How to grow pineapple - tropical exotic at home. How to plant and grow pineapple at home - important points

Everyone's favorite exotic fruit pineapple is known among adults and children. In countries with a tropical and subtropical climate, it has long been very successfully grown on an industrial scale, but if you carefully read the claims of this crop, even in the harsh conditions of the Russian winter, you can plant and grow this amazing plant from the top in an ordinary flower pot at home on the windowsill.

Where is the pineapple from?

Pineapple is a perennial herbaceous plant- epiphyte, with compacted fleshy leaves, collected in one strong, thick knot, called a basal rosette. This rosette forms a massive stem with a peduncle at the top. The peduncle is usually formed high, up to 50 cm, with a spike-shaped inflorescence and a rosette with a bract.

The pineapple has a very exotic look and looks great in a pot.

Pineapple comes from Brazil, although this plant is cultivated in many countries with a similar climate.

In countries with a tropical climate, pineapple is grown commercially.

It appeared in Russia under Catherine II and was grown in public greenhouses.

Pineapple variety MD-2 Decorative variety pineapple, large-tufted Champaka pineapple variety Pineapple variety Mauritius Pineapple variety Cayenne

Video: growing pineapples in captivity

Table: seasonal plant content

How to plant a pineapple

Surely every second person who has ever bought a pineapple on the market thought about whether it is possible to grow this crop at home. This is possible despite the fact that pineapple is used to growing in a tropical climate. But, before you start growing this crop, you need to choose the right fruit and root it according to all the rules in an acceptable container and soil.

Fruit selection

The fruit that is purchased for rooting the top should be moderately ripe with a beautiful and intact tuft. Buy pineapple for planting should be in season - in summer or early autumn, since in winter the fruits are stored in cold rooms and the outlet by the time of purchase may already be frozen and lifeless.

Pineapple seedlings or tufts should have dense green foliage, be firm to the touch, and look healthy.

When choosing a pineapple fruit for planting, focus on the condition of the tops

If the leaves began to turn yellow and dry, then it is better not to take this fruit for planting.

The center of the pineapple pulp should be yellow color, not strongly hardened. The fruit of the right pineapple usually exudes a pleasant aroma, has no dents and signs of illness.

Apex separation

In order to separate the top of the pineapple from the fruit, you need to grab the fruit with one hand, and the pineapple tops with the other and turn the crest towards you, as if twisting it out of the pineapple. The stalk will gently come out of the pulp.

If there are difficulties with twisting, then the separation procedure can be done with a knife, cutting the leaves from the fruit with the root.

You can separate the tuft of pineapple from the fruit by twisting it

You will have to cut at an angle of about 45 degrees, and then, in order to avoid rot, remove the pulp from the tuft stem and lower leaves, exposing the trunk.

The crest is dried in an upright position in a ventilated area for several weeks.

before planting, pineapple cuttings must be carefully dried

This procedure is necessary for the healing of all damage caused to the cuttings during separation from the fetus. During the time the cutting is dried, the nutrients will be concentrated in the rooting zone.

How to root and plant the top

In order for the pineapple top to take root, it is placed in an opaque container with water at room temperature by about 4 cm and left in a moderately lit place without drafts and temperature changes for a week.

A pineapple stalk will stand in water for several days before putting out tiny roots.

Video: rooting the pineapple top

While the cutting is rooting, there is time to pick up a future pineapple suitable soil and pot.

Any can serve as a container. flower pot with drainage holes, the size of which should be quite a bit larger than the size of the handle.

An impressive drainage layer of expanded clay or pebbles, about 4 cm, is laid out at the bottom of the pot, and then a soil mixture consisting of sand and peat in equal parts is poured. Two to three days before planting, it is recommended to carry out disinfecting procedures for the soil. To do this, you can simply spill it with boiling water.

This method of tillage will at the same time moisten the substrate and make it desired temperature, since pineapple cannot be planted in cold soil. In such conditions, you can safely plant a crest without first rooting in water.

Video: planting the top in the ground without rooting

A crest is placed in the prepared soil to the lowest leaves. Around the cutting, the soil must be carefully tamped and again it is good to shed the future pineapple with warm water. Next, the stalk is sprayed and covered with a bag to create a greenhouse atmosphere.

After placing the pineapple crest in a pot, cover it with a bag to create artificial tropics

Such a greenhouse is left in a warm and lit place, but without a direct hit of the rays, since we do not need the greenhouse effect.

Pineapple will be able to thoroughly take root in the soil only after a month and all this time it is not at all desirable to water it, but the pineapple crest will respond with gratitude to spraying.

Sphagnum moss is an excellent substrate for rooting bromeliads.

Sphagnum moss is an excellent substrate for epiphytes

It is hydroscopic and breathes well, and when it turns pale around the edges, it becomes clear that it is time to water the plant.

Successful rooting of the tuft entails transplanting the plant to permanent place, where exactly the same soil awaits him as the one used for rooting. After transplantation, the pineapple is again covered with a cap for a couple of weeks, is already kept in a more lit place and is still sprayed.

Since the homeland of pineapple is the tropics, it accordingly got used to light, heat and moist air. Pineapple endures drought steadfastly, and growing it in a room is not laborious and quite within the power of everyone.

How to care for decorative pineapple at home

Pineapple is a light-loving epiphyte, so it is best to place a pot with a plant on a south or southeast window, but even if your windowsill is well lit for about 12 hours a day, being cold it can kill root system plants from hypothermia, because even pineapple can only be watered with very warm water. To prevent cooling of the roots, a pineapple pot can only be placed on an insulating substrate or an insulated window sill, and it is safest not to place it on the window at all, but to place a flower stand or table next to the window.

