How to Grow a Pineapple from the Grocery Store

Yes, you can grow a pineapple plant from the top of the fruit. This shows you how to prepare the fruit, take the right cutting, and root it in water for a new plant.

You can also grow mango and avocado trees from store-bought fruit.

Growing Pineapple Indoors

This is a very simple way to grow a new pineapple plant from a grocery store pineapple.

You may want to start a couple at once since it’s impossible to tell ahead of time which ones will succeed.

How long does it take to grow a pineapple from a pineapple top?

Years. Step one is to grow the top into a houseplant.

From there, if growing conditions are optimum, after several years the plant may flower and (very slowly) produce fruit.

But that can be challenging, especially in a cooler climate unless you provide grow lights as well.

Some indoor pineapple plants never flower or produce fruit but do grow quite large (up to 6 feet tall indoors). Others stay fairly small if light levels are lower than desired.

I have provided tips for caring for pineapple plant here. 

How to Grow a Pineapple Top

1Select a Healthy Pineapple

Select a healthy, ripe pineapple.

• Look for healthy green (not all gray or brown) leaves with no sign of disease or insects.
• The ripeness is indicated by the gold color, which forms from the base up: the more gold, the sweeter (and riper) the pineapple.

Over-ripe pineapples are orange and have a fermented fruit odor.

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2Detach Top

• Remove the top by firmly grasping the leaves and twisting. The crown will detach from the base.

Here’s what it will look like:

The base is now ready for carving and eating.

The crown is ready for peeling, drying and rooting.

3Remove Lower Leaves

• Peel off several layers of leaves from the base of the crown so about 1-2″ is exposed. You’ll see little brown nubs that the leaves were covering up. New roots will sprout from these nubs.

4Dry Crown

Lay the crown on its side and leave it to dry for 1-2 days out of direct sun.

Next: You can root the plant directly in moist potting mix or use the water method shown below.

5Root Crown in Water

Weeks 2-6

• Place the crown in a jar of clean, warm water, with only the leaf-free area submerged in the water. A mason jar works well for this.
• Change the water every second day. You want to keep the water clean and fresh.
• Don’t freak out that the leaves start to dry and turn brown. This is normal. Some stay green, some do not.
• If the plant is not going to root, the crown may suddenly dry out entirely. If this happens, try another pineapple.

Here’s the crown after a week. You can see roots are starting to form.

Here’s the crown after 3 weeks in the water. Remember to change the jar water every other day.

6Plant in Potting Mix

After a month or so, when you have lots of nice long roots (3″ or more), plant the crown in potting mix suitable for succulents and cacti.

Pineapple plants do not like to have their roots restricted, so choose a pot with room to grow.

Weeks 7-14
For the next few weeks, keep the plant away from bright sun, and be sure the soil is consistently moist but not too wet. This is when the roots will grow in the soil.

After about two months, the plant should be snugly grabbing the soil (indicating root growth has taken place) and you should see signs of new leaf growth, coming from the middle of the plant.

Pineapple Plant with Fruit

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Pineapple Plant Care

Light

• Pineapple is a tropical fruit plant, so provide bright sun without burning the plant or drying out the soil. A summer holiday outdoors near a wall for extra warmth is something to consider.
• You can also use grow lights (shows what I use) if you do not have natural sun available.

Temperatures  

• Pineapples will die in freezing temperatures.
• Growth halts below 60°F (15.5°C) and above 90°F (32°C).
• The sweet spot is right in the middle: 68°F and 86°F (20-30°C).

Water

• Pineapples are somewhat drought-tolerant but it’s too easy to go to an extreme when growing indoors in a container. For this reason, I keep mine moderately moist at all times.
• Drought also slows or halts growth. Leaves become light green, then yellow or red and curled when drought is present.
• Overwatering is just as harmful: yes, even watering is key!

Fertilizer

• As your plant grows, it will need a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer (5-5-5) N-P-K macro-nutrients.
• You may also want to research options for applying micro-nutrients a few times per year.

Resources

• Growing Pineapples | University of Florida Extension

Pineapple Fruit

To fruit or not to fruit, that is the question

Pineapple plants need 2-3 years of maturing before flowering and fruiting can take place.

During this time, your pineapple plant will outgrow its pot a couple of times and need repotting.

Cut away old, dead leaves as needed.

If, after all this time, your plant is healthy but not flowering, look up ways to force blooms. It may just need that extra boost.

Eventually, if you’re lucky, it will indeed flower and fruit.

Suspenseful, isn’t it?

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