Pineapple at home. How to grow your own pineapple Conditions for growing indoor pineapples

Be honest, are you one of those people who think that pineapple grows on palm trees? If yes, then this article will completely change the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bfruit! You will not only discover an exotic fruit from a new perspective, but also learn how to plant a pineapple and grow it at home.

is an annual plant of the bromeliad family. Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, the fruits do not grow on trees, but on grassy shrubs, no more than 90 cm high. In the center of a spiral of thick and long leaves there is an inflorescence from which one new fruit appears. Immediately after ripening, lateral shoots are formed, and the maternal outlet dies off. Thanks to a similar life cycle, you can grow a pineapple at home from the top of a purchased fruit.

You can also grow pineapple from seeds. You will have to try very hard and find a wild, "not domesticated" plant - all cultivars of pineapple are fruitless.

Is it possible to grow pineapple at home

By learning how to grow a pineapple at home, you can easily cope with this long, but not difficult process, especially if you have experience in floriculture. To taste sweet homemade fruits, you need to do the following steps correctly:

1. Select planting material;
2. Prepare the ground;
3. Sprout the green top;
4. Root a pineapple crest in a container;
5. Provide appropriate care

If you follow the instructions for growing pineapple step by step, after 2.5-3 years there is a high probability of eating the fruit. Of course, the grown pineapple will be smaller than the purchased ones, but it will completely retain its unique taste and magical aroma.

Choosing a Pineapple for Planting

It is impossible to grow a fruiting pineapple if you carelessly approach the choice of planting material. When choosing, carefully inspect the selected fruit. It should be ripe, as evidenced by the attractive yellow-brown color of the skin. Hard skin means immaturity, and softness when pressed, on the contrary, indicates overripe fruit.

Do not trust the information that green pineapple ripens at home if you hold the fruit upside down for a couple of days or place it in a bag of apples. Without a doubt, the pulp itself, due to the processes taking place in it, will become sweeter. The starch will turn into sugar and spread evenly throughout the fruit. However, the rosette needed to grow a pineapple will die off.

Choose pineapple with juicy, green, whole leaves with slightly dried edges. Gray spots indicate damage by worms; it is better not to acquire such a fruit. A small sprout may appear in the outlet - a guarantee of future flowering, allowing you to grow homemade fruit.

Smell is one of the main reference points. To grow a delicious pineapple, sniff at its base. Suitable specimens beckon with a sweet aroma. A sour smell means overripe.

Buying a pineapple in spring or summer increases your chances of growing the fruit. To be safe, purchase and root two fruits, but in different stores. It is very likely that at least one of them will take root.

Top preparation

Before growing a pineapple at home, you need to prepare it for germination. For further reproduction, only the top of the leaves, resembling a green crown, is required. You can separate it from two ways:

• Grasp the leaves with your hand and carefully twist them out, as if you were unscrewing the cap from a bottle. You will be left with a leafy top with a small dense stem.
• Cut off the green rosette along with 1-2 cm of the fruit and remove the remaining pulp with a knife to prevent rotting of the planting material.

In both cases, the "tail" is left, ready for landing. If white dots are visible at the base, do not damage them - these are the beginnings of future roots. Clear the lower part of the outlet from the leaves by 1-2 cm. Tear off the leaves perpendicular to the stem so as not to injure the small roots. Treat all cuts with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate, epin or ground charcoal, which will reduce the risk of decay and accelerate the germination of the root system.

Leave the top for a couple of days to dry out and prevent the pineapple from rotting. It is advisable to hang the planting material so that it does not touch anything. It is believed that this increases the likelihood of growing pineapple.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to grow a pineapple without the formation of roots. Be patient, put the dishes with the seedling in a bright place and change the water every 2-3 days. After 2-4 weeks, the roots will sprout and the pineapple can be transplanted into a pot, after drying the outlet for 2-3 hours on a paper towel.

Capacity and soil

The selection of soil mixture and capacity is an important condition for growing pineapple. Choose a pot that is 2 cm larger than the cut diameter of the planting top. Flowerpots from 15 cm in diameter and a volume of 3-4 liters will do. The plant has a weak, shallow root system, so choose a container that is not too deep. To drain water, a drainage layer of expanded clay or pebbles, 3-4 cm wide, is laid on the bottom. This will protect the root system from decay.

As a soil for pineapple, a universal mixture that does not require additional fertilizer, or special soil for palm trees or tropical (bromeliad) plants, is suitable. To grow pineapple, you can prepare the substrate for planting yourself by mixing peat and river sand in a 1: 1 ratio. The main thing is that the soil is permeable to both moisture and oxygen.

To grow and protect a healthy pineapple, you need to decontaminate or prepare the ground. Spill it with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate. After a day, the dried green socket can be planted in a pot. Slightly moist soil is considered optimal for pineapple.

planting pineapple

Gradually, we got to the main stage, where we learn how to properly plant and grow a pineapple. After the seedlings and the future “place of residence” are ready, make a hole 5-6 cm deep, taking into account the dimensions of the cutting. It is not advisable to plant the bottom layer of leaves in the ground. The soil around the young plant is carefully crushed, trying not to damage the underdeveloped root system. The planting recess can be sprinkled with a small amount of ash or crushed coal.

After planting, pour the pineapple with settled water at room temperature and provide it with a suitable microclimate. To grow a tropical seedling, a temperature in the range of 20-25 ° C is required. To do this, build a mini-greenhouse out of polyethylene, a glass jar or a plastic bottle and place the pot in a well-lit area, avoiding direct sunlight.

