Can I grow pineapples indoors year-round?

Cultivating pineapples indoors dispels all the myths regarding growing tropical fruit in such a setting. The fruits produced by the pineapples I have grown inside - during potentially severe winter months outside - indicate that growing pineapple fruit indoors was at least partially successful. The essence of the project *"How to grow pineapple"* indoors focuses on accomplishing three Caribbean traits --- consistent warmth, lots of bright light, and not much fussing with the plant. Start with healthy crowns of ripe fruit from the grocery store for the most benefit, and your pineapple will produce too!

The contents of the soil are crucial to indoor success. My mix has 3 parts cactus soil, made to 1 part perlite and crushed lava rock. This composition will prevent overly wet roots, the leading cause of death for potted pineapples in homes, from happening. To evaluate your drainage, make sure to water until the water runs freely from the holes in the pot.

Humidity control is the difference between a successful plant and a struggling plant. I use pebble trays with water beneath the pots, as the water will evaporate and increase the humidity in the air from below the pot without wetting the plant leaves. I would not recommend misting plants directly, as water on the leaves can sometimes promote the spread of fungi and fungus gnats. I like to use hygrometers to get the humidity to the sweet spot of 50-60% to acclimate my plants that thrive in tropical conditions.

Patience pays off for indoor growers. My first yield came after only 28 months, although this took longer than growing outside, but still tasted just as sweet. To keep track of their growth stages, I would photograph them each month. You could see as the leaf colors turned darker and the crown width expanded to indicate that the roots were doing well and that a flowering stage might happen in the future.

Read the full article: How to Grow Pineapple: Expert Tips for Success