It is not worth placing a homemade pineapple too far from the window, it will not have enough light

Do not think that getting used to the tropics, pineapple will feel great in an apartment with central heating, this is not true. This culture does not tolerate heat and dry air, therefore it is necessary to maintain the air temperature during the day within 22 ° -28 ° С, and at night it should not fall below 18 ° С.

How to feed and water

Pineapple should be watered only warm or even hot water. It is necessary to water rarely, but plentifully and only after the earthen clod has completely dried.

During the period of active growth of pineapple from April to September, proper watering is very important condition for content. It is necessary to water pineapples with exceptionally warm or hot water, settled, and best of all, rainwater, which does not contain lime impurities. Watering should be rare, but plentiful, and only when the soil is dry.

If the soil is not allowed to dry out, the roots of the plant will rot, and if the pineapple does not have enough moisture, its tips will dry out and the pineapple will begin to lose its decorative effect.

When watering a pineapple, you can pour water from above so that it falls into the axils of the leaves and remains there. This moisture will serve as additional nutrition for the roots and ensure good health of the plant due to evaporation.

Fans of mischief will love to water the pineapple, as you can start doing it right from its top.

In addition to watering and foliar irrigation, the pineapple will be grateful for the regular dusting of the leaves with a damp swab.

It is recommended to fertilize pineapple no more than twice a month, and a mullein solution is considered an ideal top dressing, which is infused in warm water for a day and then diluted 10 times. A liter of the resulting solution is enough for a month and a half.

Good for pineapple and mineral fertilizers for indoor plants or complex for bromeliads, but the concentration of dressings should be half that of the standard instructions.

After flowering, the pineapple should be fed mainly with nitrogen-containing agents for the rapid formation of the fetus.

How indoor pineapple blooms in a pot

The flowering time of home grown pineapple is generally unpredictable. Approximately 3 years after planting the pineapple, a flowering period begins, which lasts about two weeks and is accompanied by a light aroma.

The bud is formed at the very top of the central stem. Flowers can be bright blue, and pink or purple, they are able to change shade; arranged in a spiral, open one after another and only for one day.

Pineapple flowering is inconspicuous and it is unlikely that they will be able to surprise anyone, but this process cannot fail to impress lovers of the exotic.

Pineapple blooms brightly, but very briefly

After flowering, the fruiting period begins, and small fruits are formed that are easy to root. It is worth noting that these rooted fruits will bloom even faster than their parent.

A small pineapple fruit is able to quickly take root and bloom before its parent.

One left fruit on the maternal outlet is able to grow quite large. The term of its ripening can be from three months to six months and depends on the variety of pineapple and the conditions of its maintenance. The most favorable period for pineapple fruiting is summer.

After the fruiting stage, the pineapple dies. This is a normal natural process for the bromeliad family.

It happens that even good care pineapple won't bloom. In such cases, it can be forced to bloom by artificial stimulation with ethylene gas. To do this, five grams of calcium carbide is dissolved in a half-liter container and infused for a day in a closed form. After the liquid is drained and only sediment is left. This precipitate is the ethylene solution, which must be gradually placed into the core of the pineapple rosette over the course of a week. A month or a half after such stimulation, the plant should enter the flowering phase.

Video: flowering and growth of pineapple at home

pineapple hibernation

In winter, the pineapple hibernates, but this does not mean at all that it does not need to be watered. Pineapple watering must be moderate. One abundant watering per week or two waterings per week, but of a smaller volume, will be enough. The soil should not be wet all the time, since the dormant period of pineapple passes at a temperature of about 15 ° C, and at low temperatures the bay can turn into root rot or rosette.

Top dressing is not carried out until March-April and the lighting will also have to be slightly reduced, as well as the temperature, otherwise the pineapple will not fall asleep and will suffer from a lack of nutrition and heat.

In the spring, the pineapple will gradually wake up on its own: new leaves will begin to appear in it. If awakening does not occur, it is necessary to increase the amount of light and transplant the plant into new soil.

If you want the pineapple to stay awake in winter, it is important to provide the plant with additional illumination (at least 10 hours a day) and maintain an average temperature of 22 ° C-23 ° C. In addition, you must continue to feed the pineapple at least once a month.

Diseases and pests

Precisely because the pineapple has long and very firmly established itself among other indoor plants, it, just like everyone else, has become susceptible to attack by pests. These and other troubles that await pineapple in an apartment are discussed in the table along with preventive measures and prevention.

Table: possible troubles and solutions

Photo gallery: what pineapple suffers from

Dry spots on pineapple foliage appear due to heat or insect attacks Death of the outlet after fruiting is a natural process in pineapple Shchitovka provokes yellowing of the leaves Aphid - an insect that drinks plant sap Spider mite loves dry air very much
Yellowing of pineapple leaves can be triggered by pests such as ticks or scale insects Pineapple tips dry if not sprayed Yellowing of the lower tier of pineapple foliage occurs due to drafts The pineapple rosette will rot if the pineapple is poured during the cold season, the mealybug leaves white mealy discharge on plant

Pineapple propagation

Pineapple, as a true herbaceous plant, dies after fruiting, but this does not happen immediately and can even last for several years. At the same time, the mother bush during this time gives rise to many small shoots around itself, which can be successfully planted in independent pots. These shoots will bloom much earlier than the grown tops.

Reproduction by shoots

Even before flowering, pineapple forms a certain number of lateral processes - basal shoots.

Tiny offshoot on the mother rosette of pineapple

They can be cut or broken off from the mother outlet once they have grown to about 20 centimeters in height. Places of cuts are sprinkled with ash or crushed coal and left to dry for a week in a cool and ventilated room.

