So you finish carving up that fresh, juicy pineapple and you’re left with a bunch of yummy pineapple meat and a bunch of scraps. Go ahead and toss the scraps in the trash but whatever you do, do not throw away the pineapple top! In this article I am going to show you how to grow pineapple from the top!
It’s quite easy to do but it will require patience because it does take time for the top to make roots. And once there’s a decent root structure, it takes anywhere from two to three years for most plants to make a pineapple. So it does take some time but trust me, it’s worth the wait!
Will A Store Bought Pineapple Work?
Absolutely! It’s worked several times for me. When I’m choosing a pineapple I just make sure the top looks healthy. I’ll also look down the center of the leaves and if it appears to be drilled out, I’ll choose another. Yes, some farmers will actually drill out the top so that no one can plant it and get free pineapple.
This hardly ever happens with the pineapples in my local stores but it may be different where you live. A friend of mine visited Hawaii for vacation years ago. He told me that people were bringing pineapple back home but the top of the fruit had either been drilled out or removed all together. So crazy!
Once you’re ready to cut up your pineapple, get a sharp knife and maybe a good cutting board and cut that top off. Or you can grab the top and gently twist it off. Either way works, it just depends on how you plan to root the top. If you want to root the top in a glass of water, just twist the top off and then peel away the bottom leaves to expose the bottom rings. That’s where the roots will form.
But I’ve also had success just cutting the top off and planting it directly in some good, fast-draining soil. Some people swear by this and others prefer to start the rooting process in a glass of water first. Then, once the roots are formed, plant it.
I’m here to tell you through experience that both ways work just fine so I wanted to share both ways of doing it.
Should I Root The Top In Water Or Soil?
It’s really up to you of course. There are some pros and cons to each way. For instance, if you would enjoy watching the roots form in the water go that route. In about a week or two you will see the roots growing from the bottom of the core top. But if you would just rather plant it and see what happens, then just cut the top off and plant it. Over the months you will see this pineapple top start to transform into a full on plant.
That’s when things start to get exciting. As the plant gets bigger graduate it into bigger pots and in a couple years you’ll have your own homegrown pineapple!
Not only that but this mama plant will also make ratoons, slips and suckers (baby pineapple plants) which can be removed from the mother plant and planted. These pups will grow into full pineapple plants and produce fruit.
Slips, Suckers, And Ratoons Oh My!
I started out with one pineapple plant. Over the years my collection has grown and grown because I remove and replant all of these pups. And most of them grew up to produce fruit and several more pups per plant.
I believe it’s important to know the difference between these pups.
Suckers are usually found in the plant itself. I find that each plant usually makes at least 2 or 3 suckers. And then there’re the slips which will usually pop up on the stem below the fruit. And last but not least are the ratoons that come from underneath the soil around the plant. The come from the bottom of the mother plant.
All of these are easy to remove from the mother plant. Once they get big enough just grab and twist off.
How To Care For Your Pineapple Plant
Much like other succulents and bromeliads, pineapple plants are pretty low maintenance. Just be sure to plant them in well draining cactus/succulent mix. They thrive in full sun and little water. In fact, the last thing that you want to do is over water them because they’re highly susceptible to root rot.
As far as fertilizer, pineapples do really well with something like a basic 10-10-10 like once every two months in the growing season.
A healthy pineapple plant will have beautiful, slightly dark green leaves with pointy ends. If you notice the leaves turning yellow or brown and crispy-looking, move it to another location that doesn’t get as much direct sun.
And keep an eye out for pests like mealy bugs, scale, mites etc. If you do see any, it’s ok to treat with neem oil.
Conclusion
If you have never tried growing pineapple plants before, I hope that you will. It’s so easy to do. It just requires some patience. If you have kids, they’ll learn so much and have so much fun.
If you have any questions about growing pineapples please let me know in the comments and I’ll get back with you.
Happy gardening!
Billy