Anyone growing this fruit? I started about 6 plants a couple years ago and they have not done a thing. They grew a little but have turned sort of yellow and stopped growing. Needless to say, I've not gotten a single fruit. I think it may be my lousey soil in which little but weeds grows well. I took the tops from some grocery store pineapples and put them in water until they rooted. Then I put them in the ground. Now they are just something that has to be weeded.
My family were commercial pineapple growers over a hundred years ago, and I always keep a patch. From the sound of it, there may be something toxic for pine in your soil or water, cuz they are easy to grow. Almost an air plant, I grow them in plain black volcanic conders, a soiless medium. They like rainwater the best, heat and plenty of sun. They usually fruit in 1.5 years, but growing from a top is the slowest method. Fastest is from a stem slip, or side sprout ("ratoon"). Is it possible your soil ph is extreme? Possibly move them to a neutral medium, or add coral calcium aglime to adjust. I don't know the preferred ph offhand, I never throw lime on mine (and the rain is acid), just a little triple 16 to keep them advancing.
Thanks for the tips, Dendro. I've been meaning to check the soil ph. Dagga is about the only thing that grew ok in it. Some cactus I planted didn't do well either and they like basic soil so maybe it is too acid.
You rooted yours in water? Interesting.
I let mine callous over and then planted in soil, rooting them much like a cactus.
This was done while I was in South Carolina.
I had one in a planter that got very large, about 5 feet from tip to tip across the leaves.
I planted the large one and two smaller ones in the yard and eventually got fruit on the stalk that he larger one put out from the rosette and a couple of fruit pups, which caught me by surprise.
The fruit were tiny and worthless for eating, but they smelt great.
Alas, I think even your southern location is not warm enough year round to keep them happy enough to fruit.
But then again, maybe the soil is a lacking nutrient or has a pH issue.
Keep in mind, the plantations in Hawaii tkae 2 years to fruit from planting the tops.
I know people in my area who grow pineapple so I don't think it's the climate. We had a mild winter this year and they still are stunted and yellow. I think dendro's suggestion about checking the soil might bear fruit, so to speak.