Shoots should be rooted in a vessel with water or in prepared soil only when the cuts or fractures on the processes are completely healed.

The optimal soil for rooting is layered. To do this, 3-4 cm of soddy soil is poured to the bottom of the tank, then there is a layer of leaf humus and then about 10 cm of river sand. This is one of the rooting options, many flower growers plant shoots in mixed compound soils.

The soil should not be cold, its temperature can fluctuate between 24°-28°C.

After planting the shoot, the pot is covered with a film or shoot, but so that the polyethylene does not touch the leaves.

When the pineapple shoots take root, they will soon grow.

To do this, you can put supports on three or four sides by sticking sticks into the pot around the process.

You need to put a young pineapple in a sunny and warm place with diffused but bright light and high level air humidity.

Video: transplantation of lateral processes

Reproduction by seeds

The seed method of reproduction is not the easiest, but quite affordable.

Seeds can sprout both in the second month and in the sixth: the seed method is therefore considered difficult, as it takes time and patience.

This is what a pineapple shoot looks like at the second leaf stage

Seedlings can be fed with bird droppings, spreading a teaspoon of dry matter per liter of water, at the age of the third leaf.

The picking of young seedlings usually occurs when they reach six to seven cm in height.

Growing a pineapple from its top may seem like an exciting adventure, and the very presence of such exoticism in an apartment can infect friends and acquaintances struck by the splendor of pineapple with this idea.

And even pineapples. It is pleasant to watch how a heat-loving miracle ripens on your own windowsill, and it is especially pleasant to treat yourself to them as a reward for your labors. The most amazing thing is that growing such plants is not much more difficult than, for example, breeding orchids.

Of all the fruit exotics available to home growing, the most familiar are lemons and tangerines. As for pineapples, these beauties are not often seen in a flower pot.

How to grow pineapple at home in different ways

Growing a pineapple from the top

For those who want to grow pineapple on their own, you should know that it is better to start this process at the end of summer, in August or September. It is then that you can expect that a pineapple bought in a store or on the market is suitable as planting material. It is better to take several fruits to increase the likelihood of successful rooting.

So, the fruit for planting material should be ripe, but not overripe, golden brown in color with bright green, not too large leaves. They should not have gray spots, the presence of which indicates the defeat of the plant by the worm - such fruits should not be used for planting.

The top of the pineapple is cut off and cleaned of leaves.

Preparing the crown for subsequent planting:

1. Cut off the top of the pineapple, at a distance of 2-3 fingers from the leaves.
2. The pulp is selected along the ring from the crust, not reaching the center, where a round island is left, from which the roots will subsequently sprout.
3. The bottom leaves are removed.
4. The inside is sprinkled with activated or charcoal, you can wipe it with a very weak solution of potassium permanganate so that rot does not start.
5. The top of the pineapple is hung for 2 weeks so that it dries slightly.

Sometimes crowns planted 5 or 6 hours after treatment successfully take root.

The prepared crown is planted in a pot, the diameter of which is not much larger than the diameter of the seedling. At the bottom of the pot, a layer of drainage is poured, for example, expanded clay. The soil can consist of a mixture of peat and sand, or you can buy a ready-made earth mixture for cacti.

The hole for planting is made shallow up to 2.5 cm. It is recommended to pour a little crushed charcoal. The earth should cover the seedling to the lower leaves and be tightly packed. After planting, the plant is watered, covered plastic bag or glass jar and put in a warm and bright place.

Usually the seedling takes root within a month. All this time it needs to be watered and sprayed with warm water. After a month, the plant can be transplanted by transshipment into a larger pot.

Growing pineapple from a crest

You can simply unscrew the tuft from the pineapple - it is separated from the fruit with a small stem. You need to remove 3-4 bottom sheets to expose the base. To prevent the trunk from rotting, after cleaning, leave it to dry for several days.

Now we put pineapple tufts in glasses of water - this is the easiest and most reliable way as practice has shown. We put the glasses on the windowsill with other flowers.

Pineapple should be only a couple of centimeters in the water and not touch the bottom

You need to constantly add water, sometimes change it completely - and in two to three weeks roots will appear.

Good roots - can be planted in the ground

When they become a couple of centimeters, we plant them in the ground. We have already mentioned the composition of the soil, we dig a crest three centimeters into the ground, more precisely, the entire bare base.

Good drainage is a must young plant didn't rot. Pineapple loves wet ground, but you can not fill it. Find a bright spot for it, but not in direct sun.

The pineapple will finally take root in one and a half to two months. This will be seen by the new leaves that will appear in the center of the tuft.

If no new leaves are visible for more than two months, then the pineapple probably has not taken root and it is better to try to plant a new one.

As new pineapple leaves grow, the old ones will turn brown and wither - they need to be carefully cut off. Young leaves will take their place. Young pineapple should be watered rarely - once a week.

After about a year, the pineapple needs to be transplanted into a larger pot, adding soil for cacti. Be sure to have good drainage from expanded clay, gravel - because pineapple roots do not like stagnant water and the plant can die from excess moisture.

Transplanting pineapple into new pots

In winter, the pineapple has a dormant period, and with the onset of spring, it begins to grow rapidly. If the pineapple does not grow in spring, then it urgently needs a transplant with a change of land, as the soil is depleted.

When growing pineapple at home, you should follow certain rules care - to create suitable conditions for this tropical plant for good growth and fruit formation.

pineapple care

Lighting and temperature

In order for a green pet to feel comfortable, it must be light and warm. Pineapple comes from the tropics and cold weather, especially since it does not tolerate frost at all. In summer, indoor pineapple can be put on the balcony, taken to the country. You need to place the plant under the crowns of trees so that the light is diffused. It grows well outdoors. For the good development of the plant, you need to keep it in a bright place for at least 6 hours a day at any time of the year.

