 3 to 5 feet tall at full size.
Propagating Pineapple
Although the pineapple plants bloom only once, they do not die off like annuals. Instead, once the fruit has been harvested from a pineapple plant, the mother plant begins to slowly wither and decrease in size but not without producing ratoons, i.e. baby pineapple plant off-shoots either from the ground or as aerial shoots.
These shoots form around the base or under the soil and can either be planted into another pot or left as it is to grow a new pineapple plant. However, if a mother plant has multiple off-shoots, it may result in overcrowding and poor growth for the next generation of pineapples.
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Pineapple From A Top?
If the plants of pineapple are planted indoors, considering that the conditions for growth are good, it should take a minimum of 2 to 3 years to start flowering and produce fruit. Pineapple plants planted outdoors, especially in tropical climates should take even quicker.
However in less than optimum conditions, regardless of whether they have been planted indoors or outdoors, it may take them more than 3-5 years or even longer. And that is if it ever even happens at all.
If your pineapple plants have been growing steadily and are completely healthy with still no sign of flowers in their third year then you can attempt to force them to flower. This can be done by purchasing calcium carbide powder or fragments from a chemical store and reacting them with water to release ethylene gas on the top of the plant.
Make sure to place the powder into an empty water bottle, perforate the cap of the bottle, and invert the bottle onto the top of the plant top once they are releasing gas to help prevent plant burns from the exothermic chemical reaction between calcium carbide and water.
All pineapple plants produce only a single fruit and it could take well over one and a half years for the plant to finally start blooming and another month or two for the fruit to fully ripen. Once the fruit turns golden brown and begins to smell delicious, harvest your pineapple from the stem with a sharp knife.
Once the pineapple is harvested, most pineapples will produce off-shoots often known as pups. If you want to have a new pineapple crop in the same area, remove all but the largest pup ratoon and it will soon proceed to develop into a new mature pineapple plant.
How To Harvest Ripe Pineapples?
Make sure to select the pineapples with a golden yellow color which indicates the ripeness. They start yellowing from the bottom up and the more yellow the pineapple is, the more sweet it can be.
However, avoid waiting until the pineapple fruits develop a fermented odor or an orange color as those fruits are starting to become overripe and will spoil soon.
Growing pineapples from tops differs from other methods significantly because pineapples are grown from other methods such as seeds take at least three years to fully be capable of bearing fruit and it is expected that only 1 or 2 seeds will germinate from an entire fruit's worth of seeds.
Additionally, because the majority of the stem mass already exists in the form of a plant top, it can establish itself faster and is less vulnerable to poor weather while also significantly cutting down on the needed growing time.
