Ananas Bromeliad Plant

Bitter Pineapple Plant

The Ananas bromeliad plant will produce a fruiting spike that has a pinkish color to it. Over a three-month period of time, a small brown pineapple will develop. It is much more bitter than a commercially cultivated pineapple. Mostly, the pineapple from an Ananas bromeliad plant is considered an ornamental fruit. The Ananas bromeliad (ananas comosus ‘Variegatus’ bromeliad) is also known as the Ivory Pineapple and the Variegated Pineapple. The bloom will start out as flush red and bloom blue flowers before the pineapple develops.

The edible pineapple is from the same species as the Ananas bromeliad. This bromeliad is grown for its long leaves that have creamy margins and sharp spines. It is among the larger bromeliads, growing up to 3ft high and 6ft across. When they are kept in smaller pots, the size of this plant can be controlled. The plant won’t produce a pineapple until it is about 5 or 6 years old. After the pineapple matures, the plant will die, but there should be “pups” to propagate.

To propagate the Ananas bromeliad you can put the off-sets (pups) in a pot and grow them. They will appear as the parent plant begins to die. The top of the pineapple can be cut off and put it moist soil. It will root and grow.

Growing an Ananas bromeliad is fairly easy. They like the following:

  • Hot sun
  • Strong light
  • Warm temperatures
  • Indoors when the temperature drops
  • Increased fertilizing in the summer
  • Leaves sprayed with water
  • Heavy soil

The plant prefers temperatures above 65 degrees F in the winter and above 85 degrees F in the summer. During the summer this bromeliad flourishes when fertilized (1/2 strength) every two weeks in the summer and monthly (full strength) in the winter. When the soil at the top becomes dry, water the Ananas bromeliad. The leaves can be sprayed with water twice a week in the summer and about once a week in the winter.

This type of bromeliad needs a heavier soil than most bromeliad plants. Orchid plant potting mix or African violet potting soil works well for growing the Ananas bromeliad. When repotting this bromeliad, it is recommended to do it in the spring and be sure to wear protection against the spiny leaves. Allow air pockets around the roots and do not press the soil down. Repotting should be done every two years. If you are not moving the plant to a larger pot, when you repot, trim back the roots back a little before putting it in another pot with fresh soil.

The Ananas bromeliad plant is the perfect plant for large rooms with large windows and in yards that need a large area filled. It the plant will be in an outdoor environment that has a drop in temperature during the winter, keep the Ananas bromeliad plant in a pot so it can be moved indoors at night or through the winter months.

Cryptanthus Bromeliad Plant

Learn about the Cryptanthus Bromeliad Plant.