You can grow a pineapple plant in a pot in any USDA zone if you use a pot with drainage holes, a gritty mix and a spot in full sun, and bring it inside before frost. CRFG says the small plant adapts well to container and greenhouse culture. A pot is the way to grow pineapple in every zone colder than 10. This guide expands on the container section of our pineapple plant guide with pot size, soil, light, watering, feeding and a winter plan.
What size pot does a pineapple need?
UF/IFAS recommends a 3- to 7-gallon (11- to 26-liter) container with drainage holes. It also says the larger the container, the greater the potential for a large plant and large fruit, and that small containers restrict both the size of the plant and the fruit. So the pot sets the ceiling.
| Plant stage | Pot | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New crown or small slip | A small pot, a size or two bigger than the base | A small pot dries out fast, so do not leave it too long |
| Growing plant | A 3- to 7-gallon pot (UF/IFAS) | Step up as the roots fill the pot |
| Mature plant | The biggest pot you can still move | A bigger pot grows a bigger fruit (UF/IFAS) |
Every pot needs drainage holes. UF/IFAS says pineapple plants are not tolerant of excessively or continuously wet soil. A fabric pot breathes, drains freely and is lighter to move than glazed ceramic, which helps when you bring a big plant in for winter. A 10-gallon fabric pot gives a mature plant room to grow.
Do not start a tiny crown in a huge pot. Soil that stays wet around a small root system is the usual way to lose a plant to root rot (UF/IFAS).
What potting mix is best?
Use a loose, fast-draining mix. UF/IFAS says plants grow best in sandy loam soils of neutral to mildly acid pH, and CRFG gives a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. A cactus or palm mix works, or use ordinary potting soil with plenty of coarse sand or perlite mixed in. Skip heavy garden soil in a pot, because it packs down and holds water.
How much sun does a potted pineapple need?
Full sun. UF/IFAS says plants should be in full sun for best growth and fruit production, and that plant growth, time to flowering, fruit size and fruit quality are reduced in shade. It also says to place the container in full sun for best growth. Put the pot on a south- or west-facing patio, deck or wall for the warm months, and keep it there until nights cool.
Heat is fine within limits. UF/IFAS says temperatures below 60°F (15.5°C) and above 90°F (32°C) may slow growth.
Watering and feeding a pineapple in a pot
Water
Feed
Watch the leaves
If you are unsure whether to water, lift the pot. A pot that feels light needs water, and a heavy one does not.
Will a potted pineapple fruit?
It can, with patience. CTAHR says a crown needs about 18 months after planting before the first fruiting, and UF/IFAS gives 18 to 24 months from planting to harvest. A plant that is ready to flower has produced 70 to 80 leaves (UF/IFAS), and the fruit ripens 5 to 8 months after flowering starts (UF/IFAS, CTAHR). A pineapple kept in a dim room usually stays a spiky houseplant. If you want fruit, put the pot in full sun outdoors for the warm months and bring it in for winter. Our guide on why a pineapple plant is not flowering lists what to check.
How to overwinter a potted pineapple
Put the pot in the brightest window or sunroom you have, away from cold drafts. Water less often, since UF/IFAS gives a rhythm of every 10 to 14 days in cooler winter months for plants in the ground. Hold off on fertilizer until growth picks up. Move the pot back outdoors in spring once nights stay warm, setting it in partial shade for a few days before it goes into full sun.
In zones 10–11, a pot can stay out all year, with a blanket thrown over it on a cold night (UF/IFAS says blankets or mulch give some protection).
If your plant has grown a sucker or slip, you can pot it up on its own. Our pineapple plant guide explains the types of planting material, and how to plant a pineapple top shows how to start a new crown. Another tropical fruit with the same container routine is the dragon fruit, and our banana plant in a pot guide compares options for a bigger plant.
Frequently asked questions
Can you grow a pineapple plant in a pot?
Yes. CRFG says the small plant adapts well to container and greenhouse culture and makes an interesting potted plant. UF/IFAS recommends a 3- to 7-gallon container with drainage holes, placed in full sun.
What size pot does a pineapple plant need?
A 3- to 7-gallon pot for a full-size plant (UF/IFAS). UF/IFAS adds that a larger container allows a larger plant and fruit, and that a small one restricts both. Start a young plant in a smaller pot and move it up, and make sure every pot has drainage holes.
Can you grow a pineapple plant indoors?
Yes, for the winter. UF/IFAS says plants grown in containers may be taken inside when it turns cold. Put the pot in your brightest window, because UF/IFAS says plants grow best in full sun. A dim room will keep it alive but slow its growth.
How often should you water a potted pineapple plant?
Water when the mix has dried out, not on a fixed schedule. UF/IFAS says too much water applied too often causes root rot, and gives a rhythm for plants in the ground of every 6 or 7 days in hot, dry weather and every 10 to 14 days in cool winter months. A pot dries faster than the ground, so check the soil.
Will a potted pineapple plant fruit?
It can. CTAHR says a newly planted crown needs about 18 months to its first fruiting, and UF/IFAS says the whole cycle runs 18 to 24 months. It needs full sun, regular feeding, and a pot big enough to grow a mature plant.
Sources
- Pineapple Growing in the Florida Home Landscape (HS7/MG055), UF/IFAS Extension
- Pineapple Fruit Facts, California Rare Fruit Growers
- Pineapple Cultivation in Hawaii (F&N-7), CTAHR, University of Hawaii at Manoa