Many people are surprised to learn that pineapples do not grow on trees. Instead, this tropical fruit grows on a type of vine known as a cactus. Pineapples are part of the Bromeliad family, which also includes such plants as tillandsia and aechmea. All bromeliads are native to South America and the Caribbean, with each species having its own quirks and growing habits. However, once you know how to grow pineapple plants from cuttings, it’s not all that difficult. There are two different types of pineapple plants: trailing and climbing varieties. If you’re only interested in harvesting the fruit or creating attractive landscaping, you can choose to grow the trailing variety. These plants have smaller leaves and tendrils that don’t climb as high as the climbing variety. Conversely, if you want to see your pineapple plant produce fruit year after year, then the climbing variety is right for you!
Do Pineapples Grow on Trees or Bushes?
Pineapples are not grown on trees or bushes. They are actually a type of berry that grows on a plant called a pineapple plant. The pineapple plant is a member of the bromeliad family, which includes over 3,000 species of plants, most of which are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America.
How To Grow Pineapples From Cuttings
1. Use a sharp knife to cut a 2-4 inch section from the top of a pineapple plant. This is the cutting that you will use to start your new pineapple plant.
2. Remove any dead leaves from the cutting, and allow it to dry for 24 hours.
3. Gently remove any dried roots from the bottom of your cutting and place it in an 8-inch pot filled with potting soil. It is best if your pot has drainage holes so you can empty out the water when necessary.
4. Place your new cutting in a sunny window or outside on a patio where it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Do not place it near an air conditioning vent or any other area that may cause drafts or excessive heat as this will damage the tender leaves of your new pineapple plant.
5. After three weeks, remove your new cutting from its pot and trim off all but one set of leaves on each side of the stem (the lower set). The remaining leaf will be much larger than the others and should be trimmed back to about 2 inches above where your stem was cut off.
6. Once you have trimmed off all but one set of leaves, gently bend back most of the remaining leaf over itself until you see two sets of veins running down either side of it (the upper set). If there are no veins, then you need to trim another 1/4 inch off each side until there are two sets again (the lower set). This will ensure that the leaf will not yellow and die in the future.
7. Once you have trimmed back all of the leaves, let your pineapple plant dry out for another 24 hours. You may want to cover it with a plastic bag to keep it moist during this time.
8. Once the leaves are dry, you can begin watering your new cutting again. Be careful not to overwater your new pineapple plant as this could cause root rot or other problems.
9. After two weeks, remove the plastic bag from around your new cutting and place it back into an 8-inch pot filled with potting soil. You can also move this into a bigger pot if you wish at this point.
10. After five weeks, remove your cutting from its pot and trim off most of its lower leaves (only leave 1/4 inch). This will allow sunlight to reach more of the stem and encourage growth. If there are no lower leaves remaining on the stem, then trim off another 1/4 inch from each side until there are 2 sets of veins again (the upper set). The remaining leaf should now be at least 12 inches long.
Varieties Of Pineapple Plants
- There are many varieties of pineapple plants to choose from. The most popular varieties of pineapple plants are the Dwarf or Compact Pineapple, the Semi-dwarf or Standard Pineapple, and the Dwarf or Standard Dwarf Pineapple.
- When purchasing a new pineapple plant, you should consider whether it is a standard dwarf, a semi-dwarf, or a dwarf variety. For example, The Semi-dwarf pineapple plant is one that has two sets of leaves (the upper set is much smaller than the lower set). This can be easily identified by looking at the leaf bases. The dwarf variety is one that has only one set of leaves (the lower set being much smaller than the upper set). These can be identified by looking at the leaf bases. The compact variety is similar to the dwarf variety except that it does not have any leaves on its stem (the plastic bag will cover this part of your new cutting). These can be identified by looking at the stem.
- Once you have chosen your pineapple plant type, there are several other things to consider when choosing your new cutting. If you are purchasing a semi-dwarf or standard dwarf variety, then make sure that it is not too tall as these types tend to grow extremely tall. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that your new cutting’s height does not exceed 6 inches in any direction (from top to bottom and side to side). To check this out for yourself, hold the cutting up to a table or wall and measure from the top of the cutting’s stem to the bottom of its leaves. If your new cutting’s height exceeds 6 inches in any direction, then it is probably too tall.
Growing Conditions For Pineapple Plants
Step 1: Find & Harvest Healthy Leaves
The first step to growing a pineapple plant from a cutting is to find a healthy plant and harvest some of its leaves. Ideally, you should choose a healthy plant that is no more than two years old. The leaves of the plant should be large and dark green in color. There should be plenty of new leaves emerging from the base of the plant as well. You can harvest the leaves from any healthy plants growing in your garden.
Step 2: Prepare Your Cutting
Before you plant your cutting, make sure that it’s properly prepared. Make sure that all of the leaves are removed from your cutting, leaving just the stalk and the growing bud of the plant. Trim off any brown edges from the stalk, as these will rot and cause your cutting to die. Prepare several cuttings from your healthy leaves, ensuring that each cutting has the growing bud.
Step 3: Find a Good Spot & Plant Your Cuttings!
Now that you have your healthy cuttings, you’re ready to plant them and begin growing your new pineapple plants! Make sure that the soil is moist but not wet and that it has the right pH balance. The ideal soil pH for pineapple plants is between 6.0 and 7.0. Pineapple plants prefer full sun but can also be grown in partial shade. Your pineapple plants will grow best if you place them in an area with plenty of space for them to climb.
Steps4: Watering and Fertilizing
Although pineapple plants are not particularly thirsty, they do need some water to keep their leaves moist. You can provide your new pineapple plants with water by watering them from the bottom of their container. You can also mist your plants with a spray bottle to keep them evenly moist. Be sure to water your new pineapple plants frequently and use a soil-based fertilizer once every two weeks during the growing season.
Step 5: Harvesting Your Pineapple Plants
You can harvest your pineapple plants at any time, but it is best to wait until the fruit has fully ripened before harvesting it so that you don’t damage the plant or hurt its growth. The leaves will begin to yellow and fall off as they age and become less nutritious for your plant. When you do harvest your pineapple plant, be sure to cut off any browned edges that may have formed around the stem of the cutting, as these will rot and cause your cutting to die. If you are growing a standard dwarf or semi-dwarf variety, then it should take about 10 years for a single cutting to produce fruit.
Final Words
Pineapples are a great tropical plant to grow indoors or outside. Once you know how to grow pineapple plants from cuttings, it’s easy to start your own pineapple garden! If you have kids, growing pineapple plants is a fun way for them to learn about gardening. These plants are fairly low maintenance and are great for any type of garden. Grow them outside or indoors, indoors or with kids, and make sure you have a pineapple garden in no time!
