How to Grow a Pineapple Plant

Cut off the top of the pineapple, about two inches below the leaves, with a sharp knife so that the surface is level and flat, with no jagged edges. Remove some, but not all, of the leaves and let the pineapple top dry out for a few days before planting it. Start the pineapple in a shallow dish or container that has adequate drainage holes, such as an aluminum pie plate that you poked holes into. Fill the container with a starting medium such as vermiculite to within a half-inch of the rim. Imbed the pineapple one inch into the vermiculite (with half the fruit below the surface and half the fruit above the surface).

Place the container in a bright, but not sunny, window. Keep the vermiculite just barely moist — never soggy. If humidity is very low, put a plastic bag loosely over the top and remove the bag when new green leaves appear. The pineapple needs bottom heat to grow properly. On top of the refrigerator is a good spot.

A few weeks after planting, new green leaves should start to appear. That's the signal to replant the pineapple. Pot in loose, porous soil. If you use standard potting soil, add some sand - about a handful of sand to a 6-inch pot. Use 1/3 each packaged soil, sand and small fir bark. You can also pot in fir bark alone. It allows air to reach the roots.