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How to Grow a Pineapple Ananas comosus This is an easy exercise to do with any child. After cutting up a pineapple and enjoying the fruit, save the top of the plant. Let it dry and cure for a few days, so the base of the top will callus. This will help to prevent rotting at the crown. Using a clay pot is ideal although almost any time of container will work as long as there is proper drainage. Use a good, fertile potting medium. Pineapples require a lot of light, although they will acclimate to other conditions. When plants do acclimate they may not perform according to their ideal growing habits. But, they will grow. Being in the bromeliad family, it will required a little watering, more when the plant is in bloom. Ideally, pineapples will grow until the temperature drops to 60°F. Again, they will survive lower. Pineapples will reach a height of 25 to 30 inches and will take two years to grow another pineapple. When the days are shorter and the nights a bit cooler the plant will produce a flower. The bloom will last considerable amount of time. The flower will dry and a pineapple will form. To force a pineapple to produce, put an apple in a bag over the plant. This will create ethylene gas and will trigger the plant to flower. This is a fun exercise with children. Some questions from Emily's mailbox: Q: We live in southern Florida and have been successful with our first crop of pineapples (three to date). Now our plants have several shoots coming from the main plant. Do we divide the plant up, or let it grow multiple fruits? A: Yes, you can divide the plant and since your weather is pretty near perfect for growing 365 days a year you can do it now or wait till the spring. The plant may get a little out of sync at times but in the long run it will be fine. Congratulations on your crop! Q: I had a question about pineapples. What are the little "buds" which form on the bottoms? I've heard in the past that they can be used to grow a new plant. However, I don't what they are called and am having some trouble finding information or directions about planting with them. Any advice would be great! A: Those little buds that form at the bottom I believe are called basal suckers. These develop on the mature rosettes. This plant (Ananas comosus - the common pineapple is from a large family BROMELIACEAE). All from tropical America. Propagation also can be done by removing the pineapple from the top when mature. Taking the top greenery, let it callus for a day and then grow in sharp sand. Q: I have a pineapple
top growing in a shallow clay pot. I live in Parker AZ. My question is:
Can I plant this out doors under or near a citrus tree? I started it in my
garden window, but it is getting too large. I hate to lose it!! A: I see no reason why you can not transplant that wonderful pineapple
outside at this time. Be sure to mulch a little and water to relieve the
plant of any stress or strain or shock. |
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