A tropical fruit can be grown on a windowsill if you have patience and follow all the requirements for caring for a pineapple. Naturally, you will have to create all the conditions close to the tropics in order to enjoy a delicious fruit in the middle of a frosty winter. How to grow a pineapple and not be disappointed, we will consider further.

Pineapple is an annual plant of the bromeliad family. The fruits are formed on herbaceous shrubs, about a meter high. Oblong leaves form a rosette, from which one flower and fruit are later formed. After its maturation, the mother part of the plant dies off, and new rosettes form new inflorescences.

This feature of pineapple allows you to grow it at home, while not worrying about the quality of the product. At home, the fruits are formed smaller, but this does not appear on the taste.

Reproduction methods

There are two ways to get pineapple on the windowsill:

1. From the top - the inedible part of the tropical fruit is carefully cut out, germinated in water and buried in fertile soil. After a certain time, the top takes root and gives new bush leaves, from which rosettes and inflorescences will be formed in the future.
2. From seeds - you can buy pineapple seeds and grow it in seedlings. This will take more time and effort. It is not worth using seeds from pineapple bought in a store for the reason that all of them will be infertile due to the cultivation of fruits in artificial conditions using modern breeding techniques.

Growing a pineapple is best done with the help of the top, but for this process to really be effective, you will need to follow the rules at all stages.

Criteria for selecting fruit to grow from the top

High quality planting material is the key to success in growing not only pineapple, but also any other crop. When choosing, they are guided by such indicators:

1. The appearance of the fruit - pineapple should have an attractive appearance, a fairly elastic light brown peel without greens. When pressed, depressions should not form, indicating the overripeness of the fetus. The top should have a pale green tint and in no case be dried. An unripe fruit, like an overripe one, cannot be used for sprouting.
2. Appearance of the leaves - the leaves should be uniform in color, without inclusions and lesions. The presence of holes, black and white mold, torn leaf edges indicate damage that will not allow you to get the desired sprout. If you carefully push the leaves apart, you can see the presence of emerging shoots, which is a sign of the preservation of all natural biological processes in the pineapple.
3. Evaluation of smell and taste - the fruit should have a sweetish pleasant aroma and taste. The sour smell of fermentation indicates the overripeness of the fetus and the development of putrefactive processes. Such a pineapple will not germinate.

As statistics show, fruits bought in the spring-summer period are more effective in germination. If you are not sure about the quality of pineapples, you can buy several samples from various stores. So the chances of getting a fruit-bearing shrub will increase several times.

Instructions for growing pineapple at home

The whole process should be divided into stages, each of which has its own characteristics.

Preparation and rooting of the top

After the desired instance is selected, you must carefully separate the top. This can be done in several ways:

1. Take the pineapple in your left hand, and tightly grab the top with your right. Gently turn your right hand counterclockwise and pull out the top along with the rod buried in the pulp. Manipulation is carried out carefully, as sudden movements will provoke breaking off the fertile rod from green foliage.
2. Cut out the green crown with a sharp knife. Leaves are tightly clasped with the left hand, and with the right hand, they are carefully cut out in a circle as close as possible to the stem, along with part of the pulp. The resulting sample is washed under running water and the remains of the pulp are carefully removed, which will prevent possible rotting processes.

When the desired tip is obtained, it must be rooted. To do this, use the following step-by-step tips:

1. Rhizome disinfection - a saturated manganese solution is diluted in a glass container, into which the entire pineapple stem is placed along with green foliage for 15-20 minutes.
2. Drying to prevent rot - after disinfection, the top is washed under running water, allowed to dry in a cool, dark place for 3-4 hours.
3. Stimulation of the formation of the root system - warm water is drawn into the glass, the top of the glass is covered with cardboard, in which a small hole is made to deepen the pineapple tail. Only part of the rod should be in the water, but not green leaves.
4. A bright warm place, devoid of drafts - the future pineapple is placed on a well-lit windowsill. The temperature in the room must be at least 25°C.

The root system is formed in 10-15 days. It is important to change the water every 2-3 days, disinfecting the glass itself well. If after the specified time the roots did not form, and the leaves fell off or began to rot, then this specimen is not suitable for germination. You can stimulate the active growth of roots with the help of phytostimulants, which are purchased in flower shops. They are used according to the instructions on the package.

Germination and planting

After the lower part of the top of the pineapple has given roots, it can be planted in the ground. To begin with, take a glass of 250-300 ml with a soil mixture ideal for growing pineapple. As soon as the plant takes root, as evidenced by the appearance of new leaves, it can be transplanted into a larger pot.

