Pineapple plant: how to grow a pineapple yourself

If you want to grow pineapples in your own cultivation, you can do this with seeds, with the tuft of leaves or with the child. If you eat the fruit frequently, you already have the basis for it in your hands. The tuft of leaves, the upper part of the pineapple with leaves, is ideal for this. With the right approach and a little patience, this tuft of leaves can be transformed into a finished plant.

Cultivation with leaf tuft

The pineapple plant has the botanical name Ananas comosus and is very easy to grow yourself. However, since the exotic plant comes from tropical regions, it cannot cope with the temperatures of the local latitudes. However, cultivation on the windowsill and in the conservatory is possible. Among other things, the tuft of leaves is required for this, which is usually thrown away when the pineapple is eaten. This clump of leaves sits on top of the fruit and can develop again into a fruiting plant. This type of cultivation is relatively easy and promises good success in most cases. So that the stalk does not start to rot, it must be prepared accordingly. A certain drying time is required for this, otherwise the cultivation is often unsuccessful. It may take some time before the first roots form, so patience is required.

• Use fresh and medium-ripe pineapples
• The flesh should be a nice yellow, but not mushy
• Cut out the leaf tuft with a sharp knife
• Carefully remove all of the flesh at the bottom
• Also cut off the bottom leaves
• Strunk now approx. Air dry for 2-3 days
• Then place in a glass with a few centimeters of water for rooting
• Wait for a root length of a few millimeters
• Then plant the stalk in a pot with a suitable substrate
• Put cling film over the pot
• Alternatively, a translucent plastic bag is also possible
• Attach to pot with rubber band
• Place in a warm and bright location
• Water regularly, never let the soil dry out completely
• Keep not too moist to prevent moldy substrate
• Briefly remove foil or bag in between to air out
• Cultivation is successful when the stalk sprout in the middle

Cultivation with Kindel

If a pineapple plant is already being cultivated on your own or by friends and family, it is worth taking a closer look at it if there is a desire to propagate it. In some cases, small offshoots or shoots, the so-called children, form directly at the foot of the mother plant. These are just as suitable for cultivation as the leaf tuft. However, the child must be large enough for a new plant to develop from it. Generating a microclimate is also a good idea here to support growth. In this way, the offshoot forms strong roots relatively quickly and develops into a full-fledged pineapple plant, which will then produce fruit.

• Kindel should be about 20-30 cm tall
• Carefully separate offshoots
• Then plant in substrate with peat
• Pour well afterwards
• Put foil or translucent plastic bag over the pot
• Put in a warm and bright place
• Ventilate the pot from time to time to prevent mold

Propagation by seed

Propagation with the help of seeds is also possible, but this is much more time-consuming and difficult to implement. In addition, no single-variety plants are produced with this form of cultivation. The period of time before the first fruit develops is also much longer. The seeds required for this are located below the fruit skin of the pineapple plant. However, these seeds are not found on all fruits that are commercially available. Seeds of very large and extremely ripe fruits are particularly well ripened. For this reason, they germinate better and faster.

• Seeds are reddish yellow to dark brown
• Are there approx. 5-15 mm below the shell
• Wash thoroughly before sowing
• Remnants of the pulp can hinder the germination process
• After that, put seeds in glass with water for about a day
• Then spread on moist growing soil and press down lightly
• Cover the whole thing with transparent foil
• Put in a warm and bright place
• Temperature values ​​between 20-30° C are ideal
• Ventilate occasionally to prevent mold growth
• Germination takes a few days to several months
• The germination process usually takes about two months
• Pineapple seeds have a germination rate of about 50 percent

growing conditions

If the offspring of the pineapple is to grow well and thrive, then they need ideal growth conditions. Due to its tropical origin, the pineapple plant cannot cope with the significantly cooler temperatures in this country. The pineapple comosus needs relatively high temperatures for successful cultivation. The warmer it is, the better the cultivation works. For this reason, neither the mother plant nor its offshoots should be kept outside, they belong in closed rooms with a controlled warm room climate. In addition, the plant needs high humidity, which can only be achieved in living rooms with tools. A simple and very efficient way to increase the humidity is to cover the offspring.

• Plant is sensitive to cold and drought
• Room temperature above 25° C is ideal
• Prefers high humidity of about 60%
• Always keep the substrate slightly moist, water regularly
• In the early stages do not place in full sun
• Avoid close proximity to heaters
• Place humidifiers around the plant
• Alternatively, cover pineapples that have already been potted with transparent foil
• Tends to form mold, ensure good ventilation
• Remove the film hood briefly in between to air it out

potting soil

In general, the pineapple does not make particularly high demands on the plant substrate. However, the potting soil should have special properties so that the roots try harder to find nutrients. A layer of compost in the pot provides another incentive for the development of roots.

• Use lean potting soil to encourage root growth
• Use loose, permeable and slightly acidic plant substrate
• Clay and sandy soil is suitable
• Perfect pH is 5
• You can make a mixture of Lauberde and peat yourself
• Alternatively, mix peat and quartz sand
• A thin layer of compost on the bottom of the pot also has a stimulating effect
• Finely sieved and mature garden compost is ideal
• Fill this very thinly between the drainage and the potting soil

Learn more about fruit types