A tropical plant that only grows outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 11 and 12, pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) also grows well as a decorative houseplant in any climate. The pineapple plant doesn't reproduce from seeds, but instead new plants form from the roots of the main plant or from the crown of the fruit. Understanding the growth stages of a pineapple plant better equips you to grow your own tropical fruit at home.
Pineapples grow from the crowns produced by the fruits, or from offsets produced around the base of a mature plant. Remove the leafy fruit crown and cut away the fruit and lower foliage to leave the stringy fruit core and top leaves. This will send out roots and become a new plant. You must plant the crown in moist but well-drained soil for it to form roots and grow. It can take the crown six to eight weeks before it roots and begins putting on new growth.
Foliage and Root Growth
The new plant forms roots first. New foliage growth starts once the pineapple has developed a root system and begins taking in moisture and nutrients from the soil. The best foliage and root growth occurs in evenly moist soil. The plant needs all-day sunlight and a temperature range between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to remain healthy and growing. A monthly application of a soluble houseplant fertilizer provides enough nutrients for continued healthy growth.
Flowering and Fruiting
The pineapple plant only flowers at full maturity, which can take two to three years. Pineapples, especially those grown as houseplants, may be reluctant to flower and set fruit. Enclosing the pineapple plant and a ripe apple in a plastic bag for three days may help force flowering, because the apple produces a gas that encourages the pineapple to bloom. Even with this treatment, it can take up to three months for the plant to flower. The fruit begins to form after flowering and is ready to harvest once the scales turn from green to golden yellow.
Each pineapple plant can only flower and fruit once, but the main plant usually produces offsets once it begins to flower. These offsets, which are small plants growing off the main plant, can then grow into mature plants and produce their own flowers and fruits. Leave the offsets on the plant until after you harvest the pineapple and the main plant begins to decline. You can then cut them free from the main plant's root system and grow them to maturity in their own individual pots.
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