How to Grow and Care for Variegated Pineapple Bromeliads

Ananas comosus var. variegatus

Variegated pineapple, Ananas comosus var. variegatus, (syn. A. comosus var. comosus) is an ornamental evergreen perennial in the Bromeliad family suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

Sometimes listed as A. comosus ‘Variegatus,’ this species displays striking multicolored, sword-like foliage, red or purple flowers, and decorative but unappetizing pineapples that are more fibrous than their edible counterparts and less juicy.

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In our guide to growing pineapples, we cover how to cultivate the tasty fruits in your landscape.

Read on to learn how to grow and care for variegated pineapple in-ground and in containers.

Here’s the lineup:

Ornamental variegated pineapples and their edible cousins are terrestrial bromeliads.

Unlike epiphytic bromeliads that grow benignly on rocks or trees, like Spanish moss, pineapples grow in soil.

They are endemic to South America, and our subject species is most prevalent in Brazil.

These plants offer gardeners much visual appeal, with showy, leathery, variegated gray, green, pink, red, white, and yellow sword-like leaves with prominent spines along the edges.

In the summer, an inflorescence rises from the basal clump of boldly hued foliage.

Historically speaking, pineapples were transported from South America to the Caribbean Islands. In 1493 explorer Christopher Columbus encountered them on his “New World” voyage.

By the 1600s, worldwide exportation was underway via the mapped waterways. Today, edible and ornamental pineapples make up a large commercial market.

How to Grow

For those in Zones 10 to 12, variegated pineapple performs exceptionally well when mass-planted in borders and drifts.

It is also an eye-catching standalone specimen in beds, borders, and containers.

Growers outside Zones 10 to 12 can enjoy it as a tropical houseplant that remains indoors year-round or spends summers outside.

Light

Select a location with full morning sun and shady afternoons for the most vibrant foliage outdoors.

Houseplants do best with bright, indirect sunlight.

Soil

In-ground specimens do best with sandy loam that is organically rich and drains well. The pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, 6.1 to 7.8.

For growing in containers, use a soil mix containing organically-rich peat or compost and perlite or vermiculite for nutrients, moisture retention, and optimal drainage.

Premium Potting Soil

I recommend Premium Potting Soil that is available from the Midwest Hearth Store via Amazon.

This product contains the basics: peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, all you need for airy, non-compacting soil that is moisture-retentive, nutrient-dense, and well-draining.

Do not use a product formulated for bromeliads as these are generally soilless substrates for epiphytes, not terrestrials.

Water

Water in-ground specimens in the absence of rain to supply about an inch of moisture per week.

For containers, let the pot almost dry out before watering again. You can use a moisture meter as a guide.

Humidity and Temperature

Indoor pots in dry environments with humidity less than 30 percent may benefit from resting on a bed of pebbles and water to raise the ambient moisture.

The ideal temperature range is 70 to 86°F. When nighttime temperatures drop to 60°F, bring outdoor pots inside for the winter.

Fertilizing

Because variegated pineapples need to be grown in fertile soil, great amounts of fertilizer are not necessary.

In-ground plants benefit from a single application of all-purpose, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring.

For indoor and outdoor containers, apply half-strength all-purpose liquid houseplant food once in the spring and again in the summer.

Dr. Earth Pump and Grow is an excellent product with an NPK ratio of 1-1-1. It’s ideal for feeding your container-grown variegated pineapples.

Dr. Earth Pump and Grow

You can find this product available from Arbico Organics.

Discontinue feeding during the fall and winter.

Maintenance

As the leaves have sharp spines and the foliage is toxic, handling plants with impermeable garden gloves is a good idea.

Unlike woody perennials, there is little to do in the way of routine pruning. However, you may have to snip off foliage damaged or adversely affected by pests or pathogens.

When the pineapples begin to wither and no longer look attractive, remove entire stalks by cutting them off as near the point of origin as possible without damaging foliage.

