Home Gardeners

Pineapple- Ananas Comosus

Pineapple plant is an herbaceous perennial flowering houseplant in the family of Bromeliaceae. Ornamental pineapple plant leaves are waxy, spines on the margin and striped with white, red or cream color. When stem elongates they produce small purple or red flowers.

Pineapples can be consumed fresh, juiced and preserved. To grow pineapples the temperature should be between 68F and 82F in a light and fast drained soil. Rooted crowns take 18 months to generate fruits and results in plant slow growth. Once planted it can produce fruits in 12 months.

In many countries, pineapple juice is prepared and sold on a roadside as smoothies. Pineapple fruit is used to cook in a variety of dishes. Chunks are used in fruit salads, pizza toppings and crushed pineapple in yogurt, jam, sweets, and ice-creams.

Pineapple Varieties

S. No	Variety	Origin	Specification
1	Smooth cayenne	Malaysia	2.5-3 kg, pale yellow cylindrical fruit
2	Red Spanish	Latin America	1-2 kg, pale yellow flesh with spiny leaves
3	Kona sugarloaf	South Africa	2.5-3 kg, white flesh with no woody center
4	Pernambuco	Latin America	1-2 kg, pale yellow to white flesh
5	Natal queen	Australia	1-1.5 kg, golden yellow flesh, crispy texture
6	Hilo	Hawaii	Cylindrical shape with more suckers
7	Abacaxi	Africa	Disease-resistant variety,
8	Giant kew	India	2.75-4 kg, greenish yellow flesh, large core
9	Bumanguesa	Colombia	Red or purple fruit in cylindrical shape, deep yellow flesh
10	Perolera	Venezuela	3-4 kg, yellow fruit with no spine
11	Singapore Red	Singapore	1.6-2.25 kg, golden-yellow flesh, insect-resistant
12	Green Selangor	Spain	Golden-yellow fruit, green leaves

How to Grow Pineapple Plant at Home?

Pineapple is the world’s most unique and exotic tropical fruits that can be fully grown under controlled conditions. It is easy to cultivate plant from the crown cutting of the fruit.  Here is the step by step procedure to grow pineapple plant indoors.

• Take a mini pineapple fruit with green leaves, brown skin and sweet smelling.
• Now cut the leaf about (1/2) inch below the leaves, trim outer part (below the crown) until you see root buds and allow it to dry for a week before planting.
• Though it is possible to sprout pineapple head in water most of them prefer rooting in soil.
• Use a light, well-drain soil mixture such as cactus potting mix or a mixture of sand & peat and sow pineapple crown into the soil.
• Place it in sunlight and water thoroughly.  It takes 2 months to establish roots. Generally, rooted crowns take 18 months to produce fruits.
• Plants do not tolerate freezing temperatures below 60 F and above 90 F. So maintain the temperature between 68 F and 82 F.
• Move the plant to outdoors during late spring and summer. Pineapples are slow-growing plants and do not expect flowering for 2-3 years.
• Once the root develops, matures it grows to a height of 6-8 feet tall and you can start fertilizing the pineapple plant.

Pests and Diseases

They are subjected to a variety of diseases like the pink disease, bacterial heart rot, fungal heart rot and yellow spot virus caused by scales, mites, ants and mealy bugs. Pink disease is mainly caused by fruit developing a brownish to black discoloration during the canning process.

Fertilizing Pineapple Plant

Fertilizing a pineapple plant is a regular activity.  Balanced fertilizers should be given for every 2 months. You can feed the plant with liquid fertilizers (say foliar feeding) that is sprayed on plant leaves. Phosphorus can also be used as fertilizer and is uniformly distributed to roots, stems, leaves, fruit, and crown for better growth.

Harvesting

When the fruit is (1/3) yellow in color, it is ready to harvest.  You can even ripe the fruit at room temperature. Refrigerate the ripe fruit and refrigerating un ripen pineapple can ruin the fruit. To harvest the pineapple, simply cut it from the plant with a sharp knife where pineapples join stalks.

