You may be right that I don’t use enough fertilizer, I usually do a bit in summer but I haven’t used any during the last 8 months. And I don’t know what the brown stripes on the leaves are about, but it doesn’t seem to stop the growth.

But I know that the leaves also produce some white waxy substance on the underside, which is probably what you’re seeing. It can be rubbed off. (Or at least I hope this is what I just rubbed off, lol.) The Pineapple manual (PDF) says it is to protect from moisture loss.

I don’t keep track, but I’d say about 3 years from store-bought pineapple (fruit with crown, cut off the bottom leaves) to flower.

I have harvested several already. I don’t know what I’m doing right, but I consistently get a flower and a fruit. I think it’s the warm and sunny location.

Anyway, here is what I do: Water every 2 weeks (pineapples are specialized to survive dryness and store water in their leaves, so not too much I guess). The tap water is a bit hard here, and I read you should filter it so I always do, but never tested without. Standard soil, a few stones as drainage in the bottom (I doubt this matters a lot). Do not put the plant on the balcony on a sunny summer day, when I did it wilted within 2 days and didn’t recover. I guess it really hates cool nights. The pot size has a big influence, the size in the photo seems to be optimal, with a smaller pot I get smaller leaves and a smaller fruit (600g instead of 1100g).

And before you take my advice, I should mention that many plants have wilted in my care at that window. Just not pineapples.

This is in Switzerland, near Zurich. Yes, sunny apartment. There is direct light from sunrise (left horizon on the photo) until 3pm or so (buildings block it on the other side).

I like Pl@ntNet. Except for the time it told me “Not a plant. Maybe fungi?” Technically correct, but…

The only thing I noticed is that the size of the pot has a huge effect on its growth.

Apart from that, I have no idea what I’m doing right. It may be the sunny, south-facing window. I have harvested several pineapple fruits over the years. They seem to be absolutely unstoppable and unkillable and predictable in their growth here. They don’t care about seasons (it’s snowing!). The only time I managed to kill one is when I put the pot outside in summer - it went bad in just three days.

Older photos: https://log2.ch/gal/ananas/