In the summer, pineapple loves "walks"

In the winter months, be sure to keep pineapple at home - it is better in the southern part for better lighting. Away from batteries, no drafts. Comfort temperature for pineapple + 22-26 degrees.

Watering and fertilizing

Watering should be infrequent and plentiful. The soil in the pot should be moist, but stagnant water should not be allowed, for this you need good drainage. On the one hand, pineapple is adapted to droughts, and it can be watered once a week in winter, and during the growth period it is watered more often and more abundantly.

In summer, it is very good to spray the leaves with water, it will be absorbed by the leaves, and the excess will dry quickly on the street. At home, especially in winter, do not do this - the water will stagnate in the leaves, and the plant may rot.

Pineapple is fed with fertilizers only during the growth period, in summer. And you need to do it carefully, little by little. If you will be spraying on the leaves, then make sure that liquid fertilizer do not fall on young leaves - they can get burned.

Pests and diseases

With good care and compliance with the rules for growing indoor pineapple, it is almost not affected by pests. It can be attacked by ticks and mealybugs. Washing the leaves with soapy water helps in the fight against them, then rinse the leaves with clean water. In case of severe damage, you can use insecticides, breeding strictly according to the instructions.

Pineapple can get sick with core rot under the influence of a fungus. In a diseased plant, the leaves in the center turn black and are easily removed from the trunk. You can save the plant - for this, any fungicide is poured into the center. Over time, the plant will release a side shoot, and then the old one is carefully cut off.

Is it possible to get pineapple fruits at home?

Of course you can. With careful care, the plant blooms after 2 or 3 years, and after the fruit ripens, it dies. But there are shoots that can be used to grow new plants.

Ripe pineapple fruit

When growing pineapple at home, it is difficult to predict the timing of flowering, they can move in any direction. Usually at the age of one and a half months, when the flower grows to 25 cm in height, an inflorescence appears. A long stem grows from the crown, on top of which an inflorescence is formed.

Pineapple blooms for two months and flowers appear for two weeks, every day. Bright blue flowers open only for a day, row after row - then wither. The fruit begins to develop after the last flower has withered. The pineapple fruit grows and ripens up to six months - it depends on the conditions and variety of pineapple.

– it's amazing tropical plant native to the tropics of South America. In European countries, they began to grow it in greenhouses, creating the necessary climate conditions.

But with a little effort, growing pineapple can be done even at home. And after a while it interesting plant will surprise us with his appearance and fruits.

Pineapple: plant description

– it is a herbaceous plant, in the center of which a stem sprouts. In the center of the stem, at the top, there is an inflorescence, which, after fertilization, turns into a seed.

Outwardly, it can be seen that the individual parts of the berries of the infructescence grow together into one fruit - pineapple. The stem is surrounded by a rosette - fleshy and thick leaves.

The pineapple fruit has an oval, cylindrical shape, consists of separate numerous small parts, fused together. A rosette of leaves forms at the top.

The dense scaly shell of a mature fruit has a dark green, yellow, brown or even reddish tint. Inside the fruit is a bright yellow flesh. It has a pleasant taste and good aroma. Ripe pineapple fruits reach a weight of 4-5 kg.

What conditions does a pineapple need for successful growth?

Pineapple, when grown at home, is very demanding on the conditions that will be created for its successful ripening. Since it is a tropical plant, it is extremely important to maintain proper lighting, air temperature and humidity.

Lighting

Pineapple needs at least 6 hours a day, regardless of the time of year, to be in a well-lit place. AT summer period the plant can be taken out on a balcony or in a garden, in a moderately lit place. In the cold season, the pineapple should be kept on the south side to evenly receive sunlight.

The plant should not be rotated, as this can slow down growth, one-sided lighting is enough for it. If the season and weather do not allow sunlight to enter, then the pineapple can be highlighted with additional lighting - fluorescent lamps. Just keep in mind that when using lamps, pineapple should receive lighting for at least 8 hours a day.

Temperature and humidity

Pineapple is very afraid of the cold. If in the summer it is quite satisfied with the temperature environment, then in the winter it is worth considering ways to keep warm in the room and the soil of the plant. It should not be kept on a cold floor or windowsill, in winter it is best to keep the soil temperature at 18 - 21 ° C, the maximum temperature for the winter period is 27 ° C.

The plant should not be kept near batteries and heaters; it is also worth considering the absence of drafts. To maintain humidity, use a pot with wet drainage. You can spray water around the plant, do not spray the leaves, as water can accumulate inside the outlet and cause them to rot. They should be wiped from dust with a damp cloth.

How to plant a pineapple

Before planting a pineapple at home, you should first acquire a ripe, fresh and healthy fruit.

A good pineapple fruit should:

1. Have a light sweet aroma.
2. Have no external damage, the color should be uniform, golden brown.
3. The pineapple should feel firm to the touch. If the fruit is soft, then it means that it is overripe. If the fruit is hard, then, on the contrary, it is unripe.
4. The leaves at the top should be fresh, green with slightly dried edges - this is an important sign of fruit maturity. If there are gray spots, then this means that the leaves are damaged by worms, and the use of such a fruit should be discarded.

Observing following rules, we will be able to grow a good pineapple at home, which will delight us with our unusual view and bear fruit in the future.

Separation of tufts from the fetus

Separating a crown of leaves from a pineapple can be quite simple. You need to grab all the leaves with your hand and turn it very carefully, as if unscrewing the cap of a bottle. If everything went right, you should have a crown of leaves in your hand with a small stem at the bottom.

