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For pineapple being one of the most unique and exotic tropical fruits of the world, a lot of people are wondering if they could grow one in a temperate zone under controlled conditions.

Below you will find useful information on growing pineapples in home conditions. Of course it wouldn’t be as tall as the one grown in Hawaii, but it would be a healthy and attractive one. And with more patience, in 2 or 3 years you may eat a tasteful fruit from your own plant.

Planting a pineapple: Prepare and root the crown

For that first of all purchase a mature pineapple from the grocery store, with healthy green leaves not yellow or brown and with a fruit skin that is golden brown (not too green). Pineapple is grown from planting material supplied by the plant itself. Then, twist hard the leafy crown from the fruit and peel away quite a lot of the lower ragged leaves, in order to bare the stalk. Also clean the crown from the flash, otherwise it will lead to rot after planting. After cleaning carefully slice small, horizontal sections from the bottom of the crown until you see root buds that appear as small dots or circles on the flat, cut surface (see picture). Remove as little tissue as possible to avoid cutting into young stem tissue. The small brown-colored bumps below the leaf scars are root primordial (baby roots waiting to grow) and there may even be a few short roots at the base of the crown (the picture at right shows a crown with a lot of roots). Though these won't be the roots that will grow in the next step, try not to damage these.

Now place the crown in a dry, dark place for a full week to allow the end to harden. This will permit the cut end and the leaf scars to heal and prevent rot.

After a week you need to develop the root system of the crown, for that put the crown in a glass of water on a refrigerator. Try avoiding the crown from any temperature fluctuations such as heating or cooling vents and hot south-facing windows. Change the water in the glass every 2 or 3 days. You’ll see slight root growth after three weeks.

Now you are ready to plant the rooted crown.

Plant the crown

Start your pineapple in an 8-inch porous red clay pot (Later, when it outgrows this, transplant it to a 12-inch pot). The first step is to layer about two inches of stones in the bottom of the pot, prior to putting the crown in the soil. This will provide a good drainage because pineapples do not like over wet soil. Use a good light garden soil, mixing in up to 30 per cent well-composted organic matter. A commercial potting soil will also work well and will assure a disease-free potting medium. Add potting soil to the halfway point and set the crown on the soil in the pot. Add more soil to fill the pot, tapping it down firmly around the crown. Avoid getting soil into the central leaves of the crown.

Fertilize and water the soil just after planting. The soil should always be slightly moist; not wet because it which will promote rot and not dry. It will take six to eight weeks for the stalk to really start sending out strong roots.

The pineapple should be supporting itself as a new plant after about two months. To see if new roots have formed, gently tug on the plant. If the roots are present they will resist your tug, if they are absent the top of the pineapple will pull from the soil. If there are no new roots, even small, replace the pineapple in the soil and wait more. But if the base looks like it is rotting, start all over again with a new crown. That’s why it is recommended to root two plants in case one dies.

Over the course of the following year, you will notice that the original leaves of the pineapple will begin to die and turn brown, as new leaves beginning to grow at the center. As the the original leaves begin to die, remove them. During this time the pineapple should be watered no more than once a week. After one full year of growth, repot the plant.

How to repot the crown

After a year of growing repot your pineapple in a 12 inch (30.5cm) porous clay pot using the same type of soil you used for planting your crown. As at planting you must also provide a good drainage, by placing a curved piece of broken pot over the hole in the bottom of the pot. Over this add about half an inch (1.3cm) of small stones, then add the soil and put the plant inside the pot. Pat down the soil around the base of your pineapple, to firm it up. Try not to get soil into the central leaves of the plant. If your pineapple gets bigger and root-bound you may repot it in a larger pot.

How to care for your pineapple?

Proper light and temperature

As pineapple is a tropical plant avoid cold and freezing temperatures, as they can kill it. When all danger of frost is past you may take the plant out of the house. Don’t put it right away in the sun, because it could be sunburned, but keep it first in a semi-shaded spot for couple of weeks. Pineapples like to get at least 6 hours of bright light each day.

