By KERSASP SHEKHDAR Kersasp Shekhdar, Gardener Kersie is a professional and vocational writer who learnt the basics of gardening as a toddler, courtesy of his grandfather. He is an active gardener with a preference for flowering plants. Mollie Brown, Digital Web Editor Mollie is a Gardening and Sustainability Writer from Cheshire in the UK. She graduated from the University of Leeds with an MA in Creative Writing in 2022.
Reviewed By MOLLIE BROWN
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) Select A Pineapple Plant
- 2) Prepare The Top
- 3) Dry The Crown Out
- 4) Select A Suitable Spot
- 5) Choose A Container
- 6) Make The Compost
- 7) Plant The Pineapple Top
Some people like a challenge, others like a long-term project.
Planting pineapple tops is both; it’s a long-term challenge!
If you’re someone who is looking for a challenging project and you have plenty of time to spare, this post is for you.
Growing a pineapple plant from its top rosette in the UK is difficult, but the payoff is amazing and you might be rewarded with home-grown pineapples.
Pineapple plants require temperatures of at least 16°C and above and need full sun to fully thrive.
So, if you have a greenhouse, you’re good to go, otherwise, a well-positioned window in your home will serve you well.
Grow it right by following these steps, and you’ll have your own pineapple plant:
- Select a pineapple plant to grow, prioritising vigorous fruits that show little signs of wilting.
- Prepare the top for planting by cutting the top 4cm from the rosette.
- Dry the pineapple top for 4-5 days in a warm, dry spot.
- Select the perfect spot (ideally south-facing in full sun) to grow your plant.
- Choose a container for your pineapples – I would suggest a 25L pot with a diameter of 40cm would suffice.
- Prepare the compost, using pebbles and gravel at the base to allow for a free-draining medium.
- Plant the pineapple top into the container and firm it around the top.
- Water and feed the growing pineapple plant when needed. It will take 2-3 years to see fruits from your plant.
This process is explained in more depth in the steps below.
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Equipment Required | Gardening knife, thick gloves, plant pot, growing medium |
| When To Plant | March to July |
1) Select A Pineapple Plant
Yes, you do have to select a pineapple, as the plant will be grown from its foliage rosette, also called the crown, which needs to have sufficient vigour.
Take a pass on fruits that have greyish, brownish or wilting crowns or ones that look less than fresh.
Choose a top that has full and rigid foliage, looks fresh and is of a deep green hue.
Another indicator is the scent, as a fresh but ripe pineapple will exude a very pleasant fragrance.
It may sit for a few days before you proceed to the next step but make sure to avoid undue lengthy delay.
2) Prepare The Top
You’ll need a wide-bladed sharp knife and a thick glove to wear on the hand you’ll hold the pineapple with.
Cut off the top part of the pineapple at a point about 4cm down from the foliage rosette.
Cut away the fruit around the outer part of that top section to expose the smooth-looking, pale-yellow core.
Now, using your hands, peel down and tear off several of the lowermost and outermost leaves.
This will expose a yellowy-white section: the stalk. It will have a rough, corrugated appearance.
Finally, trim a little of that pale yellow core at the basal part with one clean slicing action so as to leave a flat bottom surface.
All of the rough, corrugated-looking, cylindrical parts underneath the rosette should be left as is.
3) Dry The Crown Out
From the most technical step, we proceed to the easiest.
Put the prepared top on its side on top of a newspaper in a well-aired and dry spot where it will get a couple of hours of sunlight daily.
Rotate it at a half-turn after a couple of days.
Let it sit for a total of 4-5 days to dry and callus before planting it.
Don’t worry about leaving it, you’ll have a lot to do in the meantime!
4) Select A Suitable Spot
Pineapple plants thrive in a sheltered, south-facing location that is in full sun and is relatively humid.
If you have a hobbyist greenhouse, then that is the perfect spot.
Otherwise, choose the sunniest spot indoors that is well-ventilated but not completely dry, as a humid environment is preferable.
If you have French doors or bow windows that let in sun, you are probably all set.
A pineapple plant should get full sun all through its life cycle.
A south-facing window can be ideal, but you will have to try to maximise the sunlight that comes through it.
The temperature should stay at 20°C and above and stoop no lower than 16°C.
Even though somewhat lower temperatures will not kill the plant, your pineapple will struggle and growth will be compromised.
5) Choose A Container
You can, if you wish, start with a 5L pot and keep potting up the plant periodically, but be aware that this is not actually needed.
Unlike some flowering plants, pineapples do not need to be grown in a pot that is only just large enough for their roots and it is actually fine if their roots are lost in the pot.
