How to Get a Pineapple Top to Root
- 1). Slice off the top of the pineapple, its crown, with a sharp knife. Pull off the lower inch of leaves to expose the rooting nodes and set the crown aside in a dry place. Keep the cut side up and wait for a week for the surface to scar over.
- 2). Fill a 12-inch plant pot with 1/2 inch of gravel and a mixture of equal parts dampened peat moss, potting soil and vermiculite. This will provide the plant with a light soil that holds plenty of moisture.
- 3). Plant the pineapple top in the soil, burying the exposed base of the crown. Firm the soil around the pineapple without getting it into the leaves. The soil-to-plant contact will stimulate the pineapple into producing roots and new growth.
- 4). Water the soil around the crown weekly to keep the plant damp but not soggy. In its natural setting, a pineapple needs about 20 inches of water per year.
- 5). Fertilize every 2 or 3 months with regular houseplant food. Rinse the leaves with clear water if the fertilizer splashes on them.
- 6). Keep the plant outside in direct sunlight as much as possible or until outdoor temperatures reach the freezing mark. Bring the plant inside to the sunniest window during the winter. Continue its growth outside the following summer.
Source...