Can you Plant the Top of a Pineapple?

Pick a pineapple plant variety from the fruits market or by from online stores. Separate the leaves and soak them in water. Planting it in a container and  enjoy the fruit to grow for a long time. Observe the growth of pineapple plants from time to time. Here is a simple and easy way to grow and propagate pineapple plant in your home is by planting the crown and top rooting system.

Pineapple Top Rooting

• Pick out fresh pineapple.
• Twist the leaves at the top of the pineapple.
• Remove lower leaves to expose the stem.
• Place the crown in a glass of water and transfer it to the sunny site.
• After few days, you can see roots at the bottom of the crown.
• Now it is ready to plant in the soil.

Planting Pineapple Crown

• Prepare a pot filled with light, well-drained soil for the crown.
• Place pineapple crown in the pot and in warm conditions.
• Feed the plant with mulch to keep weeds away and water regularly.
• Be patience as it takes years to grow pineapple fruit.

How to Care for a Pineapple Plant?

Plant care ensures the growth and survival of plants by providing soil with sufficient nutrients, air circulation, water supply and sunlight. Take care of pineapple plants while growing in your home.

• Wear safety gloves while harvesting pineapple fruit.
• Take care of your pineapple as it grows mostly in warm conditions.
• Provide the pineapple plant with sunlight for a minimum of 6-8 hours a day.
• If necessary add mulches at the base of the plant to improve the soil fertility.
• Prune and repot the plant to bigger pots every year during its growing season.
• When you harvest pineapple, pickup evenly ripens fruits and golden yellow colored.
• Water the plant as needed and balance the plant with organic fertilizers once in every month.
• Use gardening tools such as cutters or shears for pruning and harvesting pineapple plants at home.

How often do you water a pineapple plant?

Water thoroughly when the pineapple plant matures and very lightly for stalks to maintain the soil moisture levels. During the summer season, when planted outdoors water the pineapple plant in huge amounts as the soil drain the water quickly in warm climatic conditions.

How long does it take to grow a pineapple plant flower?

When you start growing a pineapple plant from crowns, it usually takes 24 months to bear fruit. Suckers may take 18 months and within a year for slips. Generally, pineapple plant produces fruits after flower blooming i.e. after maturity stage.

Why are pineapple plant leaves turning yellow?

Too much for watering your pineapple plants may turn to yellow leaves. Sometimes the plant leaves may also turn brown color due to the insufficient amount of nutrients and sunlight supplied to the plants. To overcome this problem, provide the plant with organic fertilizers and to boost the plant growth.

Is pineapple good for your pets?

Raw pineapple in small amounts is a good snack for your pets. during summer season frozen pieces of fresh pineapple taste good for your pets. But the problem arises when consumed in excess amounts which results in gastrointestinal problems, vomitings and allergic reactions to your pets.

What are the side effects of eating pineapples?

Unripe pineapple Juice can cause severe health problems like vomiting, diarrhea, menstrual flow in women, nausea and skin rashes. It may also result in stomach aches, headache, overstress, common cold when taken in excess amounts.

Health Benefits

Pineapple fruit chart contains 86% of water and 14% of carbs with no proteins and fats. 100 grams of pineapple contains 48 calories and a cup of pineapple has 82 calories in it. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, folate, fiber and anti-oxidants like thiamin, bromelain, and beta-carotene to fight against the harmful diseases and keeps you strong, healthy.

• Due to anti-inflammatory properties of bromelain pineapples can be useful in treating arthritis.
• High intake of vitamin C reduces the risk of cataracts.
• Pineapple juice contains several vitamins and minerals. It will help to boost fertility in both men and women.
• Bromelain has the potential to fight against cancer.
• Beta-carotene also protects from causing prostate, colon cancer, and asthma.

Grow these wonderful pineapple plants in your home that makes the garden look beautiful with its leaves and monitors your health. Please do share your experience if you have already grown pineapple tree at home.

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