In the ground, a depth of 2-3 cm is made, where all the newly formed roots are carefully laid. Sprinkle with soil on top, after which it is well watered and allowed to drain excess water. It is important that the growth point of the leaves is above ground level, otherwise you can forget about the appearance of new leaves.

Necessary Conditions for Growth

In order for the plant to be strong and to please with fruits in the near future, care should be taken to comply with all favorable conditions.

Correct soil

Pineapple is unpretentious to soils, therefore, a universal soil mixture for indoor plants or palm trees is quite suitable for its cultivation. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot. In its role, you can use small gravel, pieces of foam or special drainage for indoor plants. This is necessary for better ventilation of the root system, rapid removal of excess moisture and prevention of rot development.

If the soil is taken in a solid lump, smells unpleasant, has a whitish coating, or contains various insects, it should be discarded. After opening the package, the soil should be moderately moist, crumble without much pressure and smell like a forest after rain.

Watering and humidity

Since pineapple grows in the tropics, where it is constantly hot and humid, you will have to fulfill these conditions on the windowsill. It is important to spray the plant 2-3 times a day on a leaf. Watering in the hot season is carried out 2-3 times a week. In winter, it is enough to water the plant once a week.

Some people who practice growing pineapple on the windowsill offer another watering method - bottom watering. To do this, the pot is placed in a deep container filled 1/3 with water. If necessary, the plant itself will consume water, and the soil mixture in the root area will always be moistened.

It is important to use only settled or filtered water without chlorine and sediment. It is recommended to collect tap water in a container 2-3 days before the proposed watering and let it settle. For irrigation use a slightly warm liquid without sediment.

Temperature regime

Pineapple is unpretentious to temperature. Room indicators of 25 ° C in summer and 20 ° C in winter are quite suitable for fruit formation. The plant feels good under phyto-lamps, which increase daylight hours.

top dressing

From April to October, when the pineapple has a growing season, the plant needs support in the form of organic top dressing. The most effective of them are:

1. Ash + copper sulfate - take 1/3 teaspoon of copper sulfate and 1 tablespoon of wood ash in a glass of water. Mix well until completely dissolved, after which the plant is watered under the root.
2. Ammonium nitrate - take ½ teaspoon of granular fertilizer in a glass of water, stir until completely dissolved and water under the root. Such top dressing stimulates the growth of green mass.
3. Superphosphate and other phosphate fertilizers - used in the first months after rooting, stimulate the active growth of the root system. Diluted in water according to the instructions on the package.

Top dressing is made in the spring and summer. In winter, the plant should remain in a state of maximum dormancy.

Possible diseases and measures to combat them

Pineapple, like any other plant growing on the windowsill, can get sick, slow down in growth and wither. The most common problems in growing exotic fruit are:

1. The absence of a flower - flowering is noted after 13-18 months, but in the absence of comfortable conditions, it may not occur at all. You can speed up this process with ethylene gas. To do this, take a ripe apple and cut it lengthwise into two parts. One part is placed with the pulp down on the soil, and the other on the growth zone. The soil is well shed and wrapped in a plastic bag for 1-2 weeks. During the fermentation process, the apple will release the necessary gas, which will stimulate the release of the peduncle.
2. The pale color of the leaves, the absence of new leaves for a long time - indicates a lack of nutrients in the soil, or insufficient lighting. The problem is solved by fertilizing and rearranging the plant in a more lit place.
3. The appearance of wrinkles and drying of foliage - occurs after the death of the rosette, when the pineapple fruit is formed. It is a natural process that does not require correction. If such a symptom appears at the beginning of the growing season, then this may indicate the presence of drafts and waterlogging of the soil. The plant should be rearranged in a dry and warm place, watered once a week.
4. The presence of yellow tubercles on the surface of the leaves - can occur when attacking scale insects. These small insects drink the juice from the leaf, making it lethargic and faded. The leaves are treated with a solution of manganese or special fungicides for such cases.
5. Twisting the lower leaves into a tube is associated with waterlogging of the soil and an unsuitable composition of the soil mixture. It is recommended to transplant the plant, and carefully remove the modified leaves.
6. Black plaque in the growth point zone - appears due to the activation of mold fungi that may be in the soil. We solve the issue by disinfecting the soil and the plant itself.

You can write endlessly about how to grow pineapple at home. The process is not particularly laborious, but interesting. Suitable for both experienced flower growers and amateurs. If you follow all the recommendations, in a year you can get delicious tropical fruits grown by yourself.

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 put 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 fetus, the mother plant dies.

To grow a 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 rosette 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.

Growing pineapple at home is considered a rather time-consuming process. For the active growth of this crop, it is necessary to comply with certain requirements that will help grow a full-fledged exotic plant on your windowsill.

