Growing pineapples in a cool climate area may seem like an impossible feat, but it’s not that hard if you know what you’re doing.
In this article I’ll show you how to grow pineapples outside the tropics and give you my best tips for growing pineapples indoors, even when the weather is cold outside.
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Pineapples (Ananas comosus) are tropical plants that don’t tolerate frosts or cold weather, but it’s possible to grow them in cooler climates if you have a greenhouse or a sunny room for the plants to grow when the weather is cold.
Pineapples are well suited to growing in pots, which means that you can move your plants indoors in fall when the temperature starts to cool down.
How to grow pineapples indoors in cool climates
Cut off the top of the pineapple including one inch (2.5 cm) of the fruit.
Scrape off most of the fruit and allow the pineapple top to dry out for a few days before planting it to reduce the risk of mold.
Choose a large container and fill it with high quality, well draining potting mix.
It’s a good idea to use a plant stand with wheels to make it easier to move the pot around.
Make a small hole in the potting soil, place the pineapple top inside the hole and cover the base with soil.
Water it in thoroughly and place the pot in a bright, sunny location.
A spot near a big window where the plant will receive six to seven hours of sunlight daily is perfect.
Water your pineapple plant when the top two inches (5 cm) of soil is dry.
Pineapples can take up to three months to form roots so you’ll have to be patient.
Once the roots have formed and your pineapple plant is established, you can move it outdoors when the temperature starts to warm up.
Add liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the warmer months to provide the nutrients your pineapple plant needs for optimal growth.
Bring it back inside when the temperatures cool down in the fall.
Pineapple fruits grow from the middle of the plant and start out as a red flower. The flower then turns into a fruit as the plant matures.
Tips for growing pineapples in cool climates
Pineapples can stop growing if the temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), so situate you plant in a room that is heated if necessary.
Pineapple plants love humidity and may benefit from being placed in rooms that have high humidity such as the bathroom or kitchen.
You can also use a small humidifier to increase the humidity level in the room.
Pineapple plants need watering regularly but the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
Feed your pineapple plant with a liquid plant food once a month during the growing season.
If you want your pineapple plant to stay small, prune off any suckers that develop at the base of the plant.
You can replant the suckers in new pot to get more plants. [1]
Pineapple growing problems
Pineapple plants are susceptible to diseases such as root rot, so make sure the plants get lots of air circulation and take care not to overwater your plants.
Scale and mealy bugs are common pineapple plant pests that can be easily treated with horticultural oil.
When to harvest pineapples
Pineapples grown in cool climates can take a long time to mature, sometimes 2 to 3 years, but it’s definitely worth the wait!
When the fruit changes in color from green to yellow it is a sign that your pineapple is ripe and ready to be harvested.
You’ll also notice a sweet pineapple scent when the fruit is ready to harvest.
To harvest your pineapple, cut the fruit from the plant using a sharp knife.
The pineapple flesh should be a golden yellow color when it’s ripe.
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So there are my tips for growing pineapples in a cool climate area.
Pineapples can be grown year-round in tropical and subtropical climates but with winter protection, you can enjoy growing pineapples as container plants and taking them indoors during the winter months.
Have you had success growing pineapples in an area with cool winter temperatures? Let me know in the comments below.
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I have tried many times to get a pineapple top to grow for me. There was one time I had some luck but, sadly, the plant did not live long after it got more sunlight and water after planting it. I have not given up but, am sure tired of not having luck for sure!
I now have moved into an Apt. and have decided to give it another try (sadly, I have lost one but I got another, in hopes I have luck there). I think the plants are pretty cool, actually. Anyway, I just thought I would share my experience here some with the growing of them and hope I have a better luck.
I have a one year old pineapple tree I started from a pineapple top in a pot initially. In spring I planted outdoors with the intention of digging it up and planting in a pot for the winter to bring indoors until spring. Any issue in your opinion going from the ground to a pot? Any advice?
Should I leave in a pot next spring, or replant outside? Not sure how much trauma it causes going from the ground to a pot. Thank you!
Hi Jim, I’ve found that pineapples do quite well in pots, so I’d leave it in the pot and take it outside next spring.