Native to Brazil and Paraguay, an outdoor pineapple plant can reach 5 or 6 feet high, but an indoor specimen generally doesn’t surpass 2 or 3 feet. Both consist of a short stem sprouting a rosette of often spiny 2-inch to 5-foot sword-shaped leaves.
Since a pineapple requires fast-draining, sandy soil to prevent root rot, a cactus and citrus potting mix with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5 should suit the plant. Alternatively, you can try a cymbidium orchid mix—which often is recommended for terrestrial bromeliads as well as terrestrial orchids—or a mix of one part peat moss, one part coarse builder’s sand, and one part perlite.
If you want your plant to fruit, you should give it as much light as possible, such as in a greenhouse, sunroom, or near a large south-facing window. If moving the plant outdoors over the summer, be careful to adapt it gradually to full sun if it was in dimmer conditions before.
Pineapple plant indoor temperatures should remain in the 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit range, and it’s a good idea to bring the plant into the house once temperatures begin falling below 60 degrees outdoors in autumn.
The pineapple enjoys humidity as well as heat, so don’t leave it “pining” for company. Instead, keep it clustered with other plants to help raise the moisture in the air around it.