Pineapple is an annual plant in the bromeliad family. These fruits grow on low shrubs whose height reaches about 1.5 m. A small inflorescence is located in the center of the leaf mass. An exotic fruit is gradually formed from it in the future.

When the fetus is fully ripe, the maternal rosette gradually begins to die. In the lateral axils, the growth of lateral shoots is noted. Thanks to this cycle, many growers manage to grow pineapple at home from the top.

Selection of planting material

Before planting a pineapple at home, it is recommended that you purchase a ripe fruit from the grocery store. In the selection process, it is necessary to take into account some criteria that are responsible for the active formation of a new root system.

These include:

• fruit size. On average, the height of a good fruit should be at least 30 cm;
• it is forbidden to use the tops of pineapples that are sold in the winter. They dry quickly. Good fruits begin to be harvested in late May and early June;
• a healthy fruit has a smooth surface and a bright green top;
• ripe fruit has a sweet smell. If the fruit emits a sour or rotten aroma, then it is recommended to refuse to purchase such a product;
• for the first cultivation, you need to purchase several fruits;
• the fruit should have a dense structure. If it is soft or there are dents, then this indicates its unsuitability or improper storage in the warehouse. In the future, this product is not able to form a new root system.

When the pineapple is selected, go to the next step.

Soil preparation and growing containers

Before planting a pineapple at home with the help of the top, it is necessary to prepare a container for an exotic crop and an appropriate soil composition. For this, any flower pot or ceramic planter is suitable.

The size of the container should be slightly larger than the diameter of the green top. To remove excess moisture, it is recommended to make through holes.

Planting soil for pineapples contains peat and river sand. The composition is prepared in proportion 1:1. Before mixing all the ingredients together, they are calcined on fire or in the oven for 15 minutes. When all the nuances are observed, you can proceed to the next step.

Preparing the top of the pineapple for planting

How to grow a pineapple To do this, the upper green part is carefully separated with a sharp knife. During the separation process, it is important not to damage the middle of the green material. Here the first rudiments of the root system begin to form.

If particles of pulp remain on the lower border, they must be completely removed. In the future, they can provoke rotting of the core. The lower leaves are also removed.

Now you need to dry the bottom border of the top a little. Planting material is dried with a paper towel and removed for a day in a dark place. This measure will help activate the internal contents to form new roots.

Sprouting the top of a pineapple

To speed up the process of formation of a new root system, the green part is placed in a transparent container with warm water by 5 cm. Then it is removed to the southern windowsill. The plant will stay here for a week.

Already on the 8th day, small roots will appear on the lower border. Planting the top in the ground is carried out in the presence of roots 3 cm long.

The soil is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is formed. Now the top is carefully fixed in the soil composition. Next, the plant is watered a little and placed on the south window.

As the root system grows, the young pineapple is sprayed and moistened. Watering is carried out 2 times a week. Potassium supplementation will help stimulate growth.

The mineral composition is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. If these recommendations are followed, it is possible to grow a full-fledged pineapple at home.

Photo of planting pineapple

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 convenient to transport.

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 crest at home is easier, but after planting, only people who are well versed in the Bromeliad family can identify the plant by its 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 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.

A lover of exotic plants at least once comes up with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bgrowing a pineapple with his own hands. Not every grower knows how to grow a pineapple at home from the top, creating comfortable conditions for it to grow and bear fruit in a city apartment or house. In fact, this is quite within the power of a person who does not have much experience in plant breeding.

How to plant pineapple at home?

To figure out how to plant a pineapple at home and how to grow it, you need to know what natural conditions are familiar to him. Pineapple is a herbaceous plant of dry and warm plains, similar to a bush with hard leaves, from the center of which a peduncle grows. On it, the fruit is tied, which we habitually see on the shelves of supermarkets.

Planting pineapple at home can occur in several ways:

• "Palm" (top leaves) of ripe pineapple;
• "kids" (lateral shoots) from an adult plant;
• seeds.

Pineapple is able to give lateral processes. You can plant them directly in a pot with suitable soil and grow a pineapple from them. It is fair to say that you still need to find someone who can get hold of such "kids", because not everyone grows pineapples on their windowsill! Can you grow a pineapple from the top? Without a doubt, it is possible! Buy a ripe pineapple, separate this “palm” from it, plant it in the ground, and eat the pineapple for your pleasure.

How to plant a pineapple from the top?

Before you can admire your own pineapple on the windowsill, you should learn how to grow a pineapple without making mistakes. First you need to find a pineapple suitable for this purpose on sale. It is better to buy pineapple for planting material in summer or early autumn. The fruit should be ripe and exude a delicate aroma, its peel is golden in color, the leaves are green, elastic. Do not take a pineapple if its leaves are withered or frostbitten, gray "dusty" in color, have spots (which may indicate damage to them by pests).

