Edible adornments: the brightly-colored ornamental pineapples.

The pineapple is more than just a delicious fruit. It can also be an ornamental plant. Members of the genus Ananas include the familiar edible pineapple as well as some plants grown indoors for their decorative foliage and attractive miniature red fruits.  Though the familiar, edible pineapple is much too big to become a houseplant, there is a miniature variegated form, the Ananas comosus variegates. 

The decorative pineapple has channeled and spiny leaves measuring 1.5 inches wide and three feet long.  The leaves are green with ivory-colored margins, but they may turn deep pink if exposed to sufficient sunlight.  The flowers are usually followed by a small pink fruit above it, which develops when the plant reaches six years old.  The plants usually flower when they are subjected to optimum ideal light conditions and temperatures outside. If placed indoors, they would have difficulty producing flowers.  However, the plants tend to grow slowly, whether they are placed indoors or outdoors.

Cultural requirements

Light.  All pineapple plants require bright light, including direct sunlight.  The sunnier the location, the stronger the coloration of species that have variegated leaves.

Temperature. These plants require a warm or tropical growing temperature in order to grow healthy and properly.

Watering.  Water the plants moderately, or just enough to make the potting mixture moist throughout. Allow the top half-inch of the mixture to dry out before watering again.  The plants also thrive in high relative humidity.  This can be done by placing the pots on a tray or saucer with damp pebbles and also by occasionally spraying the foliage.
 
Fertilization.  These plants can be fertilized through its leaves by spraying a dilute balanced orchid fertilizer once every week throughout the year.
 
Potting Mixture.  The ideal potting mixture includes an equal proportion of coconut coir dust, and crushed charcoal. Use four, six or eight inch pots.  Do not use very big pots as the plants have relatively little roots.  It is advisable to use clay pots as pineapple plants in plastic pots may become too heavy and may topple over.
 
Controlling pests and diseases.  Pineapple plants usually do not have serious pest and diseases problems.
 
Propagation.  The pineapple plant can be propagated by means of offshoots, slips or offsets.  Offsets can be detached from the mother plant using a sharp knife, especially when the offset is already four to six inches long and planted in a three- inch pot containing the potting mix above.  The plant is then watered.

Potted plants need to be placed and sealed inside a clear plastic bag to maintain high humidity and kept in a slightly cool and shaded location.  The offset will root in about eight weeks in which watering wouldn’t be necessary. Once rooted, the offset can be taken out of the plastic bag and gradually trained to adjust to a sunnier environment.  At this point, the plant can now be watered moderately to keep the potting mixture moist.  The crown of the pineapple fruit can also be cut off and planted in a pot similar to the offset.