Fruit · Tropical & Exotic
Pineapple
Ananas comosus
A slow-growing tropical bromeliad, often started from the leafy crown of a store-bought fruit. Well suited to a large container, though it takes years rather than months to fruit.
At a glance
Water
Low
16–28 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–8 hrs/day
Space
Medium
14 in
To maturity
540–1080 days
Edible parts: Fruit
Family: Bromeliad
Includes pineapple and many ornamental houseplants. Members form a rosette of stiff leaves and often tolerate periods of drought.
Harvest
Ready when the fruit turns from green toward gold at the base and gives off a sweet smell; twist or cut it free from the stalk.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 65–90 °F
- Soil pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Soil type
- Sandy loam or cactus/succulent mix; drainage is critical
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical; damaged by any frost and slows below about 60°F.
- Growing season
- Start a rooted crown any time indoors; move outdoors only in frost-free climates or as a container plant brought in for winter.
- Nitrogen
- Low (≈20–40 ppm)
- Humidity
- High (≈60–80 %)
- Planting unit
- Cutting
- Feeding schedule
- Light, infrequent feeding during active growth; overwatering and overfeeding are bigger risks than underfeeding.
- Pest resistance
- Low - watch for mealybugs and scale, especially indoors
- Pests
- Mealybugs and scale: Small, slow-moving insects that coat themselves in a waxy or cottony layer while feeding on sap, often clustering in leaf joints.
- Pruning
- Remove offsets (pups) at the base if not propagating them; otherwise minimal pruning needed.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— 5-gallon pot or larger once past the initial rooting stage.
- In-Ground GardenPossible— Only in frost-free, tropical to subtropical climates.
- Raised BedPossible— Workable, but a container makes it easier to control drainage.
- HydroponicNot recommended— Slow growth and rosette form don't suit standard hydroponic systems.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
- WindowsillNot recommended— Needs more direct light and years of growth than a windowsill offers.
Companions & antagonists
No known companion pairings yet.