How to Grow Pineapple From Scrap
Patience is the first step in growing a pineapple. You’ll be rewarded with vibrant green leaves and bright blue flowers, but it can take two years to produce the fruit.
Look for a pineapple with:
• Firm, green leaves
• Golden-brown, firm skin
• No gray spots which may be scale insects
Remove the crown of the fruit. You need the point where the leaves join together. Strip away some leaves to expose a few inches of the stem. Turn upside down and let dry for a week.
To encourage root growth, you should:
• Stick a few toothpicks in the steam.
• Place the stem in a glass of water.
• Place in a sunny window for a few weeks.
• Change water every few days to prevent mold.
After the roots are a few inches long, you should:
• Use an 8-inch pot with a thin layer of gravel and 30 percent blend of organic matter garden soil.
• Place in a sunny, warm environment.
• Lightly water weekly and mist weekly to prevent the plant from drying out.
According to Dole Plantation, a bright red cone will sprout after about 12 months, followed by blue flowers. When the last of the flowers have dried up, the fruit develops. It takes about 6 months for a pineapple to ripen. To produce larger fruit, Bayer Advanced recommends transplanting to larger pots as the plant grows.