Homemade pineapple takes root and takes root for about 2-3 months. At temperatures above 25 degrees, the process will be reduced to 1.5-2 months. The appearance of new leaves is a sure signal of development and growth. The leaves of the rosette will dry out and be replaced by new ones. Try to carefully cut and remove dead parts of the plant.

To grow a fruit, during the rooting period it is important:

1. Protect the crest from condensation, which provokes rotting and mold;
2. Water the soil once a week;
3. Ventilate the greenhouse;
4. Protect the plant from temperature changes and cooling;
5. During the day, move the pot out of direct sunlight so that the pineapple does not suffocate.

plant care

Often, experienced flower growers argue about the nature and whimsicalness of a homemade pineapple. One side believes that the plant is capricious and requires a lot of attention. On the other hand, there is a completely opposite opinion. It will be possible to understand this as soon as you decide to grow a pineapple yourself. We'll show you how to take care of it.

The basic rules of care include watering, observing the temperature and light conditions, timely feeding and transplanting. In addition to observing these conditions, it is necessary to ensure the correct place in the apartment, depending on the season. For example, in the summer the pot can be taken out to the balcony. When it rains, it is better to bring pineapple into the apartment, protecting it from excess moisture.

In autumn and winter, pineapple will fit perfectly on the windowsill by the window. Make sure that the fruit does not fall under the draft and is at a sufficient distance from the hot battery. If the leaves begin to dry and curl, then the pineapple is standing in a draft and needs to be moved to another place.

Temperature

As you already understood, temperature is one of the decisive factors in caring for pineapple at home. The plant is very afraid of the cold (at 18 degrees it falls into "hibernation"), at the same time, it is difficult to tolerate heat. The optimal temperature conditions are as follows:

• Spring and summer from 22 to 30 °C;
• In autumn and winter, from 18 to 21 ° C. The maximum mark in winter is 27 ° C

Watering

The fruit lives in the tropics, so it feels good in arid soil. On the contrary, excessive moisture can cause weakness, and possibly death. Water the plant when the soil in the container becomes dry. The earth should not dry out completely, but stagnation of liquid is best avoided. Moisten the substrate once a week with settled or filtered water at room temperature.

In summer, a tropical guest needs more moisture (up to 3 times a week). In winter, watering can be reduced to once every two weeks. Unfortunately, you won't be able to grow a healthy pineapple if you don't "feel" the plant. For example, drying leaves will indicate a lack of water, and an unpleasant smell in the container, or, even worse, the appearance of mold, are sure signs of excessive watering. If mold is found, it is best to move the pineapple to another pot, otherwise it may die. If the trunk rots, stop watering until the condition stabilizes.

If the new home resident is standing in an open and ventilated area, you can lightly spray the greens. The leaves will absorb moisture, and the excess will simply evaporate. In other cases, it is good to irrigate the soil with a spray bottle, and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. So you protect the outlet from the accumulation of moisture and decay.

Lighting

6-8 hours is the minimum required for proper development. In the summer, put the pot on the window or take it out to the balcony or garden, with a little shading. It is optimal to place the plant on a warm, sunny, south side, however, eastern and western windowsills are also suitable. In winter, you need to remember about the short daylight hours, it can be extended with the help of fluorescent lamps.

Pale leaves indicate insufficient lighting - the pineapple needs to be moved to another place and highlighted with a lamp.

top dressing

Of course, in order to grow a pineapple fruit in a pot, you need to fertilize the soil. The plant itself cannot be called overly demanding on top dressing, but during the growing season (April to October) nutritional support is needed. Enrich the soil with organic fertilizers 2 times a month. As a recharge, special flower mixtures, a 0.01% solution of iron sulfate or humus from cow dung are suitable. If you intend to grow fruits without the use of chemicals, then use natural top dressing. Read the information on the composition of the mixture on the package, alkali and wood ash adversely affect the growth of pineapple.

In winter, top dressing is not necessary.

Transfer

A year after planting, move the pineapple to a larger pot. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in early summer. About a third of the new capacity should be occupied by a drainage layer. Fill the rest of the volume with soil: peat, river sand and fertile soil in a ratio of 2: 1: 3.

An annual transplant and an increase in capacity will allow you to grow a healthy pineapple. Gently move the earthen ball with roots into a new pot using the transshipment method.

Bloom

Along with how to grow, many beginner flower growers are concerned about the question of how to make pineapple bloom. In nature, the first flowers appear at the 26th month of the plant's life. At home, this happens after 1.5-2, most often for 3 years.

The green rosette of leaves begins to grow and form small root buds that can later be used to grow new fruit. In a few months, a bud is formed, and a flowering period begins, lasting about two weeks. Numerous blue-violet bright flowers open for just one day. At the end of flowering, remove dried leaves, and the pineapple will move into the stage of fruit development.

It is possible that the flowering period will not come, even if all the conditions for proper development have been met. Do not despair and give up trying to grow a homemade pineapple. Flowering can be stimulated by fumigation or treatment with an aqueous solution of acetylene and ethylene. In the latter version, ordinary apples will come to the rescue, releasing ethylene during storage. Just put a couple of fruits in a pot with a house plant.

If these measures did not work, then the pineapple has not reached the desired age or is susceptible to some kind of disease that prevents flowering.

Fruiting

The fruit ripens within 3-7 months, depending on the conditions of care and the variety of pineapple. If you followed all the instructions in trying to grow a pineapple, you can enjoy a sweet homemade fruit. Since the plant is herbaceous, it will die immediately after fruiting, leaving small lateral shoots suitable for propagation.

