How to Grow Pineapple Plants at Home

Pineapple is a tropical fruit that can be grown even in temperate climates. It is not a fruit, but a sororis, that is multiple fruit. Hundreds of separate flowers growing on the plant swell with juice and pulp. These flowers grow and expand into fruits. The botanical name is Ananas comosus and it is native to South America and not Hawaii, as thought by many people! Christopher Columbus is considered to have discovered pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493. He called the fruit 'pina de Indes' meaning 'pine of the Indians'. Magellan, another explorer, discovered this fruit in Brazil in 1519 and by 1555, this fruit was being exported to England. It soon found its way, tempting the taste buds across the globe, in India, Asia and the West Indies. Captain James Cook, introduced this fruit to Hawaii in 1770. These were first canned in Hawaii, thus, many people think it originated here.

This sweet, juicy fruit is very beneficial in increasing our body's immunity and acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent. Pineapples are unique fruits and are very easy to grow. This herbaceous perennial has long sword like leaves that are arranged in a spiral around a central stem.

Methodology to Grow Pineapple Plants at Home

• Take a fresh, ripe pineapple and cut the top leafy part with a sharp knife.
• Make sure there is no fruit attached to the bottom of the leafy stump as it will rot and hamper proper rooting.
• Carefully slice the crown, until small dots or circles are visible. These are root buds where the roots will develop.
• Strip the bottom leaves, an inch above the base.
• Now set aside this crown for about seven days in a dry place away from sunlight. This allows the cut ends to heal and dry and lowers the chances of rotting in the soil.
• Plant it in soil that is barely moist.(do not use wet soil).
• Water the plant once in a week and fertilize four to six times a year.
• Place the potted plant in an area with lot of sunlight.
• Protect your plant from drafts and cold temperatures.
• The plant requires temperatures over 60°F.
• You will need to be very patient as your plant will grow slowly.

It may take at least 2 years to reach a height of 25 to 30 inches. It is at this height that the plant will bear fruits. You will notice a flower bloom in the middle of the plant. This indicates the time to rejoice, as this is the growth of your first homegrown fruit. The baby pineapple looks like a green pine cone. You will have to wait for it to turn yellow before you can savor the sweet taste of success.

If you don't have enough patience to wait for two years to eat your fruit, you can try a quick method. I am not sure how successful this method is, but you can give it a shot. In the winter, the normal time for the plant to produce fruits, place the entire plant including the pot in a plastic bag. Place some ripe apples in the bag. The apples rot and produce Ethylene gas, that tricks the plant to produce flowers. Keep the plant in the pot, with the apples for at least two weeks. Place the pot in sunlight and wait for the flowers to form at the center.

When growing a pineapple plant, keep in mind that they don't need much water. Over watering may lead to rotting of the plant. The plant does not need high quality soil. They are from the Bromeliad plant family, which do not have a big root system. Thus, they do not need much soil to grow. Sprinkle some water on the leaves when watering the plant as they get much of their water and nutrition through leaves. Pineapples hate water-logged soil, concentrated fertilizers and frost.

If you are interested in gardening you can try growing these plants in your garden or even in pots. With the above-mentioned instructions and precautions in mind, try growing them. You can treat your taste buds with the sweet flavor of homegrown pineapples, that won't be easily forgotten.