- ReptileAddiction
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My Pineapple Plant Attempt
So since reading the other recent pineapple thread I decided to start my own. I tried a while ago but all I could figure out to do (using the internet) was cut the top off and plant it. It did nothing but mold so it got tossed. Hopefully I will have better luck with this one. I followed the standard procedure of twisting the top off, peeling away bottom leaves, and planting. I was thinking that if it is small enough when it starts to cool down I could through it in my greenhouse (that I will hopefully have) to keep it growing. Do you think this will have ill effects?
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ReptileAddiction wrote:So since reading the other recent pineapple thread I decided to start my own. I tried a while ago but all I could figure out to do (using the internet) was cut the top off and plant it. It did nothing but mold so it got tossed. Hopefully I will have better luck with this one. I followed the standard procedure of twisting the top off, peeling away bottom leaves, and planting. I was thinking that if it is small enough when it starts to cool down I could through it in my greenhouse (that I will hopefully have) to keep it growing. Do you think this will have ill effects?
I've not lost one in a while since I did similar to what you did except after twisting off the crown and peeling off a few bottom leaves I'd take a knife and cut a bit off the bottom until I saw a series of dots in a circular pattern near the outer edge of the cut end. These little dots are the root nodules that will grow a root system. I'd then place it in a coffee cup or cocktail glass in enough water to slightly cover the bottom of the cut end. I prefer the cocktail glass since it is clear and you can see the roots being grown. When the roots get to about 1/2 inch long, I plant it in a good potting soil and off they go.
My largest one is now about 30 inches tall with several smaller ones giving chase.
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The side shoot/ratoon pups are different from the crown and crown pups, and are bigger and mature faster.
I've grown three crowns so far.
When you took the crown from the fruit, did you twist it off rather than cutting it off? Then you peel the outer leaves until you end up with about an inch of bumpy stem. THEN LET IT DRY for 2-3 days. THEN plant in sandy soil -- I used 50/50 sand and potting soil.
It took forever in the winter covered with a plastic produce bag. Only about a month when done in warmer months. Definitely needs high humidity and warmth.
The winter one was nearly dead and losing leaves by spring, but I kept it and just before it gave up its last ghost -- around mid-summer, I found three pups growing next to the rotten crown. That one was a couple of years go, but I mentioned elsewhere how I neglected them due to circumstances and I'm currently at two steps back, growing pups of the pups.
BTW each of the plants I have been growing have grown at least one new pup every summer so you won't lack for subjects to experiment/practice growing techniques once you get one going. I technically have two different pineapple varieties (according to the original tag that was on the fruits) but I didn't know sharpie marker fades in the sun and so the writing on the labels disappeared and I have no idea which is which until they fruit.
I've grown three crowns so far.
When you took the crown from the fruit, did you twist it off rather than cutting it off? Then you peel the outer leaves until you end up with about an inch of bumpy stem. THEN LET IT DRY for 2-3 days. THEN plant in sandy soil -- I used 50/50 sand and potting soil.
It took forever in the winter covered with a plastic produce bag. Only about a month when done in warmer months. Definitely needs high humidity and warmth.
The winter one was nearly dead and losing leaves by spring, but I kept it and just before it gave up its last ghost -- around mid-summer, I found three pups growing next to the rotten crown. That one was a couple of years go, but I mentioned elsewhere how I neglected them due to circumstances and I'm currently at two steps back, growing pups of the pups.
BTW each of the plants I have been growing have grown at least one new pup every summer so you won't lack for subjects to experiment/practice growing techniques once you get one going. I technically have two different pineapple varieties (according to the original tag that was on the fruits) but I didn't know sharpie marker fades in the sun and so the writing on the labels disappeared and I have no idea which is which until they fruit.
- ReptileAddiction
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- ReptileAddiction
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I didnt know about the callus cells. A lot of people always just plant it. I will start another thread with lots of pictures tomorrow. Today there was quite a bit more yellowing, which I know is normal but I was surprised. It also was much more sturdy which tell me that the root nodules had taken hold. I put a bag over it to give it some more humidity. Today it got really hot again and was over 100 .
