Yes, you can regrow pineapples grocery store fruit into full plants at home. Twist off the leafy crown, let it dry for a few days, and stick it in well-draining soil. It takes patience, but the process works and costs nothing beyond the fruit you already bought to eat.
I pick my pineapples at the store with pineapple crown propagation in mind. Look for fruit with a tall, green crown that has firm leaves and no brown or dry tips. Give the center leaves a gentle tug. If they hold firm, the crown is fresh and healthy enough to root. Skip any fruit where the crown feels loose or looks wilted.
Good pineapple crown propagation starts with proper prep. Twist the crown off the fruit with a firm grip and a slight pull. Don't cut it with a knife since that leaves flesh attached that can rot. Peel off the bottom 5 to 8 small leaves to expose the stem base. You should see tiny brown bumps on that bare stem. Those bumps are root buds waiting to grow.
Let the exposed base dry for 2 to 5 days in a shaded spot before you plant it. This drying step seals the cut end and stops rot from setting in once the stem hits wet soil. I line mine up on a paper towel on the kitchen counter and flip them once a day until the base looks dry and firm to the touch.
To grow pineapple from top to rooted plant, fill a 6-inch pot with a sandy soil mix and press the dry crown base about 2 inches into the dirt. Water it once and place the pot in bright sun. The root buds need warmth and moisture to wake up and start growing.
Prep the Crown
- Twist method: Grip the crown and twist it off the fruit with a firm turn instead of cutting to keep the base clean.
- Strip leaves: Remove the bottom 5 to 8 leaves to expose the stem where the tiny root buds sit and wait to grow.
- Dry time: Set the crown in shade for 2 to 5 days until the base feels dry and firm before you put it in soil.
Plant and Root
- Pot size: Use a 6-inch pot with drainage holes and fill it with a sandy potting mix that drains fast.
- Planting depth: Push the bare stem 2 inches into the soil and press the dirt around the base to hold it upright.
- First water: Soak the soil once after planting, then water only when the top inch feels dry to the touch.
Check for Growth
- Root test: After 6 to 8 weeks, give a gentle tug on the crown. If it resists, roots have taken hold below.
- Leaf check: New leaves growing from the center confirm your crown is alive and feeding from its own root system now.
- Repot time: Move to a 3 to 5 gallon pot once you see steady new growth after about 3 to 4 months.
You can also grow pineapple from top using water instead of soil. Set the crown in a glass of water with the base just touching the surface. Change the water every 2 to 3 days to keep it fresh. Once roots reach about 2 inches long, move the crown into a pot with soil.
Your store bought pineapple plant will take 24 to 34 months to reach fruit size from the day you plant it. That's a long wait, but you get a free tropical plant that makes a great addition to any sunny spot. Feed it every 8 weeks with a citrus fertilizer and keep it in the brightest window or warmest garden bed you have.
I've started over a dozen store bought pineapple plant crowns and most of them rooted without trouble. The ones that failed sat in soil that stayed too wet. Good drainage is the single most important factor for success. Get that right and your grocery store pineapple top will grow into a healthy plant.
Read the full article: Growing Pineapple: Expert Advice for Success
