Growing and caring for a pineapple yourself is a fascinating adventure. We have put together for you what to look out for during the long maturing period. There are also useful tips on the question 'when ripe'.

The bar for the location is high

In order for a pineapple plant to thrive and produce ripe fruit, it places very high demands on the site conditions due to its tropical origin. The situation should be like this:

  • constantly high temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius
  • a humidity of more than 60 percent
  • sunlit throughout the day

In addition, the vast majority of all pineapple varieties develop a space-consuming habit. Not infrequently, a growth height of 200 centimeters is achieved with a width of 100 centimeters. Therefore, a large conservatory, a greenhouse or a large, bright bathroom are primarily suitable as locations.

Proper care during the ripening period

Cultivating a pineapple plant is easy from the leaf tuft of a ripe fruit. There are numerous sprouts in the stalk, which are cleaned from the pulp. If you also pull off the lower 2-3 rows of leaves, the plant will root quickly in the nutrient-poor substrate at 25 to 30 degrees Celsius in the warm, humid indoor greenhouse. To encourage flowering over the next 1-4 years, do the following:

  • after rooting, repot into humus-rich, well-drained substrate with a slightly acidic pH value
  • water regularly but sparingly with low-lime water
  • allow the substrate to dry between waterings
  • spray every 2-3 days during the summer with collected, lukewarm rainwater
  • apply organic liquid fertilizer every 14 days from April to August

The pineapple plant thanks such careful care with a flower on average after 2 years. The desired fruit develops completely independently within a ripening period of 4 to 8 months.

How to recognize a ripe pineapple

An unripe pineapple not only tastes unbearably sour, but also has a slightly toxic effect on sensitive people. In addition, these tropical fruits do not ripen, so a premature harvest would be fatal. Good to know that you don't have to guess 'when ripe'? You can recognize a ripe pineapple by the following characteristics:

  • the leaf crown shines juicy green and shows no mould
  • a single pineapple leaf can be easily pulled out
  • the fruit exudes its unique pineapple scent
  • The flesh reacts elastically to light pressure

You cannot rely on the coloring of a pineapple in this regard. While the most common varieties are golden-brown in color, extravagant species sometimes glow green, orange or pink when mature.

tips and tricks

Would you like the Queen of Fruits to hold court in your living room? Then choose an ornamental pineapple (Ananas comosus 'Variegatus') as a houseplant. With a growth height of 60 centimetres, it is ideal for smaller rooms without having to compromise on its royal silhouette.

GTH

Category:

Trees