How to cut a pineapple for planting?

The easiest way to prepare planting material is to literally unscrew the "tuft" of leaves from the fruit. Action algorithm:

1. Wear gloves to protect your hands from thorny leaves.
2. Tightly grasp all the leaves with the fingers of one hand closer to the base.
3. Hold the fetus firmly with the other hand.
4. Slowly but surely turn the top as if you were removing a screw.

It is important not to overdo it here. From a ripe fruit, the top should come out without problems, but if it doesn’t work out, then it can be cut out with a sharp, clean knife. Here's how to properly trim a pineapple:

1. Stepping back from the tuft 4-5 cm, make a cut.
2. Holding the knife at a 45° angle, cut the leaves along with the pulp base. Don't damage the core!
3. Make sure that the pulp is completely peeled from the root, otherwise the rotting process will begin when planting.

Sprouting pineapple begins with the preparation of the top. The easiest way to grow a pineapple at home from the top:

1. Remove the lower leaves (2-3 cm), exposing the growth points of future roots on the plant trunk. Then, when you plan to put the tuft immediately into the water, you can not dry it, but pre-treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
2. As a vessel for germinating the cuttings, take an opaque container (you can use an ordinary cup).
3. Water should be at room temperature, clean, settled. Water should be changed every two days, not allowing it to become cloudy. Watch the water level.
4. The petiole should be lowered into the water to the height of the growth points of the roots, while not immersing the leaves of the tuft in water.
5. Place the container with the handle in a warm, bright place, protected from direct sunlight, temperature changes, drafts and pets. After about 7-10 days, the roots will hatch. When they get stronger and grow by 2-3 cm, the plant can be planted in the ground.
6. Before landing, take it out of the water, dry it on a paper towel for several hours, treat it with ash or activated carbon, then proceed to planting.

Another way to grow pineapple is by rooting the prepared top without first sprouting in water. The top is cut off from the pineapple according to the above algorithm. The base must be dried for a couple of weeks before planting, hanging the “palm tree” with the leaves down so that the wounds on the handle are healed. Florists, before planting, treat the petiole with ash, crushed activated carbon to disinfect and prevent decay.

Prepare a small clay pot. Lay it loosely in it, make a recess in the moss and slightly press the base of the tuft there. Place the pot with the seedling in a bright, warm (23-25 ​​° C) room away from direct sunlight. Spray the rosette of leaves regularly with a spray bottle. You can cover the plant with a transparent cap to create a microclimate. Don't over-moisturize! If young leaves appear in the center of the outlet, the plant has taken root and is ready for planting in a permanent place.

So, we have a sprout with roots. In which pot to plant a pineapple sprouted in one of the ways to create suitable living conditions for the plant? The pot must have a drainage hole. To begin with, take a pot slightly larger in diameter than the tuft itself, about 15 cm. You should not immediately take a large container. It is better to subsequently transship, increasing the size of the pot to the required one. Since the roots of the pineapple are close to the surface, a very deep container is not required.

Let's start landing:

1. Prepare the ground. A couple of days before planting, disinfect it by spilling a solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water. At the time of planting, the soil should be slightly damp, but not wet.
2. At the bottom of the pot, place from expanded clay, vermiculite about a third of the height of the container.
3. Fill the pot with prepared soil, make a recess in the center, the size of which will allow you to freely place the roots and cuttings to a height up to the level of the leaves.
4. Place the tuft in the hole, being careful not to damage the roots. With one hand, hold the seedling, and with the other, gently fill the space around the petiole with soil, lightly pressing the soil with your fingers.
5. To make the plant immobile, you can fix it with wooden or plastic sticks.
6. Water the plant with a little water or spray the soil with a spray bottle.

soil for pineapple

Land for planting pineapple is commercially available - this is soil for planting bromeliads. You can also make the soil yourself by mixing in proportion

• peat - two parts;
• river sand - one part;
• forest land (or sod land) - three parts

Pineapple in a pot - how to care?

When the plant has new green leaves, we can assume that the first stage is completed. However, in order for a decorative pineapple in a pot to grow and develop without problems, it needs proper care:

1. The location is a very bright place, without direct sun.
2. Temperature regime - 23-27 ° С
3. Watering - plentiful, but not frequent. The soil should dry out between waterings.
4. Top dressing - every two months.
5. Spraying from a spray bottle daily, pineapple loves moist warm air.

That's all the wisdom of how to grow a pineapple at home from the top! You can create an entire plantation on your windowsill, surprising guests and delighting your family with fragrant pineapple fruits. By following simple care rules, it is possible to get a beautiful, strong, amazing exotic plant from seemingly useless leaves, which, as usual, are sent to the trash can.