If you are worried that you may not be able to do everything neatly, you should use a knife. With a knife, you need to cut off the top crown of the pineapple and cut out all the flesh to prevent rotting.

Preparing the crown for root germination

It is necessary to remove a few lower leaves with a knife to expose the trunk, from which we will grow roots. After trimming the leaves and cleaning the trunk, leave our future pineapple to dry for a couple of days to prevent the scars and leaves from rotting after pruning.

Then the dried crown must be placed in a transparent bowl with water so that it covers the bare trunk of our plant. Water should be at room temperature. Place the dishes in a bright place, on the windowsill. You need to carefully monitor the water level, periodically changing the water. If done correctly, the pineapple will take root in 3 to 4 weeks.

Planting pineapple in the ground

After the roots have grown 3-4 cm, the pineapple can be planted in the ground. For the initial planting, it is better to use a small pot with a hole for drainage of water, suitable in size to our crown. A 3-centimeter layer of drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot; expanded clay can be used.

You need to fill the pot with loose, nutritious soil. After backfilling the earth, it is recommended to pour into the soil hot water. After that, you can plant our plant. You need to plant 5-6 cm deep, after planting it is good to water the pineapple with warm water. You need to put the plant in a light and warm place. Pineapple takes root for 2-3 months.

Important!An important sign that the pineapple has taken root is the appearance of new leaves.

In the future, the first leaves will wither and die, but new green shoots will begin to grow in their place. Old leaves should be carefully cut and cleaned. A grown pineapple should be watered once a week with warm water. After a year of growth, the pineapple is replanted into a larger pot.

You still need to place a drainage layer on the bottom, this time you can use gravel. The soil should be used from a mixture of two parts of peat, one part of river sand and three parts natural soil. AT winter period pineapple growth slows down, but you should not worry: with the onset of a warm period, it will begin to develop profusely, only for this it will be necessary to feed the soil.

Did you know?If possible, during the primary and secondary planting of pineapple, it can be placed under a plastic cap for 2-3 weeks to create tropical climate conditions and better plant survival.

Pineapple Care Rules

Watching how our pineapple grows at home, we see that pineapple is a very heat-loving plant. It needs to be watered, but stagnant water should be prevented. It also needs periodic top dressing of the soil.

Do I need to water my pineapple?

The soil in the pineapple pot should not dry out, but the water should not stagnate either. So mature plant need to be watered abundantly once a week with warm water.

If the plant is on outdoors, then its leaves should be sprayed: they will absorb moisture, and the rest will evaporate. During the period of active growth, watering the pineapple can be changed: water twice a week, but reduce the amount of water poured. It is best when the water completely passes through the drain and flows out.

If there is a swamp smell in the pot or mold appears on the soil, then it must be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise the plant may die.

Important!The root system of a pineapple is very small, so a 3-4 liter pot is enough for an adult plant.

Feeding an exotic plant

During the growing season, pineapple should be fed twice a month. A good fertilizer will be ordinary cow humus. You can also apply a complex of mineral fertilizers, which are sold in garden stores, but the dosage should be halved compared to other plants.

It is also necessary to spray the plant once a month with a 0.01% solution of ferrous sulfate. Alkaline fertilizers, lime and wood ash are contraindicated for pineapple.

Secrets of successful pineapple flowering

AT natural environment It takes 26 months for a pineapple to bloom. At home, the timing of flowering can vary in different directions. When 16 months pass, and the height of the plant is more than 20 cm, you can count on the beginning of flowering. Pineapple blooms according to the following description.

At the top of the trunk, a bud begins to form, it gradually rises up on the stem growing from the trunk. After a couple of months, flowering begins and lasts literally two weeks. The flowers are bright blue. One flower opens for just one day. After flowering, the last flower begins the period of fruit development.

The ripening period ranges from 3 to 7 months, it all depends on the growing conditions and the pineapple variety.

It may happen that the pineapple has reached the desired age and developed normally, but flowering does not occur; in this case, the beginning of flowering can be stimulated. An aqueous solution of ethylene will cope well with this task.

To prepare it, you need to take 1-2 teaspoons of calcium carbide and pour 0.5 liters of water. Keep this solution in a closed vessel, then pour, filtering from the sediment. This solution should be applied at 50-55 ml during the week in upper part plant leaves. After such stimulation, the pineapple should give a bud in 4-6 weeks. If this did not happen, it means that he has not yet matured or is sick.

Did you know?Pineapple is a herbaceous plant, so after fruiting it will die. But it will leave behind several side shoots that can be used for further cultivation.

How to deal with pests and diseases of pineapple

Growing a pineapple indoor plant, we must be prepared for the fact that pests can attack him, like other plants. Also, if the rules for caring for pineapple are not fully observed, the plant may experience certain problems.

If the leaves begin to dry out, this means that the plant is in a very hot or sunny place. It needs to be sprayed with water and rearranged in a cooler place. If the leaves begin to turn pale and curl up, the plant should be put in a brighter place.

If the stem of the plant rots, it is worth moderating watering and stopping it until the plant returns to normal.

Pineapple can be attacked by such pests:

• . It affects the leaves of the plant, it can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in ethyl alcohol. Also, the plant should be treated with an insecticide, which can be bought at garden stores.
• mealy worm. Covers the leaves with a continuous film. You can remove it by washing the leaves with soapy water, then treat with Karbofos emulsion.
• root worm. It affects the root system. If it is found, it is worth stopping watering and treating the soil with insecticidal preparations.
• spider mite. It forms a thin cobweb on the leaves, it must be removed with soapy water, moistened with soft water and treated with a light insecticide.
• orchid aphid. A small insect that lives on the top leaves of a plant and feeds on its sap. Having found aphids, the plant must be treated with Actellik.
• Honeydew. This is a sticky coating formed as a result of insect secretions. If it is found, the leaves should be washed with soapy water.
• Fungal diseases. Fungi are formed due to the application of fertilizers containing nitrogen. If they occur, the plant must be treated with a fungicide.