Pineapple has a pleasant taste and is rich in many valuable properties. It is believed that this fruit includes all minerals and vitamins. Therefore, many people want to grow it at home. But not everyone can decide to experiment, since the fruit is of tropical origin. If you really want to do this, you should familiarize yourself with how to grow a pineapple from the top of the house. More about this in the article.

Can you grow?

Pineapple is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the bromeliad family. It grows in the equatorial and tropical parts. It is grown in the Philippines, Thailand, USA, Latin American countries. There are 9 types of culture. The most common is considered large-tufted.

Many are interested in how pineapple grows in nature? The plant is presented in the form of a small bush with long leaves. The fruits are at the top, as if someone had placed them there. How does a pineapple grow in nature if it is grown for sale? These are whole fields, completely strewn with fruits.

How does pineapple grow at home? It turns out a wonderful plant, the main thing is that there are greenhouse conditions. This does not require a special room, an apartment is suitable. The fruits grown in this way are only slightly smaller in size than the fruits that are brought to stores from other countries. But the taste and aroma is the same. The main thing is to know how to grow a pineapple.

Tools and materials

How to grow a pineapple This will require the presence of:

• pineapple
• water;
• glass;
• manganese potassium;
• soil;
• knife
• expanded clay;
• a pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm or more;
• polyethylene film.

How to grow a pineapple There are several growing methods. But the best is to use the top. All the details on this method are presented in the article.

Fruit selection

How to grow a pineapple from the top of the house? It is important to choose the right fruit. To avoid errors, you need to consider the following recommendations:

1. You should pay attention to the leaves. If the pineapple is of good quality, they are green and firm. You should not buy a fruit that has yellow or brown leaves.
2. It is important that the color of the peel is golden yellow.
3. A healthy fruit should have moderate firmness. Do not choose hard pineapple. And if it is very loose, then this is considered a sign of low quality.
4. It is better to buy pineapple at the end of August or in early September. If you buy fruit in winter, you need to make sure that it is not frozen. It will not grow into a healthy plant.
5. It is important that there are no gray spots on the peel.

Only when choosing a quality fruit, growing pineapple at home from a tuft will be successful. But it still needs proper care.

Priming. Important nuances of choice

What kind of soil is needed for pineapple? You will need a mixture of coarse river sand, peat and leaf or sod land. Some sand is replaced with perlite. There are several soil compositions for pineapple:

1. Peat and river sand are mixed in the same amount.
2. Soddy and leafy soil, peat, birch sawdust, coarse sand are combined in a ratio of 3:2:2:2:1.
3. Leaf humus is mixed with soddy soil, sand and peat (2: 1: 1: 1).

A ready-made mixture for bromeliads is also suitable. Do not choose land that is intended for other plants. 2 days before planting the fruit, the substrate should be poured with boiling water to disinfect and moisturize.

Top preparation

How to plant the top of a pineapple? Preparation is done like this:

1. Grasp the top with your hand and carefully twist it out. It is important that the inner stem separates with the leaves.
2. If the pineapple is unripe, difficulties arise during this procedure. Then you need to use a knife, which removes the leaves and root. When cutting, you need to observe an angle of 45 angle. Do not place the knife horizontally.
3. The pulp on the stem must be removed, otherwise the planting material rots. From this place, the root system of the pineapple develops.
4. From the tuft you need to step back 3 cm and cut off the top with leaves. The result is a cutting with a crown. The lower leaves are also cut off. The main thing is that the kidneys are not damaged.
5. Then you need to perform pre-germination. Settled water at room temperature is poured into a glass and the stalk is lowered there. It is important that it is immersed 3-4 cm.
6. The glass must be placed in a warm, lit place. Water should be changed after 2-3 days.
7. After 3 weeks, roots form at the top, and then it is transplanted into the ground.

There is also an alternative processing option. The stalk should be hung on a rope in a vertical position with the crown down. Within 2-3 weeks the plant dries. After this procedure, the top takes root well. The stalk is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent rotting.

Landing

How to grow pineapple in a pot? The procedure is performed according to the following instructions:

1. The pot should be prepared. It is important that it is not inferior in size to a pineapple cut at the tuft. Since the plant is transplanted during growth, you can choose a container with a diameter of 30-35 cm. But if this is not possible at this stage, you can choose a container with a size of 15 cm. A drainage hole is required to prevent stagnant moisture. Pineapple is best planted in a container with small sides, but with a large diameter. This is due to the root system, which is located in the upper soil layer.
2. A layer of expanded clay of 2-3 cm is poured at the bottom of the pot.
3. The pot is filled with soil.
4. In the middle of the container, you should create a hole 3 cm deep, place the top with roots and fill it with soil to the leaves.
5. Compact the soil with your fingers.
6. The plant needs to be watered a little. It is important that the soil is slightly moist.
7. The container is placed in a warm place that is well lit. If planting was carried out in cold weather, the seedling is covered with plastic wrap, which provides the desired microclimate.
8. How to root the top of a pineapple? In addition to following the above rules, you need to observe some nuances. The temperature in the room should be 25-27 degrees. This procedure lasts 1.5-2 months. Do not leave pineapple in direct sunlight.
9. When the first sheets appear, the film must be removed.

These are all tips on how to grow a pineapple. In addition, proper care must be taken. All the nuances of proper cultivation, ensuring the normal development of the plant, are presented below.