- ReptileAddiction
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Here is the whole thng with the bag
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-16.jpg[/img]
Here is the top without the bag
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-14.jpg[/img]
Here is a birds eye view
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-12.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-16.jpg[/img]
Here is the top without the bag
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-14.jpg[/img]
Here is a birds eye view
[img]https://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd452/reptileaddiction/photo-12.jpg[/img]
- PunkRotten
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Pretty cool. I was thinking about giving pineapples a go too. But thought it was too much hassle. I am not familiar with how they grow and fruit. I am pretty interested now so I will start to look up info to grow them.
Last edited by PunkRotten on Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
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There are many good websites. This is a pretty good blog type one. At the bottom of the page there are links to further parts of care like flowering and harvesting.
https://www.unirom.co.uk/nhaggett/MyPineapples/mypineapples.html
Here is another.
https://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-pineapples.html
https://www.unirom.co.uk/nhaggett/MyPineapples/mypineapples.html
Here is another.
https://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-pineapples.html
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REALLY?
My pineapples huddled under lights and in sunniest windows, shut inside for the next 6 months of cold and freezing weather, are totally green with envy
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/3049681E-DC65-413A-99A8-4279DA737F47-132-0000006A4E2E8657.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/0E9355D4-E74C-4CFE-8ACA-FA8708E01409-132-0000006A2E3B3484.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/3B9144C0-EDF4-44CA-AEDD-7E6FFD48CC33-132-0000006A1F01E216.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/48B9FEE1-D2CD-4338-9C06-0A79C868BD3C-132-00000069E9956CF5.jpg[/img]
First four are pups of the original crowns. The two in the last photo are the newest pups of the pups in the first photo.
My pineapples huddled under lights and in sunniest windows, shut inside for the next 6 months of cold and freezing weather, are totally green with envy
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/3049681E-DC65-413A-99A8-4279DA737F47-132-0000006A4E2E8657.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/0E9355D4-E74C-4CFE-8ACA-FA8708E01409-132-0000006A2E3B3484.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/3B9144C0-EDF4-44CA-AEDD-7E6FFD48CC33-132-0000006A1F01E216.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/48B9FEE1-D2CD-4338-9C06-0A79C868BD3C-132-00000069E9956CF5.jpg[/img]
First four are pups of the original crowns. The two in the last photo are the newest pups of the pups in the first photo.
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In my [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=160460#160460]Minimum Night time Temp thread[/url], pineapple USDA Zones is noted as
Pineapple 10b (35) ~ 11 (40)
And that they enter dormancy at below 60°F (in my notes that usually means 55°F-60°F)
Maybe they would make it with a little extra protection?
Pineapple 10b (35) ~ 11 (40)
And that they enter dormancy at below 60°F (in my notes that usually means 55°F-60°F)
Maybe they would make it with a little extra protection?
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So I just went outside to check on it and there was mold on the leaves! I was shocked! Then I realized it has been in 90 degree weather with humiidty at about 100% because of the bag. I also checked the bottom and there were lots of more roots! Next time I will forgo the back completely and just keep it well watered and see how that one does. I will also let it dry out for a couple days so there is less chance of mold.
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Your all luck, your climate is well suited to growing pineapples.
PUNKROTTEN said is was to much hassle. but in the Uk we can grow pineapples and it is a lot of hassle.
The basics are the same, cut the top of and plant it on the soil but we have to create a large heated bed for them to sit on (Common name = Tar Pit) three foot deep out of manure and bark to create warm enough heat for root growth. Its tricky.
For further reading on british pineapple growing: https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/pineapples/pineapples.htm
PUNKROTTEN said is was to much hassle. but in the Uk we can grow pineapples and it is a lot of hassle.
The basics are the same, cut the top of and plant it on the soil but we have to create a large heated bed for them to sit on (Common name = Tar Pit) three foot deep out of manure and bark to create warm enough heat for root growth. Its tricky.
For further reading on british pineapple growing: https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/pineapples/pineapples.htm
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