jrmc@druut.UUCP (McCoyJR) (10/11/85)
I have a pineapple plant about 8 months old that I grew from the top of a mature pineapple. I would like more information on what to do next. What and how much do I feed it? How big do they grow and how often do I transplant it are some of the questions I need answers to. Does anyone have first hand knowledge that I could use. Any suggestions would be very helpful.
seb@mtgzz.UUCP (s.e.badian) (10/16/85)
I too have a very healthy pineapple plant. I have found care instructions in a number of gardening books (usually under houseplants, since for most of us that's what they are). Pineapples have very shallow roots and absorb most of their nutrients through their leaves. And they like iron in their fertilizer. So get some fertilizer with chelated iron in it(the kind you mix with water) and pour it onto the pineapple. The water should settle into the cup in the center of the pineapple. There should always be water in the cup. I don't really worry about giving my pineapple water around its roots, but I give it enough so that it doesn't dry out totally. You can't give your pineapple too much light (I mean, they come from Hawaii where the sun is a lot stronger than NJ!). Find the brightest spot. My pineapple grew like crazy once I put it outside in the sun. It may take a while (like 4 years) but you may get a pineapple from your little pineapple plant. The plant will send up a flower spike. Once it does, take an apple and put it in a plastic bag and cover the flower spike. This is supposed to encourage fruit production (there's a gas formed by the apple that promotes ripening). I've heard you can use this trick to get your pineapple to flower, but I'd personally let the pineapple do it on its own time. I wouldn't worry too much about repotting since the pineapple has such shallow roots. My plant is in a 5 inch pot and seems very happy. I don't plan on transplanting it until it gets a lot bigger(the leaves are about 1 foot long right now). Pineapples grow very slowly, so be patient. They are very hardy, except when it comes to cold. Sharon Badian ihnp4!mtgzz!seb