Ethan

since there are a few of you growing pineapples, I thought perhaps you could give me experience or info on how to seperate my pineapple pups. I harvested a fruit last year, since then the mother died, and was replaced by 5-pups from very small to full grown in size. Do I just treat these slips? pups? suckers? like I would and agave of sorts, if there are roots on the new plant, seperate it from the mother (or clump in this case)? After seperated let dry for a day or two and plant in fast draining soil, with light water, and dapled sun 'til new growth?

thanks for the insite,
-Ethan

BGreen

Hey Ethan,

Take this info with a grain of salt, because I have never done this with pineapple pups from outside plants. However I have rooted pineapple tops in the past with just putting them in a little long fibered spagnum moss around the base and filling the axils with water every time I noticed the water was low. I would only remove the larger ones, say third size or larger. Now if these were bromeliads in a dart frog tank I would say just cut them off and put them where you want them and let them be.

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Take care,

BGreen

NANAMAN

Ethan, If a sucker is attached to the mother plant below the soil surface, leave it and remove all the rest. Remove them by grabbing the sucker and twisting, this works well also for the crown on top of pineapple too!The roots from the mother are helping to feed it already, and it should produce fruit next year!Take the rest of the suckers and propagate more plants with them. After removing them, let them dry out for a few days,then peel back the bottom leaves 1/4 to 1/2 inch up, plant in well draining, moderately fertile soil and water once a week. They like the soil a little on the acid side,and as much sun as you can give them. I would fertilize them once a month, miracle grow for acid loving plants every other time you fert. will help keep the PH. down. Be careful of salt buildup if growing them in pots, they are very sensitive to it. They are very tough plants that don't require too much of anything except full sun. Heres a few links that might help:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG055

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pineapple.html

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Ethan

thanks gentlemen for the info and links. I'll take a closer look at what Im dealing with before I start the operation.

-Ethan