Do you like to eat pineapple? Did you know that it does not come from the typical tropical palm tree, but rather that it is the fruit of a plant? Planting a tropical pineapple to be able to enjoy these beautiful plants and their tasty fruits is really very easy. This plant is native to South America and does not need excessive care, although considering its origin, it is not difficult to imagine that it develops better in tropical or temperate climates.
if you want to know how to plant pineapple step by step in more ways than one, don’t miss this practical guide from EcologíaVerde.
How to plant a pineapple in a pot – step by step
For plant your own pineapple plantyou only need a pineapple like the one you usually buy in any supermarket.
- Cut or tear off the crown of the pineapple carefully, with all its leaves and without damaging it. The usual thing is that a very small part of the fruit remains attached to it. Remove some of its lower leaves so that the stem is exposed, and let it dry for about a week, positioned upside down, so that its wounds close.
- After a week, fill a container with water, and stick 3 or 4 toothpicks into the crown of the pineapple, a few inches above the base, so that they help support the pineapple on the edge and with crown base submerged. Don’t drive them in too far, just enough to hold the stem in place.
- Place the container next to a window with abundant light, or in a lighted room but away from direct influence if the sun is very intense where you live. After a few weeks, you should start to see white roots appearing from the base of the stem. Change the water every 48 or 72 hours, and do not expose the plant to extreme temperatures or sudden changes. When the roots measure 5 cm or more, it is ready to be planted.
- Prepare a container or pot for your crown with developed roots. Prepare a light substrate with good drainage. A mixture of equal parts coconut fiber, worm humus and peat is highly recommended. At the base of the pot, prepare a bed of coarse gravel to promote drainage and keep holes free.
- Plant the crown of the pineapple and water spraying water carefully after doing so. Keep it in a place with a stable temperature that never drops below 18ºC, with plenty of light. Never let the substrate dry out completely, especially if you live in a dry climate.
When it grows and begins to bear fruit you will see it as in this image. It will be convenient that you change the pot for a larger one every so often or that the day comes when you transplant it directly into the ground. Here you can consult When and how to transplant a plant.
How to plant a pineapple – by suckers
Another faster and easier method to get your own pineapple is to take advantage of the suckers that the adult pineapples produce. Obviously, for this you need to already have a pineapple plant or know someone who has one, but in return the method is simpler and has a greater chance of success.
The pineapple suckers They can be separated from the mother plant without problems, although it is usually advisable to leave the first one next to it so that it continues to grow when it dies. Simply plant them in a small pot or seedbed until they are large enough to pass on their own. larger pot.
When to plant a tropical pineapple
Pineapples do not get along well with the cold, so the ideal season to plant them is when the temperature rises in spring, after the last frosts. In this way, your plant will have all spring and summer to grow and strengthen, being able to face the cold months more developed.
How to care for a tropical pineapple plant – basic care
Main tropical pineapple plant care are:
- It is very important to contribute to the plant enough moisture, but at the same time avoiding puddles, which could be very harmful to it. To achieve this, you will need your substrate to offer very good drainage and that the pot in which you have located has drainage holes. In addition, you should water often but in moderate amounts, so that you provide moisture without drowning the plant.
- Regarding light, the pineapple appreciates being exposed to direct light in mild climates, or being in semi-shade in very hot climates.
- Unlike other plants, the pineapple appreciates being fertilized regularly even during the cold months. Add fertilizer or organic fertilizer every 15 days throughout the year. Here you can learn how to make homemade organic fertilizer for plants.
- Try not to water the plant with tap water, especially if the water is very hard in your area. If you have no other choice, let the water sit overnight before watering it with it.
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