Temperature

In order for the plant to develop properly, you must follow a few simple recommendations:

1. In the room where the pineapple grows, the temperature should be 22-25 degrees.
2. In winter, it should stay within 16-18 degrees.
3. If the temperature does not meet the desired indicators and the room is very cool, you need to turn on the heaters.
4. If the plant is located on the windowsill, it is protected from drafts and frostbite.
5. In the cold, it is advisable to rearrange the culture in the warm part of the apartment.

A suitable temperature can ensure beautiful flowering and fruiting. It greatly affects the general condition of the plant.

Watering

Pineapple should not be watered very abundantly. In nature, it lives in a tropical climate, where the plant does not receive water for several months. Watering should be done 2 times a week. In winter, this should be done once every 7 days.

It is necessary to take into account the condition of the soil and plants. If the soil is dry or the leaves are starting to wilt, this is a sign that the pineapple needs moisture. Watering should be done in the outlet, which is filled to 2/3 of the volume.

All you need is settled or filtered water at room temperature. It is allowed to add lemon juice to the liquid (a few drops). A large amount of moisture leads to rotting of the plant.

Lighting

Pineapple is a light-loving crop. But direct ultraviolet rays are undesirable for him. It is best to place the plant on the east or west side. Do not put it on the south window.

The plant should not be rotated. Pineapple develops normally if there is one-sided lighting. In late autumn and winter, additional light is required. A fluorescent lamp should be placed next to the plant at a distance of 20 cm. Pineapple should be illuminated for 8-10 hours a day.

top dressing

At the end of February, the growing season begins, which lasts until September. During this period, pineapple is systematically fed. Fertilize every 10-15 days. This procedure has several features:

1. Top dressing can be done with horse or cow manure. A bucket should be prepared, which is 1/3 filled with organic fertilizer. The remaining volume should be supplemented with warm water.
2. The mixture is periodically stirred for 3-5 days.
3. Then the solution should stand for a week.
4. Then it is diluted with water (1:10). For 1 liter of soil you need 50 ml of fertilizer.
5. Pineapple should be sprayed with a solution of iron sulfate 1-2 times a month (1 g of the product per 1 liter of water).

You should not feed pineapple with alkaline fertilizers, for example, wood ash or lime are not suitable. They will not be able to grow a healthy plant.

Transfer

The first transplant is performed after 2 months. By this time, the pineapple has already taken root and can well receive nutrients and moisture from the soil. Then the transplant is performed annually.

It is important to ensure that there is not much growth of the root system. When transplanting, you need to choose a new pot, which is 2-3 liters larger than the previous one. The plant moves with an earthy clod. The procedure is performed in the same sequence as landing. The same soil is used.

Flowering stimulation

Pineapple blooms after 3-4 years. If this is not the case, you need to use one of the recommendations:

1. Calcium carbide (1 tsp) is dissolved in water (500 ml). The remedy is infused for a day. Then the liquid must be drained, leaving impurities and sediment. Every day you need to pour 50 ml into the middle of the outlet for a week. After 1-1.5 months, pineapple can bloom.
2. The plant must be covered with a plastic bag. Near the pot should be placed a few smoking coals. The plant will bloom in 2-2.5 months. But this procedure should be performed 2-3 times with a break in a week. After the smoking of the coals is over, they are removed and the package is removed from the pineapple.
3. The pot must be placed in a large bag. Tomatoes or apples (3-4 pieces) are also placed there. When the fruits deteriorate, they are replaced with new ones.

Such rules help out perfectly at home, since tropical conditions are much different from home ones. These methods allow you to provide excellent flowering. Such a plant will also be an excellent decoration for the house.

Fruit

A crop appears 6-7 months after flowering. Pineapples will have a weight of 0.3-1.5 kg. A sweet smell indicates the maturity of the fruit. At this time, you should not use mineral fertilizers, top dressing can only be done with organic substances.

When fruiting is completed, new shoots appear on the pineapple for 2-3 years. Then the plant dies. Children are usually planted again in the same way as the top. After that, you must follow the same care rules that are indicated above.

Pineapple can grow well at home. If you follow the above rules, then after a few years delicious and fragrant fruits grown on your own will appear. If desired, you can grow several trees to reap a richer harvest.

You can grow a pineapple not only from the top, but also from seeds. But here it can be difficult to find seeds, since many varieties are devoid of them. You need to spend time and money buying seeds in specialized garden centers.

Conditions for growing pineapple at home

The pineapple is native to the tropics. Therefore, at home, it is necessary to create similar conditions for him: to maintain an optimal level of lighting, temperature and humidity.

Lighting

Pineapple requires intense light, at least 6 hours a day. You need to find a place for him on the sunniest window. In winter, you will need to turn on artificial lighting for eight hours a day.

Temperature

The plant categorically does not tolerate cold and drafts. In the summer season, room temperature is suitable for pineapple, and in winter it is necessary to control that the thermometer does not fall below 18-20 degrees.

Humidity

Tropical fruit loves moist air. To create the necessary humidity, you can use a sprayer. In winter, when the air in the room is very dry, wet pebbles or expanded clay help well, in which you can put a pot with a plant. To avoid rotting, the pineapple itself should not be sprayed. In order to protect the plant from dust, it must be periodically wiped with a damp cloth or sponge.

REFERENCE: Ideal places for growing pineapple are a heated greenhouse or a bathroom with a window.

Instructions on how to plant a pineapple at home

Before planting a pineapple, it is necessary to prepare a container for planting, the ground and the top itself.

