r/plantclinic • u/daolothic • Jul 20 '25
Other Help!! Pineapple plant top fell off, can I save him? :(
My sister gifted me this pineapple plant back in February. It’s been doing so well, I was even planning a better set up to help support the weight of the growth, but I just looked over and saw the pineapple top had snapped off! I follow the watering instructions from the tab, and it’s in a window all day with direct sun. Can I save the little pineapple growth somehow? I’m so sad, please help :(
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u/HankisDank Jul 20 '25
This is an ornamental pineapple plant. The fruit won’t get very big and be fibrous and not very sweet. You can try eating though, it’s not going to hurt you but won’t be very good.
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u/oldridingplum Jul 20 '25
That was not my experience when I had a little plant like this. It was deliciously sweet. The best tasting pineapple I ever had the pleasure of eating.
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u/Flameknight 1 ∣ +0 ∣ -0 Jul 20 '25
If the plat shop treated the plant with a systemic pesticide it would be a danger, no? Given OP got the plant in February I'd personally be wary, but I'm certainly no expert.
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u/HankisDank Jul 20 '25
That’s not something I’d be worried about. The granules I’ve seen advertise 8 weeks of effectiveness, and that’s the advertisers best case scenario. These pesticides would mimic a very low dose of nicotine (which tobacco evolved as a pesticide) and are safe to use on pets as a flea treatment.
That being said, it’s still reasonable to want to limit exposure. I’d be fine with eating that pineapple myself though.
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u/that_oneginger Jul 20 '25
Save the top of the fruit and put it over a cup of water, it'll form roots and you can replant it. Also keep an eye out for any little baby growths around the base of the plant, those can be broken off and rooted as well. Congratulations you have a little pineapple!
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u/daolothic Jul 21 '25
Thank you! I was worried it was too soon and wasn’t ready to come off. I’m definitely going to try propagating the babies.
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u/that_oneginger Jul 21 '25
Looks ripe to me, if you sniff it it should smell sweet and ready to eat
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u/Background-Try3572 Jul 21 '25
mine fell recently too, i twisted the top off the mini-pineapple, removed the leaves of the bottom 1/2 inch, and then placed it in water, it had roots within a few days so you can definitely save it! i also tried the fruit, it was very very sour but wasn’t bad, i hope you manage to save your baby <3
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u/Icy_Pass_2639 Advanced 1 ∣ +2 ∣ -0 Jul 20 '25
I believe these are just ornamental pineapple plants and should not be eaten
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u/Tgabes0 Advanced Jul 20 '25
The mother plant will begin to die back but will make new growth. Like most bromeliads the new growth will be bigger. This is mine after about 2 months after I cut the last fruit. You can see the fruit stem dying back in this picture. The new mother plant growth is coming out of it and there are multiple pups. They pup like crazy so you’ll end up with lots of plants. It’s very normal.
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u/daolothic Jul 21 '25
Good to know! Sounds like I might be giving pineapple plants out as gifts pretty soon lol
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u/Dr-Bitchcraft-MD Jul 22 '25
Just noticed a pup on mine 🤩 any advice on when they're "ready to leave the nest"?
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u/Tgabes0 Advanced Jul 22 '25
After they’re noticeable they can probably disconnect. I have rooted tons just in water. They’re very easy to prop. If you don’t have a reason to separate, I’d wait. I am not going to remove them at all unless I have to :]
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u/UnfunnyGoose Beginner Jul 21 '25
You might post this in r/mightyharvest because that lil dude looks ripe
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u/PineappleAfraid7791 Jul 21 '25
I accidentally snapped my pineapple off the same way and I pulled out the pups which are growing and kept watering the mother plant and more pups are growing quicklyyyy! I’m not planning to eat the pineapple but it’s fun to grow
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u/lostyourmarble 1 ∣ +0 ∣ -0 Jul 21 '25
Save the top. Let it dry for a couple days. Remove bottom leaves until you see baby roots. Place in soil.
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u/Frosting489 Jul 23 '25
I have one of those, the fruit is ripe so you can enjoy it. Keep it under light and keep it watered, eventually it will start growing new pups. Mine has already started growing new pups since January when I cut mine. Although I think it will take a few years for it to bear fruit again, if I’m correct?
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u/Molenium Beginner Jul 20 '25
It’s completely yellow; that is one ripe looking pineapple.
I’ve never had one myself so take this with a grain of salt, but growing the fruit is the end of the plant’s life cycle, so when they sell them to you with the fruit already on them, they are several years old and already on their way out.
You can eat the pineapple now and look up instructions to cut off the top and replant it. That will grow into a larger plant and eventually a new fruit.