Coaxing your pineapple to bloom

22 Comments

1. admin - February 10, 2009 at 4:25 pm

   Coaxing your pineapple to bloom
   Joni Raye ( Barbiefishing@aol.com / )
   From Florida, I have a Pineapple Plant that is 4 yrs old, without fruit. I was told by many people how to expedite fruiting of the plant. I finally did what I kept hearing and now 2 week later my plant has a pineapple. 1 Miniature of rum directly into the center of the plant provides whatever it needed to bloom. Now like other I am afraid to leave it outside for the birds,bats or vermin. worked for me, thus far.

   Thanks for that tip! I’ve never heard of the rum trick. Kris

   Mike H. ( mike3116b@yahoo.com / )
   I have been growing a pineapple for 3 years now and haven’t gotten any fruit off of it. I have 2 questions. 1) the stalk has gotten so big and weak that now it can’t support the rest of the plant. Should I start over?
   2) I think it is too big to put into a bag with apples. What other options do I have? One guy said something about rum?

   You’ll have to support the stalk. Another option other than rum is to lay the plant on its side between waterings – this interferes with the hormones causing ethylene production which is needed to induce flowering.

   Katrina ( jeff_crom@hotmail.com / )
   I have had a pineapple plant potted for at least two years and it has yet to flower or produce a pineapple. It is too large to either lay on its side or put in a bag w/apples. Any advice? Thanks
   Katrina

   You can also force your plant by placing a small lump of calcium carbide (size of your little fingernail) into the center of your plant and pour a quarter cup of water over it. This will release acetylene gas which will force it to flower. Do this in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Calcium carbide can be bought in garden center, pharmacy or toy store. Source:tpss. hawaii.edu/pineapple

   Reply
2. bob - February 10, 2009 at 4:54 pm

   how long does it take to grow a pineapple?
   bob

   It can take 2 yrs or more. Flowers should show up 15-23 months after it was planted from the crown and it takes 5-7 mo. from bloom to fruit.

   Reply
3. kat - May 22, 2009 at 7:01 pm

   After the mother plant produces a pineapple is it done, or can it produce another?

   It can produce another pineapple from any suckers that it produces, otherwise it’s done.

   Reply
4. Augie Cassella - June 13, 2009 at 8:18 am

   I live in South Florida and have had an inheritd pineapple plant for 1 year and a pineapple growing for 4 months. How will I know when it’s ready to pick?

   Hi Augie
   When the pineapple starts to turn a yellow/orange color and has an aromatic pineapple fragrance, then you can pick it. It takes approx. 5-7 months from bloom to fruit so you’re almost there!

   Reply
5. Joyce - July 12, 2009 at 2:26 pm

   I saw that you should fertilize every other week with 1/2 strength fertilizer. What kind of fertilizer. Should it be just for fruits or what?

   Hi Joyce
   A well balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) should work just fine. Someone recommended flower magic (9-18-9) a concentrated liquid for pineapple in the other comments under Growing pineapple.

   Reply
6. Valerie - August 19, 2009 at 10:34 am

   I also have a top that I planted last year. It’s getting pretty big but no fruit. When would be the best time of year to make it fruit? I live in the Tampa area.

   Hi Valerie
   Pineapple naturally develop flowers when days are short (10 hrs) and nights are cool (55-65). Try it in fall – winter. I have had best luck in late winter (indoors).

   Reply
7. Ronald L. Hughes - August 24, 2009 at 10:48 am

   I have a common pineapple plant that has lived basically outside for about 15 to 20 years in a large metal pot. I have not watered it nor fertilized it at any time. It does bloom, and the current one is about 15 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, sort of orange with purple tips.

   Is this normal?

   Hi Ronald
   Is it a pineapple plant or a bromeliad? Does it produce a pineapple fruit? My guess is that its a type of bromeliad.

   Reply
8. Dalton - November 3, 2010 at 9:00 am

   Stimulate blooming
   I have a pineapple that was growing before a frost got it about 2 years ago. It was 2 and one half years old at the time. ( no flowers then) We continued to water it and it is about 18 momnths since frost and getting very big. If we try one of these options do you think that it will flower and grow a pineapple or do you think the frost may have done something to it?

   Hi Dalton
   Yes, try one of the options to stimulate blooming, it sounds like the plant is ready. Check inside the center of the plant, it may be sending up a flower now. If not, try the apple trick.

   Reply
9. Jared - March 19, 2011 at 11:54 am

   Initiate blooming
   When you say to place the calcium carbide in the center of the plant you’re talking about the direct center, right? Where the new leaves are coming up from? I’m not exactly sure what calcium carbide is but it would seem that with a reaction in the very center of the plant it would hurt it.

   Hi Jared
   Place it inside the center of the plant. Pour 1/4 cup of water and add the calcium carbide. Another method is to place the plant in a clear plastic bag with a few ripe apples for a week. Loosely seal the bag and keep away from the sun. The ehtylene emitted from the apple should stimulate blooming.

   Reply
10. Phil - July 1, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    repotting and watering
    How do I know if my pineapple plant needs to be repotted and how much water does it need? When winter comes can I continue to grow it in the basement with a grow light?