How to propagate pineapple

You can propagate pineapple with the help of daughter shoots, which are formed after the pineapple bears fruit. On average, up to five shoots are obtained from one plant. Child shoots should be separated from the main part with a knife. They should reach a height of 15-20 cm and have their own roots.

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Many amateur gardeners often experiment with growing the most unusual plants at home. If it seems to someone that pineapple is not suitable for growing in a pot, then this is not so. In fact, knowing some of the intricacies of growing various exotic crops, you can easily germinate almost any fruit bought in a store. However, for many, the most interesting topic is how to plant a pineapple from the top yourself. To understand this issue, it is worth studying general information about this amazing plant.

Description

Pineapple is a perennial plant that forms rather dense leaves during the vegetative period, which subsequently transform into a dense rosette. A very thick and strong stem grows from it, at the top of which a peduncle appears. Its length can reach up to 50 cm. The plant blooms with spike-shaped flowers.

The pineapple first appeared in Brazil, so this country is considered its legal homeland. In total there are 8 varieties of this unusual plant.

Today, pineapples are sold in almost all chain stores. At the same time, the price overseas fruit low. Eating delicious pulp, everyone at least once thought about how to plant a pineapple. To some, such an idea seems silly, but it can actually be implemented. The main thing is to properly prepare everything you need.

Preparing planting material

Before planting a pineapple at home, you need to make sure that all the effort expended will not be in vain. The simplest and most effective way is to plant a crown or, as it is also called, the tops of a sweet fruit.

First of all, you need to carefully examine the pineapple itself. If the fruit is unripe or diseased, then it will not be possible to grow a normal plant from it. Also, pineapples purchased in the winter are not suitable for planting. The fact is that in winter fruits are stored at street temperature. Because of this, the top of the plant is frostbitten, and accordingly, a normal root system cannot develop from it.

Preparing pots and soil

Before planting a pineapple at home, you need to prepare the land for an exotic plant and a tank. As a container, you can use any free flower pot. In size, it should slightly exceed the height of the top, which is planned to be used as a starting material. In addition, the pot must be equipped with holes to remove excess moisture.

Before planting a pineapple, you need to fill the container appropriately. The shards are laid in the first layer. After that, the pot is filled with expanded clay or pebbles. The thickness of this layer should be about 2 cm.

You also need to prepare the planting substrate. For this, a mixture of peat and sand in a 1: 1 ratio is best suited. A few days before planting a pineapple crest, it is imperative to disinfect the soil. To do this, it is enough to spill the earth with boiling water. Thanks to this treatment, the soil will be sufficiently moistened.

Choosing a pineapple

In addition to buying fruit in right time year, you also need to pay attention to the fetus itself. Pineapple leaves should be thick, firm, and a deep green color.

In this case, it is recommended to smell the pineapple. It should have a pleasant aroma. If an unpleasant or sour smell comes from the fruit, then it is better to refuse such a fruit. To increase the chances of growing a full-fledged plant, it is recommended to purchase several pineapples at once.

Tuft preparation

Also, before planting the top of a pineapple at home, you must carefully cut off the tuft from the fruit with a sharp knife. In this case, you must try not to damage the core. If there is pulp left on the tuft, it must be removed. Otherwise, it will begin to rot and the rhizome will not develop. It is also worth separating the lower leaves.

After preparing the source material, it is necessary to dry the top a little. To do this, it must be laid upright in a cool dark place for several weeks. During this time, the wounds of the cutting will heal, and all the nutrients will begin to be used exclusively for the development of the root system of the future plant.

We germinate the crest

Continuing to consider the question of how to plant a pineapple from the top at home, let's take a closer look at the process of germinating this fruit. In order for the plant to take root, it is necessary to lower the crest into the water by 3-4 cm. At the same time, it should be at room temperature. It is best to use an ordinary opaque glass or cup for this.

In this case, it is desirable to put the plant in a fairly lit place. However, the sun should not be too much. It is also worth making sure that there are no drafts in the room, and the air temperature does not change. If the conditions are right, then after 4-7 days at the top you will notice small roots.

How to plant a pineapple at home: photos, the subtleties of growing

After the top has let go of the roots, you can prepare for transplanting the plant into a pot. To do this, it is better to choose a fairly large container, the diameter of which will be about 35 cm and a height of about 30 cm. If only a smaller pot is available, then you can use it for the first time. However, a little later, it is necessary to transplant the plant into a larger container. Otherwise, the pineapple leaves may begin to dry, and the fruit will not be able to form.

It is not enough to know how to plant a pineapple at home. You also need to take care of it, do not forget to water it. Water needs to be added in moderation on a regular basis. If the plant is heavily flooded, then drainage system may not be able to handle moisture. Because of this, the pineapple rhizome can rot. The reverse situation can occur if the plant does not have enough water. In this case, its leaves will begin to dry.

It is also worth periodically spraying the plant from a spray bottle. In addition, it is recommended to wipe the pineapple leaves with warm water.

Transfer

So, we learned how to plant a pineapple. The photos in the article can also help in this process. Now you need to wait until the outlet is completely rooted. At the next stage, the plant is transplanted into another pot. bigger size in the same way as described above. After that, you need to cover the plant with a special cap, which can be removed after 2-3 weeks.

