Pineapple Plants are a bit special, aren't they? There's so much to like - obviously they have the same air purifying qualities that so many other indoor plants come with, as well as the benefits to our mental state and productivity. However, how many other plants can offer you the same exotic aesthetic?! And even give you the opportunity to grow an edible fruit in your home!
They're stunning plants to have in your home, and what's more they don't require much maintenance to keep them going. In this blog, we're going to cover everything you need to know so that you can really get the most out of your Pineapple Plant - we'll cover everything from the watering schedule to the type of potting soil you'll need.
By the end of this blog you'll know everything you need to know about indoor Pineapple Plant care - and you'll be able to grow tropical fruit in your house!
Are Pineapple Plants easy to care for?
Let's cut to the chase - Pineapple Plants are relatively straightforward to care for. It's likely that you already know a lot of the theory behind their care, in terms of how much light, water and pruning that they need. It tends to follow common sense, and if you are worried about whether you have the capability to look after a Pineapple Plant, let us reassure you now - you do!
There are few things that you could do with knowing to help it really thrive, though, and that's where we come in. If you want a bold and beautiful fruit on top of your plant, then we can help you achieve that - that's the whole point of this blog. When you buy an indoor plant from us, we want it to live its best life, so we will do everything we can to help you!
What are Pineapple Plants?
We'll start by stating the obvious - Pineapple Plants, or ananas comosus give it's scientific name, are the plants that pineapples grow on! It's pretty rare for an indoor plant to offer actual edible fruit, so it's no wonder that these have been incredibly popular for centuries. Back in the 18th century, having a Pineapple Plant in your home was a status symbol - you can imagine hosts delighting their guests with their strange and exotic pineapple fruit!
It was a show of wealth back then, as in order to successfully grow a Pineapple Plant, you need to recreate the tropical environment of South America - where the plant came from originally. These days our houses are sufficiently heated, but they have remained popular because they're a beautiful plant that acts as an incredible centrepiece in our homes.
As a herbaceous perennial, Pineapple Plants will die back every year after they have produced their flower, only to then burst forth again the following Spring.
How to care for a Pineapple Plant
Let's now take a look in a bit more detail the things that you will want to do to help your Pineapple Plant grow big and strong - and produce fruit. This is everything you need to know:
Let's start with watering. Pineapple Plants, like all tropical plants and especially those that bear fruit, but there is such a thing as too much water for them. The best way to think of it is to try and recreate the environment that they hail from - moist, but never soggy. If it has too much water, it can suffer from root rot. If it doesn't get enough, you may see the leaves start to curl. They can tolerate periods of drought, but try not to leave them without water for long periods. Touch the soil, if it is moist, it's likely that it doesn't need any water - if it is dry, give it a little drink.
Now on to light - Pineapple Plants love bright light, again mimicking the environment from where they originated. Indirect light is best - at least 6 hours a day, so on a window sill is probably your best bet if you're looking to where it should be stored.
A great way to help recreate that tropical feel is to give it a little spray of mist every now and then - it will help keep the soil moist and the leaves will really benefit.
Here is another little extra you can give your Pineapple Plant to make it big and strong - fertiliser. A little feed with a liquid fertiliser every week or two throughout the Summer and Spring will do it wonders, and really help that fruit grow and look even more impressive!
Finally, pruning - as we mentioned above, your Pineapple Plant will die back once the plant matures, but not before it has produced baby plants. The best way to encourage these new baby plants is by pruning off the leaves as they die or become damaged - thus the mother plant can focus its energy on producing new offsets.
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Origins: South America
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How much light: Bright indirect light - around 6 hours a day
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Water requirements: About once a week, when the top soil is dry. Try to feed regularly in the Summer months
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Humidity requirements: A quick spritz with a water mist will help it thrive!
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Soil requirements: Well-draining potting mix or orchid compost
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Temperature requirements: Ideally 20°C to 30°C, but can go as low as -2°C in short bursts!
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Pruning requirements: Trim dead or dying leaves back as you see them.
Propagating Pineapple Plants
This is an essential part of Pineapple Plant care, as it means your plant will live on year after year. Once your mother plant has bloomed, the baby plants will start to develop at the base of the plant. Once they start to develop their own root system, you can sever them off and repot them individually. Just put them in a wide pot, and give them plenty of water in those early days. Your new plant will grow from there!
Raise your indoor plant game with Prickle
Now that you know how to look after a Pineapple Plant indoors, there'll be no stopping you! You can create stunning displays of live plants in your home - and we're here to help you do that! We have a range of plants, pots and accessories for you to build your dream setup. Check out our new outdoor plant collection too!
And if you ever have any questions, our dedicated team would love to hear from you - find on social media @prickplantsuk or email contact@prickleplants.co.uk and throw any questions our way.