Alright alright alright,

I am currently trying to do that thing where you take of the top of a pineapple and regrow it. I really want to make this work. But I am having some serious trouble with it, as it rots almosts every time. What do I do wrong or forget?

This is the third pineapple top that has rotten. The first two, I took them off the pineapple, cleaned them, took a lot of leaves of so the base would be exposed and then stuck it in water with some toothpicks in. That didn't work.

For the last one, I just stuck it in the soil right away, as I always had more luck with this method from other projects - still the plant died.

So yeah... I am looking for any advice to what I might be doing wrong. Read somewhere that you might leave it to dry after cutting the top off the fruit?

Thanks in advance everybody!

Tussemarian
You may be leaving too much fruit flesh.
Start with a very ripe pineapple, one that has healthy green leaves and try this method...
http://www.17apart.com/2014/09...

Thank you Greene!

I don't know - seriously don't feel like I leave any fruit on the stem? It's the weirdest thing.

Adding photos would help us to better see what you are experiencing.

I threw it out yesterday as it began to stink big time. Sorry!

Is it normal for the leaves to dry out and die when it's rooting?

I sometimes put the top in water for a while then into soil. I never remove any leaves and I have never had it fail to grow as long as I don't forget to water it. Mine do not lose leaves - again as long as I water them. Try again; it can't be that hard.

Porkpal, I know! That's why I can't believe I am going into the fourth try now? I have an easy time growing almost everything else, it seems. Oh well, maybe pineapples don't like me.

I have done this a couple of times and I take the leaves in one hand and the fruit in the other hand and twist the leaves off of the fruit.Then I pull off the bottom leaves and either put it in water or in potting soil-I've done both. I have always had leaves turn brown. Good luck.... This is one I did a couple of years ago

Nice Heath, you have a pineapple!!

I've done this a couple of times too. Both times I just cut the top off the pineapple and stuck it in a pot of sandy/loam soil, outside on the east side of the house where it gets morning sun. Keep the soil moist with daily watering while it roots. Once it roots, it can go in a sunnier or spot, or not. If you want fruit like Heath, you probably need a sunny spot. I dropped the ball the first time and didn't give the plant enough water and it died. It's really hot here so I don't let it get exposed to the afternoon sun.

It would never work if I tried to do this indoors, where it would probably spoil, mold or mildew!

Here's a picture of my current pineapple that I put in the pot sometime in the month of May.

Depends where you are, whether to plant in sun or some shade. Here in Florida they seem to do better with a few hours of shade in the middle of the day. The leaves stay greener. For sure keep it in some shade until it shows signs of growth.

As to rooting the tops, I've done both, removing leaves and not. It helps a lot if you start with a pineapple that has really healthy green leaves. I think it's our generous humidity that helps them grow. Pineapples are bromeliads so they take in a lot of moisture and nutrients through the leaves. I've even rooted one with the top slice of fruit still attached.

Maybe on the next try, stick the top in soil and then just mist the leaves until you see new top growth to indicate rooting?

I have also rooted pineapple tops and have one right now. My first attempt failed, I used water gel beads initially it did manage to grow a root. This stage of waiting for a root was really long, then moved it to soil, and I think by that time I am running out of good sun and warmth as the seasons were changing so it failed.

So I did a second attempt, this time putting the pineapple top directly into soil in a container. I did this in October 2013. placing it in a part sun-shade outdoors, in a very well draining soil, since it is still attempting roots. Stayed indoors during winter, keeping it warm by our south facing window and then when temps outdoors have stabilized, I have it in a sunny side in my garden. Right now it gets part sun-part shade, and seems to endure our very dry summers, as long as I get to mist the leaves and give it thorough watering at least once or twice a week, especially when our temps soar very high and dry. I have been thinking about how pineapples are grown in my old homeland and remembering the areas where I see them is in sunny mountain sides or under very tall coconut trees with some early morning fog, and consistent warm temps plus lots of monsoon rains. Even if they get rained on, the natural slope of the hills and mountains, protection under the canopy of coconut trees, allows water to drain. So got to simulate that somehow in my ever dry area.

One thing for sure, if it gets cold outdoors like below 55F, put the plant indoors by your sunniest window.

Oct 2013


After winter status: staying by south facing window all winter long


Brought it out in May 2014 when temps are more stable and warm: My garden gets shaded in the hottest part of the day by our city trees, but we do get extremely dry conditions here, and temps soar triple digits too:


Oct 2014:

Nov2014-pulling it indoors once more to prepare for the cold weather, back to sunny south window


April 2015:


Currently this 12Aug 2015:


Right now I am hoping it will try to make a fruit

So if you will put it in a container, make sure your soil is well draining. It does make thick roots and the base of the plant reminds me of any typical succulent that hates being too water logged. The leaves behave like any bromeliad, so they love getting spray misted if it is too dry. It thrives really well in humid conditions so they grow so good in a tropical set-up. The stage when it needs to grow new roots takes awhile, so just got to keep the soil moist but not too soaking wet.

Thanks for your replies, everybody! Damn that's one heck of a beautiful plant if you ask me! Here's to trying again, again and again:

Tried to leave some more leaves on this time around:

... and be extra careful with cutting all the fruit off:


It's drying of right now, as per a tip I read online. Oh, by the way, I am growing this indoors, in Denmark. I have a great sunny window though. Think I will put it in soil and make sure the leaves get some mist at least twice a month?

What are your humidity levels indoors Tussemarian?

Yes, if your humidity is low you'd be better off misting it daily and watering once a week or less. Both air conditioning and home heating dry the air a lot.

Update time. I planted the top, after allowing it to try completely for a day or so. It currently stands in a sunny west window. Leaves are starting to brown, but I guess that I'll let them do this? What do you guys think?

I don't bother to let the base dry out before planting either. Just mist the leaves a lot to keep what green there is, and don't water the base hardly at all until you see healthy green leaves starting up in the middle.

When I did my pineapple top rooting in soil in a container, as you can see in the earlier post I have, my media is coarse, as if I am growing a succulent plant. I find your media rather too moist looking. Is there a way you can put some more perlite or pumice in it. The base might be getting too moist and it has no roots yet. It takes awhile for the roots to grow, so got to treat it like you are growing a typical succulent. I do not mist the leaves yet at this point either, just keeping it dry and maybe watering the soil area once a week, and allowing the media to dry out. New leaves will form at the center later on.

In my experience this isn't rocket science. I cut off the top leaving a little fruit attached. I stick it in a saucer of water for an indefinite period of time. Sometimes the fruit drops off; no roots form. When convenient, I plant it in some sort of soil, put it on the closest window sill and keep it watered. I don't think too much water is a problem; too little is. I have never had a failure.

I know it isn't rocket science, but I really am experiencing some difficulties - and that is why I asking for help, trying to troubleshoot.

I think your current attempt will succeed, but if it doesn't do less preparation next time. Pineapples make lovely houseplants. Good luck!