With a pineapple you can bring the paradisiacal flair of the South Seas home. Intensify the dreamlike experience by simply growing a pineapple. You can find out exactly how the plan works here.
How to grow a pineapple?
To grow a pineapple yourself, cut off the leaf crown including 3 cm of pulp, remove the remaining flesh and let it dry. Then plant the crown in nutrient-poor soil, keep the substrate slightly moist and place the plant in a warm, bright place.
All important requirements
You don't need a South Sea island to grow a pineapple. Certain requirements for a suitable location must at least be met. If the plant is given a location with 25-30 degrees Celsius, high humidity and many hours of sunshine, it will thrive. In addition, there should be enough space available, because the profile announces growth of 2 meters high and 1 meter wide.
The optimal starting material for this gardening adventure is a large, ripe pineapple. Investing in a 'flying pineapple' is worth it because it is guaranteed to be harvested ripe and has a short journey. The best time for the gardening experiment is the beginning of the season in March or April.
From the tuft of leaves to the finished pineapple plant
Without storing the pineapple for a long time, cut off the leaf crown along with 3 centimeters of the pulp. Then carefully spoon off the pulp to expose the sprouting points on the stalk. The roots then grow from these small elevations. Follow these steps:
- peel off the bottom 2-3 circular rows of leaves from top to bottom
- carefully remove the remaining pulp so that no mold forms
- let the leaf crown dry on the heater for a few hours
- Meanwhile, half fill a pot with nutrient-poor cactus or pricking soil (€7.00 on Amazon)
- the addition of quartz sand or perlite increases permeability
Use a pricking rod or spoon to make a depression in the substrate. Plant the cultivated tuft of leaves there so deep that the soil reaches the bottom row of leaves. Last but not least, press the potting soil lightly and water with warmed rainwater.
Proper care during rooting
The sooner the conditions at the location approach a tropical climate, the faster the roots grow. Move the future pineapple plant to the warm, bright bathroom, winter garden or greenhouse. A hood made of plastic film creates the desired warm, humid microclimate. Keep the substrate slightly moist and allow it to dry a little from time to time.
If a new leaf sprouts from the center of the leaf rosette, this process signals successful growth. Now any hood can go. In the following weeks and months, the young plant diligently roots through the pot. Then it's time to transplant the pineapple into its final container and care for it like an adult specimen.
Tips & Tricks
You definitely don't want to be awarded the 'Golden Pineapple' for your masterpiece. In common parlance, this title is considered a synonym for an insignificant competition whose outcome interests no one. Enjoying your first home-grown pineapple is an experience that no ambitious hobby gardener will forget.