Landing site preparation

For growing pineapple, it is recommended to take a pot no more than 12-15 centimeters in diameter. This size will be optimal for young roots and the earth in the container will not have time to turn sour. A drainage hole in the pot should be provided to drain water.

The order of laying the soil in the pot:

• pour expanded clay to the bottom;
• then a mixture of coarse river sand. Perlite can be used as an analogue;
• then pour peat;
• lay sheet or sod land.

Experienced flower growers, answering the question: “What land is needed for pineapple at home?”, Often recommend ready-made soil “For cacti”. It can be easily purchased at flower shops.

Preparing the top for planting

You can separate the top with a sharp knife or try to unscrew it manually. It is important to make sure that fruit pulp does not remain on the “tuft”, which can cause decay. To expose the lower part of the stem, you need to remove a few lower leaves. Next, the planting material must be dried at room temperature. One day will be enough for this.

Now you need to create conditions for the appearance of roots. To do this, the socket is placed in a glass of water, and so that the water does not touch the leaves. It will take about a month for roots to appear. The level and quality of water during this period should be under control. As soon as the top gives roots and they grow 3 centimeters, the moment comes when you can plant the pineapple in the ground.

planting a pineapple

In the soil prepared for planting, a small hole is made in which the lower part of the stem is placed. Then it is carefully covered with earth. At the same time, it is important that the main part of the outlet remains on the surface, and the stem sits steadily in the ground. Next, it is recommended to water the plant a little and cover it with a plastic bag on top.

It is easier to root a plant grown in greenhouse conditions. But you need to remember that the shelter must be cleaned daily for ventilation. The package can be removed completely only after the "tuft" is finally rooted. Rooting usually occurs a month and a half after planting.

How to care for a pineapple

When the pineapple has taken root, the plant will begin to change leaves. Old ones die, and new ones appear in their place. Dried leaves must be removed and more attention should be paid to caring for the pineapple.

It is important not to forget about the special sensitivity of tropical fruit to cold. The pineapple root system is especially sensitive to hypothermia, so it is better to place the plant not on the windowsill, but on a table or stand near the window.

Pineapple care procedures can be divided into three groups:

1. Watering.

Rain or melt water is best for irrigation. If there is no access to such water, then boiled or filtered water can be used, which it is desirable to acidify. This can be done by adding a small amount of citric or oxalic acid to the water. Water temperature for irrigation should be approximately 30 degrees. Pour water directly into the outlet, after which the soil in the pot should become moderately wet. When the top layer of the earth dries up, the next watering can be done.

2. Top dressing.

It is necessary to feed pineapple 1 time in half a month, while it is recommended to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. From organics, an infusion of horse or cow manure is well suited. Mineral fertilizers are better to choose liquid.

3. Transplant.

The procedure is carried out by the transshipment method, while the earth lump is not destroyed. It is better to transplant in the spring and do not forget to slightly increase the volume of the pot. In order for the roots of the plant to breathe better, clay pots without glaze are used. The root system of a pineapple is small, so a capacity of 3-4 liters will be enough for it. When transplanting, it is important not to forget about which land to plant pineapple is best.

With proper care, pineapple grows all year round. It is often grown as an ornamental plant, as its vibrant green rosette can brighten any interior throughout the year.

Possible Problems When Growing Pineapple

The main problem that can be encountered when growing pineapple at home is the lack of flowering. Pineapple begins to bloom only by 3-4 years of its life. But flowering is not a guaranteed process, even with good and proper care. Some flower growers artificially stimulate the appearance of flowers in a plant.

Diseases and pests

Pineapple can be affected by diseases or pests. You can identify the problem by the appearance of the plant:

1. When the pineapple is very hot, its leaves begin to dry out. The solution to the problem is to quickly spray the plant with water and put it in a dark place.
2. If there is not enough light, then the pineapple leaves turn pale and curl. In this case, it is necessary to install additional lighting or find a brighter place where the plant can be rearranged.
3. If the pineapple is poured, then the trunk begins to rot. Reducing the frequency and amount of watering will help here.

Improper care and maintenance can lead to the appearance of fungal diseases. In this case, dry or wet brown spots can be seen on the leaves. Fungicidal preparations are suitable for the destruction of fungal spores.

In addition, pests can annoy the pineapple. For example: mealybug, root worm, spider mite, orchid aphid, scale insect. To combat them, it is recommended to use industrial insecticides.

In the initial stages, you can try spraying the leaves with a solution of laundry soap.

Is it possible to grow a pineapple at home so that it blooms and bears fruit

The appearance of fruits at home is the main goal of the grower and his pride. Many people think that it is quite difficult to achieve this at home. But if the plant has reached an adult state and is properly cared for, then it is able to bloom and bear fruit.

There are several options for stimulating the appearance of the fetus. Stimulation is carried out if the plant does not bear fruit on its own.

Stimulation options:

• Use a few ripe tomatoes or apples. They are placed next to the pineapple and covered with a transparent plastic bag. If tomatoes or apples begin to deteriorate, they must be replaced. With such stimulation, the buds on the plant appear after about 1 month.
• Place smoking coals near the plant for 10 minutes, covering the pineapple with a bag. The procedure is carried out three times with an interval of a week. Pineapple blooms for about 2 weeks, while each flower lives only 1 day.
• Use calcium carbide for watering outlets. To do this, a teaspoon of the substance is diluted in 0.5 liters of water, after which it is insisted for a day. The resulting composition is separated from the sediment and used for irrigation. Every day, 50 ml of solution is added to the middle of the outlet. Stimulation continues for 1 week.

