Thick, spiny leaves fan out in a rosette 12 to 16 inches tall, and just once in its life the pineapple (Ananas comosus) sends up a bromeliad flower that ripens into fruit without any pollination. Keep it between 64°F and 75°F in moist air, never colder, and it will crop indoors.
| Name | Ananas comosus |
|---|---|
| Family | Bromeliaceae |
| Type | indoor plant |
| Height | 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) |
| Exposure | very well-lit while avoiding direct sun |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | end of winter or summer |
Even though the plant is native to Brazil, it’s perfectly possible to grow your pineapple at home if you follow these growing tips.
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Ananas comosus is a plant that requires soil that is rich and well-drained to grow well. Special Bromeliaceae soil mix seems to be the best solution for your pineapple plant.
Ananas comosus requires temperatures that hover between 64°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C) and never drop below 57°F (15°C).
Ananas comosus also requires high moisture levels.
Regular but moderate watering is called for because Ananas comosus doesn’t usually require a lot of water.
Maintain a bit of moisture in the soil mix and provide liquid leaf plant fertilizer every fortnight.
Reduce watering and wait for the soil to be dry before watering again.
Also reduce provision of fertilizer down to once a month.
When grown indoors, most of the common indoor plant diseases may be encountered, such as:
If leaves turn yellow or start looking dull, it means the plant lacks light.
If the tips of leaves droop over, it is because the surrounding air is too dry or too warm. You’ll have to increase moisture around the leafage. Try misting the leaves with soft water.
If the plant doesn’t grow and your pineapple plant remains stunted, it’s probably connected to lack of fertilizer.
A pineapple grown indoors tells you what it lacks through its leaves. Match what you see to the cause before changing anything else.
| What you see | Cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves turn yellow or look dull | Not enough light | Move it to a very well-lit spot, still out of direct sun |
| Leaf tips droop over | Air too dry or too warm | Raise moisture around the leaves and mist with soft water |
| Plant stays stunted and does not grow | Lack of fertiliser | Feed liquid leaf plant fertiliser every fortnight in spring and summer |
| Pests or mould on the leaves | The usual indoor plant pests and diseases | Treat for red spider mites, scale insects, aphids or powdery mildew |
Correct the growing conditions first: most of these symptoms come from light, moisture or feeding rather than from disease.
This fruit plant is native to Brazil but is now grown in tropical countries across the planet.
As a plant of the Bromelia family, it only bears a single flower in its lifetime.
With its thick, spiny leaves, it’s a wonderfully graphic plant. It does great in modern settings.
It doesn’t require any pollination to produce its fruit, the delicious pineapple.
You can use the leafy tip of a pineapple to start a new plant! This is a rare case of fruit cuttings that are often very successful.
Watch out for drafts and gusts: the pineapple plant hates those as much as it hates sudden temperature swings.
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