For many people, a very interesting and unusual activity is growing pineapple from the green top... However, if someone suddenly sees such an exotic plant, for example, from his relatives or friends, then he, of course, will certainly want to have the same. And all because pineapple has a very effective appearance and is an evergreen plant. Therefore, he can transform any room. Plus, if you provide him with proper care, you can even see the appearance of small fruits. In order to learn how to properly care for pineapple at home, you need to study the step-by-step instructions below.
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Step 1. How to choose a pineapple
In order for your venture to be successful, you need to choose the right planting material. The fruit should be healthy and ripe, while it should be borne in mind that an unripe or, on the contrary, overripe pineapple will not work for this purpose. You should also pay special attention to compound fruits, or rather, leaves. The correct fruit, suitable for planting, should have a dark green color, healthy, and very firm to the touch. In the case when yellowness appears on the leaves or they have acquired a brown tint, such a fruit, of course, needs to be put aside. If in cold weather you go to the market for pineapple, then be extremely careful, as it may be frozen and definitely not similar.
The center of the fruit should be yellow and not overly hard. By the way, if you suddenly notice that the pineapple is damaged, then it is better not to purchase it. You can also smell this fruit, and it should have a quite pleasant smell. If you have any doubts about the fruit you have chosen, then buy two at once, but only in different stores in order to increase your chances.
Step 2. Preparing the tip
First of all, the top of the fruit must be carefully removed. This is easy enough. Grasp the bunch of leaves tightly so that it is completely in your hand, and slowly rotate it. This action is very similar to unscrewing the cap on a bottle. As a result, the stem should come out without much effort.
However, in the case when the pineapple is unripe, it will be impossible to separate the top as described above. An ordinary kitchen knife will come to your aid. Carefully cut out the leaves with the spine with them, while holding the knife at an angle of 45 degrees. Then be sure to remove any remaining pulp in order to exclude the formation of rot on the workpiece.
After that, the stem, located at the lower base, must be carefully cleaned, removing all the leaves to a height of 2-3 centimeters.
Step 3. Rooting the apex
In order for the tip to take root, it must be placed in a container of water at room temperature. It should be immersed in the liquid by 3 or 4 centimeters. Any container is suitable for this purpose. For rooting, the top is placed in a well-lit place, so that the sun's rays do not fall on it. Also, there should not be a draft or a sharp change in temperature. After 4-6 days, the roots will begin to grow.
Step 4. Planting and growing
For planting a pineapple, it is better to immediately take a larger pot, or rather, it should be 20-30 centimeters high and 30-35 centimeters in diameter. However, in the event that a pot of this size is not at hand, the top of the fruit can be planted in a pot 10-15 centimeters in diameter. But after the plant becomes larger, it must be transplanted into a larger flower pot without fail. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to dry, and there will be no flowering. Experienced growers advise replanting this plant as it grows.
There must be holes in the flower pot so that excess liquid can flow through them. Then you need to make a three-centimeter drainage layer. For planting, you need loose and highly nutritious soil. You need to deepen the prepared pineapple top up to 3 centimeters. Within six months, fertilizers will need to be applied to the soil, or rather mullein. Fertilization is carried out once every 1-2 months. Be sure to place the flower pot in a warm and bright place.
Do not forget about systematic moderate watering. To do this, use exclusively settled water, and, if possible, rainwater. In the event that the watering is too abundant, rot may form on the roots. And when the watering is too meager, the leaves of the plant will begin to dry (the dried ends must be carefully cut off). As a rule, watering is carried out after the topsoil dries out a little. It is also systematically necessary to moisten the leaves with warm water, and also, if necessary, wipe them with a damp cloth (for hygienic purposes).
Growing pineapple at home is not that difficult. And in that case, if you take care of it correctly, then after only 2–2.5 years flowering will come, and after a while you will be able to enjoy the delicious and fragrant fruit grown by your own hands.
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