If the stimulation did not result in fruiting, then this may mean that the pineapple is not yet mature enough or is weakened.

The fruit of pineapple ripens long enough: from 5 to 7 months. The ripening period depends on the variety and the conditions in which it is grown. The weight of the fetus can reach 1.5 kg, but such a weight is very rare. The ripeness of a pineapple can be determined by its sweet aroma.

After the plant has given fruit, it has new shoots that come from the root. They can be used as seedlings for new plants, because after the appearance of the fruit, the mother plant dies.

To grow pineapple at home, it's a good idea to learn a little trick from someone who has already gone through the entire process of growing this tropical fruit.

1. Once again, transplanting a pineapple into a larger pot, cover it with a cap for several days. This will speed up the adaptation of the plant to a new capacity.
2. For pineapple, rare but plentiful watering is best suited. Water that accumulates in the outlet becomes an incentive for the formation of new roots.
3. Due to the peculiarity of the pineapple root system, it is better to choose a shallow and wide pot for it.
4. If during the summer period a pot of pineapple is kept in the garden, then during rain it must be brought into the greenhouse. By the end of summer, the temperature drops and the plant must be returned to the house. The best time for this is mid-August.
5. Do not prematurely separate the young shoots that appeared after flowering. It is necessary to wait until they have their own roots - only in this case the shoots are ready for separation.
6. Pineapple is a photophilous plant, but direct sunlight can harm it. It is not recommended to keep a pot of pineapple on the southern windowsill without shading in the summer.
7. You should not try to root the "tuft" of pineapple, bought in the winter months. This is practically useless, since during this period fruits in stores are stored at low temperatures and the fruit may freeze slightly.
8. Direct sunlight, drafts and sudden changes in temperature are what the pineapple socket should be protected from during its rooting period.
9. It is recommended to dry the cut of the top in an upright position. So the wound dries faster, and all the nutrients will be concentrated in the desired segment.
10. Summer is the best time to stimulate flowering. During this period, the chances of success are much greater.

Pineapple is the most popular exotic plant. For those who like to take care of plants, it will be very interesting to grow this fruit at home and get a tasty and fragrant fruit. Instructions on how to grow a pineapple at home from the top step by step were given in our material.

Pineapple is a genus of herbaceous plants from the Bromeliad family. They grow as an agricultural crop and eat only one species - Large-tufted. Like all bromeliads, pineapple can grow indoors, but is unlikely to bloom and bear fruit. This plant is quite exotic. Before you start planting, you should learn how to grow a pineapple from the top at home, what soil to plant in and how to care for the plant.

Buying fruit

Before you grow a pineapple at home, you need to choose the right fruit. The success of the operation and the survival rate of the apex depend on this.

Frequently asked Questions:

Is it possible to grow a pineapple from the first fruit that comes across? No. He has come too long way to the Russian counters. It may well have been processed with preservatives or stored in improper conditions. Rooting it will not work.

What kind of pineapple can be planted? The freshest one you can find, looking like the one in the photo. Frostbitten, rotten, with a wilted or withered tail will definitely not take root.

Good signs:

• dense intact fruit without spots, soft spots, traces of decay;
• fresh, completely green, well-developed "tuft" of leaves, only the tips, but not the edge of the leaf plate, can be dried;
• pleasant pineapple smell;
• a core must be present in the “crown” of leaves - it is sometimes removed, especially if the fruit has been stored for a long time and has begun to deteriorate;
• the area adjacent to the outlet is as dense as the rest of the peel;
• the leaves are whole - they can be cut or shortened solely to hide signs of spoilage, and not so that the fruit takes up less space or is more conveniently transported.

Important! Unripe pineapples root better.

How to properly root?

To grow a pineapple from the top as an indoor flower, the fruit must be divided and carefully processed. Otherwise, it will simply rot in the ground.

There are 2 ways to root a pineapple from the top:

1. "crown" - a bunch of leaves with a core;
2. apex of the fruit.

It's hard to say which way is better.

Features of rooting crest:

• Rooting a tuft at home is easier, but after planting, only people who are well versed in the Bromeliad family will be able to identify the plant by the leaves.
• A bunch of leaves reaching 70 cm in a small pot will be unstable, you will have to invent how to balance it. And you need a small container.

Top Rooting Features:

• Rooting the top of the fruit is a little more difficult, but there will be no doubt that there is a pineapple in the pot. It is the opportunity to brag that often attracts flower growers when rooting a fruit bought in a store.
• The disadvantage is that a plant grown at home from a cropped top can rot. Especially if the pulp is not completely removed, or the wound is poorly healed with callus.

Pruning and processing of a part of the fruit

All stages of preparation, from how to cut the top to the landing itself, are important. They cannot be skipped or performed carelessly.

Description of the landing procedure step by step:

Important! Before planting, touch the inside of the top with your finger - it should dry slightly. If the surface is wet - you need to leave to dry for another 1 day.

There is no need to be afraid that the pineapple will not germinate due to this operation. Before planting, cuttings of many plants are dried. It is much more dangerous to immediately plant the top of a pineapple flowing with juice in a pot - it will definitely rot. It just won't be noticeable right away.

Before drying, it is good to treat the cut with a mixture of crushed charcoal and powdered root. This contributes to the survival of the top, protects it from decay if the pulp was not completely scraped out, or too carefully, with damage to the fibers.

Important! The wound surface should not be overdried. It should just dry out - stop being wet.

