Pineapple Fruiting

Tips for pineapple fruiting - In commercial pineapple production there are a couple of ways to induce fruiting. Ethylene is one. In some places people use calcium carbide to stimulate fruiting. Calcium carbide produces acethylene, which is a ripening agent, but calcium carbide seems to be forbidden in some countries due to bad effects on human health.⠀ ⠀

Or you can try using apples 🙂 Apples, as well as many other fruits, produce ethylene as they mature and ethylene is a fruit ripening agent. A few tips:⠀ ⠀

1️⃣ If the plant is too young, you won't be able to get it to fruit. It needs to be sufficiently mature. My pineapple is 1.5 years old and is very strong and healthy. Which is the result of large amounts of direct sun it has received. If your plant is too small/weak, you might still be able to induce fruit production, but the fruit will most likely be small.⠀ ⠀

2️⃣ Seal the area around the pineapple, to keep ethylene from escaping. Use transparent plastic, so as much light as possible can reach the plant. If you're growing a pineapple indoors, and especially if it's not a very strong plant, it's good to add a grow light during this time, to supplement natural light, although not necessary.⠀ ⠀

3️⃣ Move the plant away from direct sun, so it doesn't cook under plastic. Direct sun would quickly raise the temperature underneath the plastic.⠀ ⠀

The apples should be under plastic for a week or two, but I will try to keep them longer, to make sure the plant gets enough ethylene.⠀ ⠀

I'll be posting updates🙂⠀ #mrhouseplant #plants #houseplants