Remember, those who live in tropical and subtropical regions grow pineapples in the open ground!
If you plant it in a small pot and intend to keep potting up, its growth will be adversely affected if it becomes pot-bound in any way, which will not be easy to correct.
Eventually, to a lesser or greater extent, the plant will be stunted, the flowers will be fewer, and the fruit will be smaller than it would have been otherwise.
Therefore, I’d recommend planting the pineapple top in the container in which it will complete its lifecycle.
My recommendation would be to opt for a container that has a capacity of 25L and a diameter of roughly 40cm.
Whatever pot you opt for, it must have drainage holes.
6) Make The Compost
Firstly, place a layer of pebbles and gravel in the base of the container.
Make a moderately fertile, but not overly rich, friable and loose soil that is very well draining.
One-part balanced loam, one-part grit or perlite, one-part potting soil, and one-part ericaceous compost will be perfect.
Ericaceous compost is a very important component because the optimal soil pH for pineapple plants is in the range of 4.5-5.5.
7) Plant The Pineapple Top
Fill the container with the soil mix but do not pack it in, let it remain loose.
Make a small, shallow depression with your hand in the centre of the container.
Take the pineapple top and insert it into the hole, adjusting as necessary so that the corrugated-looking cylindrical part is beneath the soil and all of the foliage is above it.
Level up the medium and firm it up around the top; water in the planted top.
8) Water & Feed As Required
In the initial stages water liberally, aiming to keep the medium continuously moist, watering every few days.
After you see fresh foliage sprouting, you can ease off a bit on the watering, allowing the medium down to 1-2cm to dry out before you water again.
As the plant grows, keep an eye on the foliage – all of it should be green and turgid.
If the outer leaves are not turgid and are limp or wilting, then the plant is not getting sufficient water.
On the other hand, do not at any time soak the soil or keep it damp, as pineapple plants can contract root rot and succumb to it.
Reduce watering a little, allowing the soil to dry out some more during the winter months, picking it up again in April.
Water the plant with a rose-fitted watering can from above so that the water catches in the foliage rosette as well as falls in the growing medium.
After a flower stalk develops, you may still water into the rosette, but do not allow any water to fall on the stalk, the buds or the flowers.
Pineapple plants do best when the humidity is high (say from 50-70%).
If, at any time of the year, the humidity stays low (generally any level below 40%), mist the plant’s foliage every week or two.
If you are not sure of the humidity, go ahead and mist – it won’t harm the plant.
After the first new foliage emerges, you can begin to fertilise the plant, doing so every 30-60 days and less often during winter.
For the first 1-2 years, I’d suggest that you use a balanced formula and after this time, switch to a potash-rich mix.
Dilute the fertiliser to about 60% of the recommended strength and feed in moderation, especially when the plant is young.
Water the plant before and after fertilising, and pour fertiliser around the edges of the container.
At some point in around 2-3 years, the plant will send up a stalk which will bear many flowers, from which you will see your tangy, juicy reward gradually form before your eyes.
FAQs
How To Grow A Pineapple Top In 8 Steps | Horticulture.co.uk? ›
Place the pineapple in your prepared pot.
Cover the bottom of the pot with some soil, then place your pineapple in the pot. Fill soil around the plant so the pineapple crown is sticking out of the top. Place the plant in indirect light for the initial few weeks and water the plant when the soil is dry.
Place the pineapple in your prepared pot.
Cover the bottom of the pot with some soil, then place your pineapple in the pot. Fill soil around the plant so the pineapple crown is sticking out of the top. Place the plant in indirect light for the initial few weeks and water the plant when the soil is dry.
This is called the crown of the pineapple. First, remove any excess fruit and remove a few of the lower leaves. This should expose the pre-formed roots. Plant the crown 3 to 4 inches deep in a well-drained container with good potting soil.
How long does it take a pineapple top to root in water? ›Finally, place the pineapple top in bright, indirect light. Rooting should occur in 6 to 8 weeks. When the pineapple has developed a good root system, carefully remove it from the rooting medium.
How often do you water pineapple plants? ›Water weekly (and only a little)
Your pineapple plant loves a good watering in the summer months, but only once a week max. The soil needs to dry out before you water it again, so it should just feel very slightly damp. Too much water in the soul will cause the pineapple plant to rot.
Time to Maturity and Fruiting: Regardless of how it was started, a pineapple plant matures at between two and three years of age when it will bear its first fruit.
What is the best fertilizer for pineapple plants? ›Dry fertilizer mixtures containing 6 to 10% nitrogen (N), 6 to 10% available phosphoric acid (P), 6 to 10% potash (K), and 4 to 6% magnesium (Mg) give satisfactory results with pineapple plants (Table 2).
