How To Grow A Pineapple From... A Pineapple Top?

How To Grow A Pineapple From A Pineapple Top

A pineapple is more than just a fruit—it's an invitation to test patience, resilience, and a bit of horticultural trickery. Growing one from a store-bought pineapple top is ridiculously simple, yet surprisingly rewarding. It won’t be quick, but nothing worth doing ever is.

Choose the Right Pineapple

Start with a healthy, ripe pineapple. Look for one with vibrant green leaves—not wilted, brown, or mushy at the base. The fruit itself should be golden and fragrant, but you won’t be eating that part anyway.

Avoid pineapples with a grayish hue or any sign of rot. If it smells fermented, move on. A good pineapple is your foundation, and a weak start means a harder road ahead.

Prepare the Pineapple Top

Grip the leafy crown firmly and twist. The whole top should pop off cleanly, no knife needed. If twisting doesn’t work, slice the top off, then remove excess fruit flesh to prevent rotting.

Trim off the lowest leaves until about an inch of the base is exposed. You’ll see little brown dots—those are root buds, your ticket to a future plant. Let the crown dry out for a day or two. This step helps prevent rot when it hits water.

Root It in Water

Place the dried top in a glass of water, submerging only the base—leaves should stay dry. Use toothpicks to suspend it, or just find a narrow glass that holds it upright.

Change the water every couple of days to keep things fresh. Within a week or two, tiny roots will start appearing. Some pop up fast, others take their time. If you don’t see anything after a month, start over with a new top.

Planting the Rooted Pineapple

Once roots reach about three inches, it's time for soil. Choose a pot with drainage holes—pineapples hate soggy feet.

• Use a well-draining mix: a blend of potting soil, sand, and perlite works well.
• Plant the rooted top, burying just the base.
• Water lightly, just enough to keep the soil barely moist.

Press the soil down gently and place the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Pineapples thrive on light and warmth—if you’re cold, your plant probably is too.

Care and Growth

Pineapples grow at their own pace. New leaves will emerge from the center, a sign that things are going well. If leaves start turning brown, ease up on watering and check for rot at the base.

Feed with a balanced fertilizer every month during the growing season. I’ve had success with a diluted fish emulsion—it smells awful but works wonders.

Pineapples take anywhere from two to three years to bear fruit. If you're impatient, this isn't your plant. But if you enjoy watching something slowly transform, it's worth every second.

Encouraging a Pineapple to Fruit

If two years pass and there’s no sign of a fruit, it’s time for some persuasion. One old trick: place the plant in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana for a few days. The ethylene gas from the banana can trigger flowering.

Once a pineapple starts forming, it takes several months to ripen. That’s months, not weeks—pineapples do nothing quickly.

Harvesting

When the fruit turns golden and smells like the best pineapple you’ve ever had, it’s ready. Slice it off cleanly and enjoy the spoils.

And here’s the kicker—you can take the top of that pineapple and start the whole process again.

Growing a pineapple plant at home can be a fun and rewarding project. Not only does the pineapple plant make a beautiful houseplant, but it also offers the unique opportunity to grow your own tropical fruit. With a bit of patience and the right care, you can transform a simple pineapple top into a fruit-bearing plant.