How to Plant a Pineapple Top in 7 Simple Steps

Looking for a new addition to your houseplant collection? Instead of driving to your nearest greenhouse, consider utilizing something you already have at home: food scraps.

You can grow an avocado plant from a pit and a vining plant from a sweet potato. Now, you can turn your leftover pineapple top into a spiky, eye-catching houseplant, too.

After cutting up a pineapple, the leafy top is typically disposed of. Out of sight, out of mind. But not many people realize it has root buds and can be potted. By doing so, you're not only adding a unique houseplant to your collection. You're also keeping food waste out of landfills, where it releases methane—a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

If you want to learn how to plant a pineapple top, here's everything you'll need to know. Adorable pineapple plant, here you come.

How to Plant a Pineapple Top for a Fun Houseplant

According to Jag Singh, the organic gardener behind Daisy Creek Farms on YouTube, learning how to plant a pineapple top is easy. In fact, you can do it in just seven easy steps.

A question you may be wondering: Can you grow pineapple fruit indoors? While growing a pineapple plant is easy (those spiky leaves make for a fun houseplant!), growing an actual pineapple fruit is much more difficult. With that being said, a small fruit is possible—it just may take a couple years.

Here's how Singh recommends going about planting a pineapple top, step by step.

1. Choose a Healthy Pineapple Top

First, make sure the pineapple top you have is healthy and green. Brown, dry leaves won't be as easy to salvage.

2. Cut the Top

Singh says to cut the leafy top off at least half an inch below the leaves. This leaves some of the pineapple's skin still attached to the leaves. After you cut the top off, let it dry for two days.

3. Peel Off the Bottom Leaves

Once dry, carefully peel the skin of the pineapple off. Then, peel about seven layers of leaves. This exposes the pineapple's stem. Sometimes you'll notice there are already small roots growing!

4. Submerge in Water

Next, place the pineapple top's stem into a cup of water. Set it by a window that receives plenty of sunlight. You'll have to leave it here for a few weeks to give the pineapple top enough time to take root.

After about four weeks, you'll notice a bunch of roots growing from the bottom of the stem.

5. Plant the Rooted Pineapple Top in a Pot

Singh recommends waiting until the roots have formed (after about one month) before transferring the pineapple to your pot. Once the roots are ready, gather your materials.

This step requires a few extra items. You'll need a pot with good drainage filled with nutrient-rich soil and compost. Transfer the rooted pineapple stem into the soil, planting it up to the level of the leaves.

6. Place Near a Sunny Window

Again, these plants need plenty of bright light. Place your newly-potted pineapple plant near a sunny window. Pineapples are used to tropical climates, so they'll need the warmth. Typically, the best temperature to grow pineapples is between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Water Your New Plant

Lastly, don't forget to water your new houseplant! Singh recommends pouring the water down the center of the leaves. Water it regularly, around once per week, allowing the top of the soil to dry out between waterings.