After that, the pineapple should be regularly watered with warm or even hot water. At the same time, you need to add liquid a little less often, as the soil dries. In the process of developing new leaves, moisture will begin to accumulate in their axils, due to which new roots will form.

Speaking about how to properly plant a pineapple, it should be borne in mind that this plant loves the sun and tolerates drought well. In the summer, a rooted flower is recommended to be placed on a well-lit windowsill or on a balcony. However, before it rains, it is better to clean it indoors. Also, if desired, you can transplant the pineapple into the greenhouse for the summer. Such an environment will be optimal for him.

top dressing

Every plant needs additional source nutrients and necessary conditions. Pineapple grows best at temperatures from +20 to +25 degrees. For his best development It is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers to the soil. However, this plant needs half as much of them when compared with other crops.

If a pineapple grows in a greenhouse during the summer, then with the onset of the first cold weather, it must be brought into the room and installed in the most illuminated place.

In addition, experts who are well versed in how to plant a pineapple recommend feeding an exotic plant with mullein several times a month.

How to stimulate flowering?

In order for the plant to grow full-fledged and begin to bear fruit, as in natural environment habitation, it is necessary to properly care for it. Pineapple must accumulate a sufficient amount of minerals and nutrients. Only in this case will it enter the phase of full flowering. However, sometimes this happens a little later than the expected time.

If this happens, then additional measures can be taken to stimulate flowering. To do this, experts advise mixing 1 teaspoon of ethylene and calcium carbide. The mixture is diluted in 0.5 l warm water. The resulting solution is infused for 24 hours. After that, it must be filtered in such a way as to remove all sediment. The central part of the plant outlet is processed with the finished liquid. The procedure must be repeated daily for 7 days. After that, the pineapple will bloom quite quickly, while the process can last up to several months.

Another effective way- Apple. It needs to be cut in half. One part of the fruit must be lowered into the ground with the plant, and the second should be placed in a leaf outlet. After that, the pineapple is covered with polyethylene for 2-4 weeks. Apples emit natural ethylene, which stimulates the flowering process very well.

Diseases

In addition to knowing how to plant a pineapple correctly, you also need to be prepared for all the ailments that a plant can suffer from. Therefore, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:

• If the leaves of the plant turn pale, then this indicates that it does not receive enough light. Pineapple needs to be rearranged in the sun.
• If the plant does not bloom, then it should be borne in mind that at home it enters this stage after 18, and sometimes after 30 months. Under industrial conditions, the culture of this species is treated with ethylene gas.
• If the lower leaves begin to dry, wrinkle or curl, then this indicates that the plant is suffering from strong drafts. In this case, it is enough to rearrange the pineapple to another place and not open the windows too often.
• When dust forms, it is necessary to periodically wipe the foliage with a cloth dipped in warm water.
• If the leaves have begun to die off, then this phenomenon should not be a cause for concern if the plant has recently fruited. Sometimes after this the pineapple dies, but a new flower can be grown from the remaining outlet.
• When a crop grows too slowly, it may need an additional supply of micronutrients. To do this, it is enough to feed the plant.

Thus, you can independently grow an exotic plant at home.

Pineapple is the most amazing exotic plant in the world, belonging to the Bromlia family, growing in the tropics and having juicy fruits with an impeccable sweet and sour taste.

These plants have a certain feature that allows them to absorb moisture not only from the soil, but also absorb it from the outside, in the form of rain or dew.

The fact is that moisture flows directly through the leaves of the plant into a reservoir in the form of a rosette near the trunk and accumulates there.

Thus, even in the driest place on our planet, pineapple will feel good and at ease.

Also, pineapple can be grown in the temperate climate zone, when a person creates certain living conditions for him, placing the fruit directly on the windowsills at home and apartment buildings.

Features of growing pineapples

It is best to grow pineapple from the so-called tuft, located on the seed.

It is better to start the preparation process in spring or summer, picking up not frozen, but only a fresh copy of the fruit.

The crest, previously cut from the fetus, must be thoroughly dried until the wound on the handle is completely healed.

The pineapple pot should not be large, but should be supplemented with a drain for liquid.

The soil for this plant needs to be mixed in equal proportions of peat and sand.

For better moistening and disinfection, it is recommended to spill the soil with boiling water.

After planting, the pineapple should be covered with a plastic bag (cap) and placed in a well-lit and warm place.

Within a month, the pineapple will grow with a root system, it is during this period that it is recommended to spray it with warm water without abundant flooding with it.

Top dressing for pineapple is best applied in the form of mullein, you can also use mineral fertilizers, but diluted by half.

After two years, the pineapple should bloom with flowers with a pleasant and delicate aroma.

After flowering, the plant will begin to form a fruit - the growth process will take from about 4 months to six months.

How to plant and grow pineapple at home - choose planting material

First of all, you need to acquire a mature fruit, part of which should become the best in the future. planting material. You can choose the right pineapple for the following reasons:

The flavor of the pineapple should be subtle and pleasant, not overly sweet.

The fruit should be uniform in color, without any visible flaws.

When pressed, the pineapple should be slightly springy, not soft or hard.

The leaves on the crown should be slightly dried at the edges, and the rest of the parts should be green and fresh.

The sound with a light pat should be deaf, then with confidence, we can say that the pineapple is ripe.

Important! If there are black spots on the pineapple or its leaves, the fruit is not tasty and is also not suitable for planting.

After the specimen for planting has been selected, it is necessary to cut off the top of the pineapple with a knife or by turning the fruit with the leaves grasped by the hand to the side - the tuft will easily separate with the stem from the fruit.

Then, with the help of a knife, it is necessary to remove the extra leaves to expose the trunk, from which the first roots should appear in the future.