By the end of September or early in October, bring the plant inside. But if you live in a warmer or colder country this period may vary. Place the plant near a window for more sunlight. At night take it away from the window to prevent freezing. Pineapples like a temperature of 65 – 75 degrees F and a minimum of 60^○F (18 – 25^○C and a minimum of 15^○C).

Watering and fertilizing

As pineapple doesn’t like too much water, it requires only 20 inches (508mm) of natural rainfall per year, if well distributed. Thus, while the plant is indoors wet the soil only once a week, when outside along with wetting the soil spray the leaves so that the cups at the bottom of the plant are filled. Avoid drying out the plant and over wetting it. In winter months it requires less water rather in its growing season. Also during growing season it will be fertilized once a month. You may use a solid plant food, in that case you should scatter it on the surface of the soil and wash in by watering. Or, you may use a liquid fertilizer, if that, poor the solution into the base of the plant and on the surface of the soil. Avoid pouring it into the center of the leaves, because it may injure the young leaves.

Pests and diseases

As house plants, if given proper care, your pineapple will be subject to a minimum of pests and diseases. Mealybugs, scale and mites are the pests most likely to attack your plant. To remove the pests wash the leaves with soapy water and then rinse well with clear water. If you decide to remove themwith an incecticide follow the directions on the label.

Heart rot caused by fungi is the only disease you will likely encounter. In heart rot, the central leaves turn black and are easily pulled out of the plant. When heart rot occurs, the plant can sometimes be saved by pouring a fungicide into the heart (center) of the plant. If this stops the infection, a side shoot will start growing. This shoot will then become your plant and will eventually flower and form a fruit. Or you can remove it and begin a new plant.

Flowering and Fruiting

In Hawaii, a crown takes about twenty to twenty-six months to produce a ripe fruit. However, it may only take twenty months, forcing the fruiting as you’ll see below. When the plant is 12 to 14 months old and at least 24 inches (61 cm) in center of the leaves an inflorescence bud will begin to form. Then in about 12 months a bright red cone will emerge from its center.

After twenty months come the flowers. Bright blue flowers open row by row, starting at the bottom, over about two weeks (flower development in Hawaii typically occurs in late December or January when the days are short (about 10.5 hours) and the nights are cool (55 to 65 F; about 13 to 18 C)). Each flower only lasts one day, but there are many to enjoy.

When the petals of the last flower have dried, the fruit begins to develop. After three to six months from this period, your fruit will begin to ripen. When the fruit is golden halfway up, your pineapple is ready. Surprisingly enough it will be just about the size of a can of pineapple, or a bit larger.

If your pineapple plant is at least 24 inches tall and has not flowered by the time it is twenty to twenty-four months old, you can "force" it with a few different techniques that trick the plant into putting its energy into flowering instead of making new leaves.

How to force fruiting?

It is best to force the plant to flower during the winter months when the days are cooler and shorter as this is when a pineapple is accustomed to making fruit.

The first technique is to place a small lump of calcium carbide about the size of your little fingernail in the center of your plant and pour a quarter cup of water over it. This will release acetylene gas that will force your plant to flower. To improve your chances of success, it is best to treat your plant in the evening after the sun goes down and temperatures are cooler. (Calcium carbide may be obtainable at a welding shop, garden store, pharmacy or toy store.)

A second method of inducing flowering is to lay the plant and pot on its side between waterings. This interferes with hormones in the plant, causing the production of another hormone, ethylene, which induces flowering.

A third method is to place the plant in a bag with two ripe & bruised apples for two weeks. Move the plant to a shady location during this time, and then move it back to its sunny spot. The ripening apples produce ethylene gas that will induce flowering in the pineapple.

Two to three months later, the plant should form a flower spike in its center.

When to harvest your pineapple?

When your fruit is about six months old, about four months after flowering has occurred, changes begin to occur. The color of the shell changes from green to rich gold. The color change of the shell occurs first at the bottom of the fruit and moves upwards. During this change, the fruit becomes sweeter and the color of the flesh changes from white to yellow. The fruit will weigh from two to four pounds.

When the fruit is golden half way up it can be picked and eaten. You can wait longer if you wish. Once the fruit develops, it should last on the plant for several months.