What is the quickest way to grow a pineapple? ›The easiest, most reliable method to grow your own is by planting the crown removed from a store-bought pineapple. This involves removing the crown with at least one inch of stem attached. The stem and crown are allowed to dry and then planted in a pot with well-draining soil.
Do you need to root a pineapple top before planting? ›You can plant your pineapple top directly in soil or leave it to grow roots in water first and then pot it up. Whichever method you choose, once it's time for potting, choose an appropriately sized pot with a drainage hole. Use a well-draining soil with some gritty material such as bark or perlite to enhance drainage.
Do you water a pineapple plant everyday? ›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.
Can you over water a pineapple plant? ›
Yellow leaves and blackening at the base are due to overwatering. This can kill plants, but it's worth trying to save it. Take the plant out of its container, removing any affected roots, and pot it up in fresh compost. Don't over water from then on – the soil needs to be moist but not soggy.
Why do you soak pineapple in water? ›According to Dr Choi, salt helps inactivate the bromelain enzymes, and even adding a small amount of salt can enhance the fruit's sweetness making it even more delicious, she said. How to add salt? *Soak for around one minute and enjoy!
Are coffee grounds good for pineapple plants? ›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.
How do I know if my pineapple plant needs water? ›Water Needs
You should water your pineapple plant when the soil dries out completely. Pineapple plants tolerate dry soil very well. You can easily check if the soil is dry by inserting a chopstick until you've reached the bottom. If the chopstick comes out dry, it's time for watering pineapple plants.
Pineapples grow best in warm rooms (65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) with good humidity. Occasionally spritzing the leaves with bottled spring water can be helpful. Once your plant begins to grow and fill out, it may take several months to a year before it sets fruit.
Do pineapple plants come back every year? ›If the pineapple mother plant is large and healthy, and if you leave one or two suckers on it while the fruit is developing, additional fruit will form and be ready for harvest about a year after the initial fruit. With good care, most will continue to produce additional fruit every year for several years.
Do pineapple plants multiply? ›Propagation - Commercially the pineapple plant is propagated by vegetative material, an asexual reproduction, without new combinations of genes. However, sexual reproduction is feasible as seeds are produced in the fruits if cross pollination between cultivars occurs, naturally or under controlled conditions.
How many times a year does a pineapple plant produce fruit? ›After flowering, it takes an additional six months for the fruit to fully develop, and only one fruit is produced per year.
Is Epsom salt good for pineapple plants? ›Yes. Pineapple plants require large amounts of potassium, and extra magnesium helps to offset this ionic drain.
What is the best soil mix for pineapple plants? ›Pineapples, which are related to bromeliads, need sandy, loamy soil with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. A cactus and citrus potting mix is ideal. An orchid mix made with one-part peat, one-part coarse sand, and one-part perlite also works.
Are eggshells good for pineapple plants? ›
To fertilize the pineapple plant, you can use coffee grounds, eggshells, rice water, or the compost made by your red worms.
How do you plant a pineapple top indoors? ›Plant the pineapple top: Place the stem about an inch deep into the potting mix, and pack the soil firmly around it. Add more potting soil until the pot is nearly full, but make sure that no more than an inch of the pineapple top is covered in soil.
What do pineapple sprouts look like? ›What Do Pineapple Seedlings Look Like? Pineapple seedlings are cute! They look like miniature pineapple fruit tops. After germination, the tiny leaves will appear and get larger over a period of months.
How do you get a pineapple top to root? ›Planting Pineapple Tops
Place the pineapple top in the soil up to the base of its leaves. Water thoroughly and place it in bright, indirect light. Keep it moist until roots develop. It should take about two months (6-8 weeks) for roots to establish.
Pineapple plants are an excellent choice for planting in home landscapes with little open space. In general, pineapple plants should be planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production.
Why do you put salt in pineapple water? ›Salt triggers bromelain to begin working, so by the time the pineapple reaches your mouth, the enzyme has been inactivated, says Tunick. Dipping fresh pineapple briefly in a saltwater solution is the best way to maximize contact between salt and bromelain.
Why do you soak pineapple in salt water? ›According to Dr Choi, salt helps inactivate the bromelain enzymes, and even adding a small amount of salt can enhance the fruit's sweetness making it even more delicious, she said. How to add salt? *Soak for around one minute and enjoy!
Can you keep a pineapple top in water? ›Fill your jar with water and place the pineapple top in the jar of water so that the base -- but not any leaves -- are submerged. Let the leaves balance the pineapple in the jar. The leaves will rot if they are touching the water. Keep the plant away from hot areas, such as sunny windows.