Question

pineapple   I have a pineapple plant I have been growing from a top since last June. It did remarkably well last summer and all the way through this winter when I moved it inside with a uv light. I moved it back outside 3 weeks ago when the nights were staying around 60. Its leaves were a little droopy and it had grown quite a bit, so I repotted it into the same mix of cactus soil that I had used last summer when originally planting it. However, now the leaves are turning yellow and brown and I can't figure out why. I don't water too often, same as before. Once a week and I check to make sure the top few inches of the soil are not moist before watering. Is this the result of repotting the plant? Should I be watering it more after repotting, I'm holding off watering it because I know they don't like being watered too much. It has jumped from the high 70's to the 90's here in the last week and a half. Help! I've put a lot of work into it! its always been a nice dark green until just recently and I don't know what to do to fix it.

Answer
Hi Tya,

Here are my instructions for propagating a Pineapple Plant:

To propagate a pineapple, use a fresh pineapple that has healthy leaves on the crown. Twist or cut off the crown (leafy stem) just above the fleshy part of the fruit. Strip away the leaves from the lower inch of the crown. Place the crown in a narrow vase or glass filled with water that will allow the bare stem to stay in contact with the water, but hold the leaves above the water. Place it in a bright spot that is protected from direct sun. Keep the water level in contact with the bare stem at all times. Change the water weekly.

Roots usually appear within a week or two. When the roots are an inch or more long, put it into a 4 or 6-inch clay pot using a damp soil less, peat-based potting mix. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Gradually increase the light so that it ends up on a sunny windowsill.

Pineapple plants do best in direct sun and warm temperatures (above 60 degrees). If you move yours outside in the summer, introduce it to direct sun gradually over the course of two weeks. You can increase the chances of flowering by keeping it quite potbound in a peat-based potting mix. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Fertilize regularly at half strength when it is in good light and growing vigorously.

Yours may have been exposed to too much light unless it was kept in shade when outdoors. For sure your decision to repot it was a mistake. This is a plant with a tiny root system that must be kept potbound. All the excess soil you added is staying wet far longer than it did prior to repotting. Because you also did not adjust your watering, for sure the roots have rotted and there is probably little you can do about that at this point. In general, watering frequency should be reduced following repotting. But in this case, it never should have been repotted in the first place.

You can try undoing the repotting that you did, but unless you find healthy firm roots, it is probably too late.

I have written articles on repotting and on Bromeliad/Pineapple care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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