Sprouting the "crown"

If you decide to grow a pineapple at home from the top, you must first separate it from the fruit. The operation can be carried out in two ways:

In both cases, part of the lower leaves is removed - they are removed one at a time in order to injure less. In a fetus with a rosette larger than 10 cm, they clean about 2 cm. For a small one, it is enough to release 1-1.5 cm.

Place the crown of leaves in a dark, well-ventilated place to dry at room temperature. The wound surface should tighten the callus. Enough 1-2 days. Readiness for planting is determined by feeling the place of the cut. It shouldn't be wet.

The top of the pineapple is put on germination in a warm, bright place, but not under the direct rays of the sun. It is better to take transparent glassware, put a couple of tablets of activated charcoal on the bottom, pour clean water.

Roots appear quickly. You can transplant pineapple when their number reaches 10-15 pieces, and the length is at least 2 cm.

Landing

Before you plant a pineapple, you need to understand the requirements of the culture. Sometimes failures in cultivation are not associated with poor fruit quality or mistakes made during preparation. The plant may not take root and die due to the wrong pot and soil mixture.

Choice of container and substrate

Pineapple is a bromeliad crop. He needs a pot wide and low. In the deep, the root system will master the top layer, the rest of the substrate will turn sour, the plant will get sick and die. The way out is to fill the free volume of a high pot with expanded clay.

Unlike epiphyte relatives, pineapple belongs to the bromeliad plants growing in the ground. But a universal substrate cannot be used.

What kind of soil is suitable?

You can make it yourself by mixing the components in proportion:

• sod land - 3;
• riding (red, sour) peat - 3;
• completely rotted humus - 2;
• coarse sand - 1.

You can use ready-made soils:

• substrate for orchids - 1 part;
• soil for azaleas - 2 parts.

Attention! Holes and drainage at the bottom of the pot are a must.

Crown planting and aftercare

Planting a part of the fruit

The sequence of planting a pineapple with a cut top:

1. In the center of the pot, a small mound is made from the substrate.
2. The pineapple is set so that the convex part of the fruit is on an impromptu elevation.
3. Push in 2 cm.
4. Water a little.
5. Cover with a glass container or a transparent bag.
6. Put in a warm, bright place, but not in direct sunlight.
7. Rooting lasts 1.5-2 months.
8. When the apical leaves begin to grow, the shelter is removed.
9. A week later, they move to a permanent place.

Care

Daylight hours of pineapple, even in winter, should last 8-10 hours. The plant does not need sun protection on all windows except the southern ones.

The temperature all year round should be in the range of 22-25 ° C. If it drops below 16°C for a short time, the plant may die.

Unlike the usual bromeliads, pineapple is watered into the ground with settled water at a temperature of 30-35 ° C. Between moistening, the top layer of the substrate should dry out. Sprayed with warm water from spring to mid-autumn daily.

Important! Watering the rosette of leaves can lead to the death of the plant!

Pineapple is a herbaceous crop that is rapidly gaining green mass. During the growing season, top dressing is given twice a month. Organic and mineral fertilizers alternate, for ornamental and deciduous plants. Every 2 weeks the leaves are sprayed with orchid food.

Diseases

With proper care, pineapple should not be a problem. Of the pests, a false shield is dangerous, capable of moving from another infected plant. Fungal infection occurs when watering leaves in a rosette. This cannot be done. If the core begins to rot, the plant will have to be thrown away.

Other Potential Problems When Growing Pineapple

Self-rooting pineapple is a fascinating activity. It is unlikely that fruits form on the plant at room conditions, but you can boast of a familiar exotic pet. Moreover, the culture is very easy to care for, rarely affected by pests.

It is a flower with long sharp leaves, painted in dark green, with longitudinal wide stripes of pink or cream. They form a socket. In length, the leaves reach 70 cm. The inflorescence of this plant is very similar to the inflorescence of a “real” pineapple, differs only in color. Bright sunlight falling on the plant gives the leaves and inflorescences a red tint. At home, this plant does not bear fruit.

The most popular of the many species of this spectacular exotic guest is indoor large-tufted. This is a beautiful flower with a powerful and short stem and inflorescence. Thick, fleshy, leathery leaves grow from its center, forming a tuft. The fruits of this pineapple-like houseplant are inedible. Large-tufted pineapple is a large plant, so it should be grown in a spacious room. The flower propagates by layering of an adult plant or apical rosettes.

pineapple care

Rooting and making a plant live at home is not enough. It is necessary to create conditions for the plant to bloom. To do this, you must fulfill the conditions of the content:

• watering and feeding the plant;
• transshipment or replanting and soil requirements;
• provocation of fruiting;
• other features of pineapple.

The mode of watering and feeding in the care of indoor pineapple play a decisive role. The plant does not like waterlogging of the earth and stagnant water in the pan. Therefore, watering is moderate, for an adult plant once a week. But in the summer, spraying is useful for a plant outdoors. In this case, part of the water evaporates, and part is absorbed from the leaf funnel. This is an emergency reserve provided by nature, it must be inexhaustible. If the plant is accidentally poured, the earth remains damp for a long time, it drains poorly, it is necessary to change the substrate, but take the root system as carefully as possible.

The plant should be fed once a month. The best organic fertilizer for pineapple is mullein. Organic fertilizing is done in spring and summer to increase green mass. Top dressing with mineral liquid fertilizers for flowers is used interspersed with mullein at half the rate. Apply liquid formulations during the growing season after 2 weeks with a full dose. A feature of pineapple is the method of feeding. Fertilize the plant with water with diluted top dressing in a rosette of leaves. In winter, top dressing is not required.