Bring outdoor pots indoors when the nighttime temperature dips below 60°F.

Where to Buy

It’s easier to find plants if you live in one of the growing zones for which it is appropriate and shop in a local nursery.

However, sometimes you can find them available online.

‘Sweet Stripes’

‘Sweet Stripes’ is a cultivar that grows up to 36 inches tall and produces edible fruit.

You can find plants available in three-inch containers from Wellspring Gardens via Walmart.

Propagation

You are unlikely to find seeds for ornamental pineapple plants. If you do, they may or may not be viable and germination is slow.

Fortunately, there are better ways to propagate, including with a basal offset, crown cutting, side shoot cutting, or nursery start.

Let’s discuss.

From Basal Offsets

At the base of each fruit, you’ll see baby plants called “offsets” or “pups.” These can be removed and planted or potted up.

Snip them off as close to their point of origin as possible. Let the severed end dry out for a few days in a cool, dry location to form a callus.

Once it has a dry callus at the base, prepare a pot.

1. Fill a porous terra cotta pot two inches wider than the offset base three-quarters full of sandy, organically rich, well-draining potting soil.
2. Moisten the soil.
3. Snip off the lowest leaves so you have a bare stem about an inch long. You should see brown root nodes or tiny white root buds protruding from it.
4. Set the offset deep enough to cover the root nodes with the leaves just above the soil level.
5. Backfill to hold the offset upright.
6. Place the pot in bright, indirect sunlight in a room at 70°F. If necessary, use a heat mat.
7. Maintain even moisture without oversaturation.

The growth of new foliage indicates successful rooting.

From Crown Cuttings

Cut through the fruit just below the whorl of foliage on top.

Cut away the fruit portion and lower leaves to reveal a bare one-inch stem with visible brown root nodes.

Place the pineapple top on a clear glass containing enough water to submerge the bare stem while the leaves rest on the rim.

Continue to provide bright, indirect sunlight and maintain even moisture.

Learn more about this method here.

Transplanting

A sprouted offset or cutting, or a nursery start, are suitable for transplanting to the garden in conducive climates or containers two inches wider than the root mass.

The roots are shallow, so standard pot depths are acceptable.

For in-ground growing, prepare the soil to a depth and width twice the size of the container the plant is currently growing in.

Set the entire contents of the pot at the same depth as in the original container.

Managing Pests and Disease

Sapsucking pests feed on plant juices, causing foliar anomalies including defoliation, deformity, desiccation, discoloration, and overall stunting and poor health.

Indoor pots in dry environments with humidity below 30 percent are the most susceptible. Likely culprits include:

In addition to pests that feed on foliage, some nematode species feed on roots.

In the event of a sapsucker infestation, use a firm spray with a hose or faucet to dislodge as many visible insects as possible.

Remove and dispose of damaged plant material.

Follow with an application of neem oil, an organic product made from the fruits of the neem tree.

Bonide Neem Oil

Bonide® Neem Oil is available from Arbico Organics in quart- or gallon-sized ready-to-use sprays and a pint-sized concentrate.

Use neem oil per package instructions for sapsucker prevention and control.

Inhibit outbreaks by increasing the ambient humidity around a plant using a humidifier or bed of moist pebbles beneath the pot.

Disease

While not prone to disease, there is one to keep an eye out for, especially during overly wet conditions.

Avoid overwatering or allowing pots to remain in standing water in drip saucers, and provide optimal airflow by spacing plants sufficiently.

A Tropical Vibe

The variegated pineapple’s miniature fruits and colorful, sword-like foliage make it an outstanding focal point in outdoor and indoor living spaces.

Provide bright, indirect sunlight, rich, well-draining soil, and moderate moisture without oversaturation.

Take out your garden planner and add variegated pineapple for irresistibly whimsical flora with a refreshingly tropical vibe.

Do you grow variegated pineapple at your house? Please tell us about it in the comments section below.

And if you’d like to read more about growing plants in the bromeliad family, we recommend the following guides next: