Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
Care, watering, light and tips for Pineapple on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Bromeliaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Indirect light
- Temperature: 15–32 °C
About Pineapple
Pineapple, Ananas comosus, is a tropical epiphytic plant from the Bromeliaceae family, cultivated for its delicious fruit. It features a rosette of stiff, spiny, lanceolate leaves, from which a flower stalk emerges, culminating in the characteristic inflorescence and subsequent compound fruit. It is ideal for adding an exotic touch to bright indoor spaces or as a fruit plant in warm, frost-free climates.
Native range
South America, specifically the region between southern Brazil and Paraguay
Care tips
It requires abundant direct sunlight to bear fruit, at least 6 hours a day. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry slightly between waterings, and filling the central cup of the rosette with fresh water that should be renewed periodically. Use a well-draining, slightly acidic substrate, such as an orchid or bromeliad mix. A common mistake is insufficient light, which will prevent fruit production.
How to save a dying Pineapple
- Warning signs
- Soft, yellowing or browning leaves from base. Rotten smell in crown. Stalled growth.
- First aid
- Remove rotten leaves. Cut base until healthy tissue. Dip in mild fungicide. Let dry.
- What kills it
- Overwatering, especially in the crown. Low light or poor drainage. Cold temperatures.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if the crown isn't completely rotted. Replant in light, well-draining substrate.