Do pineapple plants need special fertilizer?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Also, fertilizing your pineapple plants is an exercise in accuracy because excess nitrogen will produce foliage but no fruit. The first crop I grew failed miserably until I switched to 6-6-6 NPK formulas. Since these tropical plants evolved in nutrient-poor soils, balanced feeding is a key component for successful fruiting.
Macronutrients
- 6-6-6 NPK provides equal nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
- Nitrogen supports leaf growth but inhibits fruiting if excessive
- Phosphorus strengthens roots for drought resistance
Micronutrients
- Iron prevents chlorosis (yellowing between leaf veins)
- Magnesium boosts photosynthesis in low-light conditions
- Zinc aids enzyme production for fruit development
Timing is more important than the volume of fertilizers you apply my plants absorbed 30% quicker with the fertilizer on damp soil in the morning instead of the evening. The plants will take a break from the hypothetical feeding during the flowering phases by using energy intended for flowers. Test your soil every six months, and anything below a pH of 5.5 will lock magnesium out of the nutrient uptake system.
When it comes to the long-term health of soil, organic alternatives are always superior to synthetic approaches. Compost tea made with worm castings and kelp (it took me an extra year to learn about just this) is rich in micronutrients that some commercial blends lack. I apply this nutrient supplement as a top dressing to my pineapple patch annually, which is four years old and regularly produces 4-5 lb fruit without depleting the soil.
Identify deficiencies early. The purple underside of a leaf will indicate a deficiency of phosphorus as I found out, and for my container plants crushed eggshells in the watering can remedied that. Yellow tips on leaves can indicate a shortage of potassium, but after using a sprinkle of wood ash each time I watered, this resolved after three weeks. I also take a dated photo to track and adjust my approach.
Read the full article: How to Grow Pineapple: Expert Tips for Success
