How to Care for Ornamental Pineapple

Pot ornamental pineapples in a homemade soil mixture made up of 2 parts coir, 1 part loam and 1 part perlite. Make sure to position the plant with the base of the stalk 1/2 inch above the soil surface. Use a planter with multiple drainage holes.

Position ornamental pineapple plants where they will receive extremely bright, diffuse light for at least eight hours each day. Keep the plant sheltered from direct sun during the hottest part of the day. Provide supplemental light with a fluorescent lamp if a naturally bright location is not available.

Maintain temperatures above 68 F at all times. Never let temperatures fall below 60 F since the plant will go into shock and may not emerge from dormancy again. Protect the plant from cold drafts during the winter months since even a slight chill can damage it.

Water ornamental pineapples to a depth of 1 inch once a week during the growing season. Mist the foliage whenever you water the plant. Decrease water by half during the winter months, allowing only enough moisture to keep it from wilting.

Feed the ornamental pineapple plant once a month during the summer with 10-10-10 ratio fertilizer diluted by half. Follow the label instructions, but dilute the feed in twice the recommended amount of water. Water the plant thoroughly after feeding it.

Prune off damaged leaves as they appear throughout the year. Sever the leaf at its point of origin using pruning shears. Cut off the flower stalk once the flower wilts. Snip it off at the base.