The homeland of pineapple is the tropics. This light-loving and drought-tolerant plant belongs to the bromeliad family. In Russia, pineapple appeared during the reign of Catherine the Great and was grown mainly in greenhouses. But even in an ordinary apartment, you can successfully grow pineapple. Although this is not quite an easy task, it is quite within the power of both experienced and novice flower growers..
Selection and preparation of planting material
Let’s start with the choice of planting material. This can be a store-bought pineapple. The main thing is to comply with the following conditions. Try to get fruits for planting in the warm season and only ripe. The tops of the plant (tuft), which will act as planting material, should in no case be damaged or frostbitten. The skin of the pineapple should be golden yellow in color and also not damaged. It makes sense to choose two fruits at once, which will increase the chances of plant survival..
The next step is to separate the top of the pineapple from the fruit. Several options are possible here. The first option is to unscrew the top. A bunch of leaves is taken in the hand and rotated strongly. Leaves with a small part of the stem should separate from the fruit..
Another option is that the tuft is cut off with a sharp knife along with the pulp of about 1 cm, or only the tuft is separated. After that, you need to dry the top of the pineapple. Dry it in a dark place for two weeks. If the tuft was removed with the pulp, then it should be dried in a suspended state, lightly sprinkling the cut with the powder of a crushed activated carbon tablet to avoid rotting of the pulp.
In a tuft without pulp, the leaves should be removed from the bottom until root buds appear (this is about 2-3 cm). the leaves should be cut very carefully, taking care not to damage the buds. Small roots are sometimes found under the leaves. Such roots will not grow further, however, they cannot be removed. The resulting stump is dried in an upright position.
Then again there are two options for sprouting pineapple. In the first case, the top is placed in a glass filled with water so that about three to four cm of the stem remains under it. The water changes at least every three days. When the roots appear, the tuft is planted in a pot. In the second case, the top is immediately planted in a pot and rooted directly in the ground..
For planting, a small (15 cm or slightly larger) pot is used, always with a hole for drainage. A 2-3 cm drainage layer is laid out on the bottom. River pebbles or ready-made drainage purchased in a store can be used as drainage. Next, the earthen mixture is poured, as for cacti..
Landing
1-2 days before planting, it is necessary to spill the soil with boiling water. This will disinfect it and create the necessary moisture. After planting, water the seedling abundantly with warm water and cover it with a plastic jar or plastic bag. This will create the tropical humidity that this plant needs. This mini-greenhouse should be placed in a warm place. The lighting should not be too bright..
Pineapple does not like waterlogging of the soil, it is enough to spray it with warm water once a week, and water it as the top layer of the soil dries up. About 7-8 weeks after planting, the seedling should take root. It’s easy to check if the plant has started. To do this, you need to carefully tilt the plant, if its resistance is felt, it means that the sprout has taken root. If the plant separates from the soil easily, then the pineapple may have rotted, then you need to start over. In a rooted plant, the lower leaves may dry out and even disappear – this is not scary, new leaves will appear in the middle of the top. Watering at this time should be no more than once a week..
Pineapple care
After a year, the plant is transplanted into a larger pot. And again it is necessary to lay drainage on the bottom of the pot and only then fill the soil. Pineapple loves light, provide it with an adequate supply of light. In winter, pineapple requires additional lighting for at least 12 hours a day. It is important not to forget that pineapple also needs warmth. He does not tolerate temperatures below 18 degrees. The roots of the plant should also be kept warm. Under no circumstances should the pot be placed on a cold floor or window sill..
It is necessary to water the pineapple rarely, but at the same time abundantly and only with warm softened water, sometimes acidifying it with lemon juice, which is beneficial for pineapple. It is recommended to water not only the soil, but also pour water into the pineapple outlet itself, as in nature. Spray it regularly between waterings with warm water, pineapple loves this very much.
For successful growth, pineapple needs additional feeding. Once every two weeks during its growing season, the plant can be fertilized with a complex mineral fertilizer or use special fertilizers for bromeliads. After flowering, in order to better form and ripen the fruit, the plant needs nitrogen fertilization. The fruit ripens, depending on the variety, within 4-7 months. It is advisable to replant the pineapple once a year, or at least once every two years. It should be remembered that pineapple needs enough space, so you should choose spacious roomy pots..
Usually pineapple blooms after 3-4 years, its flower changes color several times during the flowering period. Flowering lasts for one to two weeks. The flowers emit a light, pleasant pineapple scent. Its small fruits can be rooted, and they bloom faster than their parent..