Now the top with the trunk needs to be given time to dry. After that, the crown must be lowered into the water so that the barrel is completely immersed in the prepared liquid.

In a week it will be already possible to see the first roots on the planting material. For better growth and development during the period of root formation, it is recommended to update the water for pineapple so that the liquid is constantly fresh.

After the roots formed on the crown grow a couple of centimeters, the planting material can be immersed in the soil, thus determining the pineapple for permanent residence.

You can grow pineapple from seeds. To do this, you need to get seeds from a ripe sample. brown shade. Then they must be washed in a solution of manganese, dried and sown in a substrate prepared in advance to a depth of 2-2.5 cm. After that, the soil must be thoroughly shed with water, always warm and boiled. And then cover the pot with planting material with a film and set it in a warm place. After carrying out these processes, it remains only to wait for the appearance of sprouts.

After young plants will need good watering and top dressing in the form of chicken droppings or mineral fertilizer. After the plants have leaves, they can be seated in individual pots.

How to plant and grow pineapple at home - soil, lighting, flowering conditions

The soil

For planting pineapple, you need soil consisting of garden soil, peat and sand in proportions - 3: 1: 2, which you can cook yourself.

You can also buy ready-made soil mix for bromeliads or cactus crops.

The pot for the initial planting of pineapple should not be excessively large, a 0.5 liter container with holes made for drainage will be sufficient.

When planting germinated plants in the soil, a certain order must be observed:

Drainage should be laid in a pot no more than 4 cm in height, on top of which it is necessary to fill in the soil mixture prepared in advance.

The top should be planted in the very middle of the pot to a depth of about 3 cm.

The soil must be thoroughly moistened and the plant covered with polyethylene, but so that the film does not touch the leaves of the plant, since the accumulated condensate can participate in the appearance of rot on the surface of the leaves.

The plant should be located in bright places with room temperature, but without drafts. The plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight, it is important to periodically ventilate it by slightly opening the existing polyethylene to get rid of condensation.

Lighting

Since pineapple is a tropical plant, the cold can kill it. But take the plant to Fresh air necessary, so in the summer it can be placed on the balcony and or in the garden for at least 7 hours a day.

In winter, it is necessary that the pineapple be in a warm room, but away from heaters and fireplaces. In winter, if you arrange a pineapple bush with south side- natural light and heat will be enough for him.

If the grower in the room is warm and the room temperature is 22-27, then the pineapple feels good and comfortable.

Conditions for flowering

Pineapple begins its flowering at 2-3 years of its life, during this process the top grows and radicular buds appear.

For better flowering, pineapple will need ethylene. Ethylene can be obtained in the following way - half a liter of water must be combined with 15 gr. calcium carbide. The resulting consistency should be allowed to brew for a day, and then strain the resulting solution. The liquid should be free of sediment. After the composition must be poured for a week into the leaf socket of the fetus.

Thus, the pineapple will bloom for two months, and delight its owner. Luxurious blue flowers will open daily, but only for a day.

After the last flower dries, a juicy and tasty fruit will begin to form and develop in its place. Pineapple ripening time is 4-6 months, depending on climatic conditions and plant varieties.

How to plant and grow pineapple at home - feeding and watering

top dressing

For a good life, pineapple requires constant feeding, and since this plant is herbaceous, it needs nitrogen fertilizer.

During the growing season, a slightly matured plant needs top dressing, namely a mullein solution every two weeks. Before the start of fruiting, such top dressing will be quite enough, since the manure liquid includes all the most important elements nutrition and micronutrients.

It happens that a pineapple grows into a large and beautiful plant, but does not bear fruit. This means one thing - pineapple needs stimulation. At home, stimulation can be carried out only after the plant has fully grown stronger, formed in the warm season.

You can stimulate the plant in different ways:

Fumigation with smoke.

By pouring a solution of acetylene into the middle of the rosette of the leaves of the plant.

By the greenhouse method - under polyethylene with a can of water installed and a piece of carbide lowered into it.

A couple of months after stimulation, a peduncle will appear.

Watering

In the warm season, the rosette of leaves should be constantly moistened and filled with 2/3 of water. Water must be changed every 30 days. Be sure to keep an eye on the fact that the soil in the pot dries out. Water for watering pineapple should be soft, if possible rainy and warm.

During the growing season, the plant needs moist soil. During the heat, you need to make sure that the earth is completely saturated with liquid, but has time to dry out. Water should be boiled or settled, as well as slightly acidified with a lemon.

In winter, when the temperature of the earth drops, it is more expedient to stop watering.

Pineapple at home: why does it die?

Since pineapple is exotic plant, which means that he is very tender and vulnerable, poorly adapted to other conditions of life, then he can die for the following reasons:

Pineapple can be affected by dry air - spider mites, mealybug, as well as scale insects, due to which the plant appears brown spots, aphids and phylloxera.

Due to lack of moisture, pineapple leaves can dry out and thereby expose the plant to great danger. In this connection, the pineapple must be constantly sprayed and watered.

Due to the lack of light, the leaves may become pale.

Due to malnutrition, pineapple can slow down its growth, not bloom or bear fruit, and soon wither and die.

The plant can easily be destroyed by drafts, due to which the pineapple leaves sag, curl and dry.

Due to excessive soil moisture, the plant may begin to rot at the very base, so that the pineapple does not die, it is urgent to rearrange it in a warm, but ventilated place and dry the ground. But if the rot rises even higher, the plant will definitely die.

Subject to all the rules for growing pineapple at home, you can easily grow not only a large and healthy plant, but also treat yourself to quite juicy and tasty fruits of this tropical shrub.