    Thanks

    Hi Phil
    When the roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot or growing in a circle inside the pot, then you need to repot the plant. Provide as much sun as possible to keep it growing in the winter. A grow light will certainly help. Keep the plant on the dry side during winter.
    I cannot give you a quantitative answer on how much water it needs. When temperatures are hot and dry, you may need more water than when its cool and rainy. Water when the top 1-2 inches of the soil is dry or when the soil color turn lighter. Be sure your pineapple plant has good drainage so that the water drains freely from the bottom of the container. Pour out any excess water.

    Reply
11. Rowena - June 23, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Pineapple plant tip
    I just tried forcing my 3 year old pineapple plant to bloom and found the same issue finding a plastic bag that is big enough to put my plant in then I thought of using the clear clothing bag from the dry cleaners and tried it. Tie a knot on the top part of the hanger hook opening. Perfect size for my pot and plant.

    Thanks for the plant tip!!! Good idea.

    Reply
12. Susan Driver - June 28, 2013 at 7:26 am

    My pineapplelant has a pineapple about 2″ tall n I discovered another one shooting out yesterday , this is the second one I have grown and have decided it is because I have it planted in a container only one size large …..,, the last Pineapple I grew was in a container 3 time it’s size and took longer to produce a bloom…. I do not water often, live in Alabama and keep it in direct sunlight. I grow mine simply by cutting of the top of a fresh pineapple, and placing it on top of soil bearing covering and water spareling.

    Thanks for the tip!!!!

    Reply
13. carol - September 13, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    I have been given the task at my work to take the pineapple heads from our parties and make new ones. So far my plants look good but the first pineapple I got wasn’t sweet. they are Dole and some are Aman I believe. I only have 3 as of now. can you make mine sweet

    Improve sweetness of pineapple
    Hi Carol
    Some varieties are sweeter than others. I had one that was ultra sweet and then another that wasn’t as sweet. I leave them on the plant as long as possible. I pick them when they are starting to turn yellow/golden color and smell ripe. Don’t pick it too early, once you pick your pineapple it will stop ripening. Make sure the pineapple has time to develop a sweet flavor. Fertilize with a balanced 10-10-10 including micronutrients. “Potassium in the soil is known to increase fruit size and sweetness”*. http://www.bar.gov.ph/agfishtech-home/crops/205-fruit-crops/1268-pineapple-con-t

    Reply
    1. jim - June 16, 2015 at 10:09 am

       I have good luck with dr earths exotic bled or citrius -tone.

       Reply
14. Dan - September 26, 2015 at 5:44 am

    My pineapple plant is 4.5 yrs old and pretty big but not fruit. I’ve tried the apple trick and it did not work
    Any suggestions?
    Where does one get calcium carbide?

    HI Dan
    Not sure For calcium carbide check online, pharmancy, garden center, or toy store.It takes some months before you see any results, so be patient.

    Reply
15. Cammie Hollaway - August 2, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    I have been growing a pineapple plant for 15 months it is huge no sign of bloom but now I have a shoot coming from bottom of plant what should I do? Does this mean my original plant will not produce a pineapple? Do I hope for one from the new shoot?

    Reply
16. Wes Mickle - November 27, 2017 at 9:16 am

    Is there any danger in using the calcium carbide?

    Reply
17. Kella Herrick - April 24, 2019 at 8:07 am

    I live in Indiana. We purchased a pineapple plant with small fruit growing at Walmart last spring. The pineapple never got huge but when ripe it was very sweet. I planted the top last fall. The original plant had a sucker ( I think that’s correct term). This plant is in original pot. Will it take 2 years for sucker to produce a fruit? Also I have had them inside all winter and of course it never got cold. I placed it outside now that we are highs in 60-70s lows 40-50s. Will cold help it fruit? Or should I bring them back in for now? Thanks!!

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18. Mike - May 20, 2019 at 5:37 am

    My 3 year old pineapple has started to flower…I live in central ontario (climate zone 3-4) well outside a natural environment for this plant…I have been using strictly organic fertilizer that has to be mixed with water and fermented…I an wondering if I should increase the intervals for fertilizing from every three months to once a month now that it is flowering… it is in a pot with another pineapple plant that is only 2 years old. The pot is 24″ diameter x 24″ tall… no drain holes though as it sits directly on my hardwood floors… however the bottom 4″ of the pot is filled with clear gravel.

    Reply
    1. Scott - June 26, 2019 at 5:44 am

       It may be your plants light cycle. The plant will need at least a full 13 hours of sunlight in the summer months with a once a week full watering every 5-6 days, and phosphorus nutrients, or ethylene gas to stimulate flowering. It could also be your soil medium as to why your plant is not flowering properly. Pineapple plants love an airy, mulch type of garden bed mixed with lime rocks, vermiculite, peat moss including the essential NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) nutrients, secondary nutrient soil value. Secondary nutrients are nutrients such as zinc, iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sulfur. These nutrients can be used at different intervals in the growth stage to maximize, or lower certain growth results in the vegetative, or flowing stage of the plant.

       Reply
19. Gbeve Lawrence - October 15, 2019 at 2:01 am

    I have pineapple in large quantity almost two years now and it is not flowering can l mix the carbide into a spraying machine and spray the plant?

    Reply
    1. pierre - February 7, 2021 at 1:25 pm

       calcium carbide will work

       Reply