Water for irrigation should be warm, about 30, between watering the earth dries up.

Plant transplantation is carried out annually. In this case, soil for cacti is used, or prepared independently, with the obligatory ingredients of peat and leafy soil to create the desired acidity. The sand must be coarse. Charcoal, brick chips, vermiculite and perlite will only increase the nutrient content of the soil.

The root system of indoor pineapple is weak and the transfer of the plant after a year of life into a large container is required. But for an adult plant, a pot volume of 3-4 liters is enough. When transplanting a plant, you need to remember that a large pot is harmful for a houseplant, since the earth that is not filled with roots turns sour. On the other hand, in a more spacious pot, children will develop even before the fruiting of the plant, you can grow a new pineapple in advance to replace it.

When transplanting a plant, you can not deepen the neck.

Several years have passed, and the homemade pineapple is not going to bloom. Then you need to speed up the fruiting. This is another feature of pineapple. If the plant has spread its leaf plates at 0 cm, has grown to 25 cm and is already a year and a half old, you can try to provoke flowering with ethylene top dressing. To do this, insist a spoonful of calcium carbide for a day in a hermetically sealed jar and drain the clarified liquid. For seven days in a row, pour 50 grams of the resulting ethylene water into the rosette of leaves. Within a month and a half, you can expect the extension of the peduncle. If this did not happen, it means that the indoor pineapple has not yet entered the time of maturity.

Pineapple smoke can provoke flowering. Once a week for a month, you should leave a smoking cigarette or paper smoldering on coals near it. In this case, the plant must be covered with a film. Such "fires" will lead to the formation of a peduncle.

Pineapple flowering begins with the formation of a bud at the top, within two months it moves up on the pedicel. Within two weeks, gradually and only for one day, blue flower lights flash on each bump. In the photo, the flowering of pineapple is not accompanied by aroma, but the amazing smell stays in the room all the time of flowering. After that, the handsome pineapple itself is poured. This event takes up to six months. Like everything in nature, pineapple develops in cycles. Having given strength to the formation of seeds, it slowly dies off, giving numerous shoots. You can plant and grow a new indoor pineapple.

Video about ripening pineapple at home

Some pests, diseases and problems during cultivation

If you don’t know how to act in case of any problem related to the violation of the life cycle of a home-grown ornamental pineapple, check out these simple recommendations:

1. The tips of the leaves dry up - critically low humidity. The plant is moisture-loving, therefore, observing such signs, take care of humidifying the air in the room.
2. The formation of mold on the walls of the pot and the plant itself. This happens due to excessive abundant watering in the winter season. In this case, the mold is removed by wiping the surfaces with a napkin, and watering is made more scarce.
3. Small light spots on the leaves indicate that the plant is affected by pests - false shields. For prevention, the leaves of the plant are wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
4. Root rot occurs when the pineapple is uncomfortable and the climate is too wet and cold for it. In this case, experts recommend removing the lower part of the trunk to healthy tissues, and rooting the rest to breed a new plant specimen.
5. Slow growth of pineapple is observed when the plant is in a cool room (while the soil temperature should also not be high). To restore the growth of the plant, put it in heat and water only with warm water.

Ornamental pineapple in a pot is extremely rarely infected with harmful insects, which characterizes the bush as a type of exotic plant that is resistant to insect pests.

Pineapple care at home

After 2 months, you can already transplant homemade pineapple. By this time, the plant will take root and be able to actively absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil. Such a transplant is carried out every year.

In order for the root system not to grow much, it is important to choose a new container, 2-3 liters more than the previous one. When transplanting, the plant is transferred along with a clod of earth

Growing conditions

For full growth and development, it is necessary to provide optimal humidity, a certain temperature regime, regular watering, lighting and top dressing. Indoor pineapple is a photophilous plant, while exposure to direct sunlight is undesirable for it. The best option is to place the flower pot on the west or east side. A perennial plant grows well with one-sided lighting, so turning it is not recommended.

In winter and autumn, heat-loving fruit must be additionally illuminated. To do this, you need to install a fluorescent lamp at a distance of 20 cm from the planting tank and highlight the pineapple 9-10 hours a day. Light day for an ornamental plant should be 12 hours. In summer, it is important to maintain the temperature at 23-25°C, and in winter - 16-18°C. If the room is cool, you need to use heaters. Cold air from an open window or exposure to a battery can cause an ornamental plant to become sick or wilt.

Watering

In the wild, pineapples can go without water for a long time, so at home, a tropical plant does not need to be watered abundantly and often. In summer, water procedures can be carried out 2 times a week, and in winter - reduced to 1 time. It is important to monitor the condition of the plant and soil. So, if the leaves are wilted, and the soil is dry, then it is necessary to additionally moisten the soil. The jet should be directed to the rosette of leaves, filling it by 2/3 of the volume. Water for these purposes is used at room temperature, pre-settled or filtered.

top dressing

Vegetation of homemade pineapple occurs from late February to September. During this period, it is necessary to regularly feed the plant. Fertilize every 2 weeks. Monthly, you can spray the plant with iron sulfate (1 g of the substance per 1 liter of water). No need to use alkaline substances (lime, wood resin), organic fertilizers, such as cow or horse humus, are suitable for feeding. You can use a ready-made complex of mineral supplements, but the applied dosage must be reduced compared to conventional plants.