The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Pineapple lilyis a flower bulb but it is not apineappleor atrue lily.
Pineapple Lily Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a pineapple lily.
Light
Pineapple lilies grow and bloom best in full sun.
‘Aloha Lily Leia’ Pineapple LilyLijuan Guo Photography/Getty Images
In southern gardens, some afternoon shade may help to prevent foliage from browning due to strong sunlight.
Water
Water your pineapple lilies when the soil surface feels dry.
However, stop watering them in the fall, as keeping the bulbs dry during the winter is essential.
‘Joys Purple’ Pineapple LilyChris Burrows/Getty Images
Temperature and Humidity
Pineapple lilies don’t grow well in cool weather.
Temperatures over 65 degrees Fahrenheit will signal the plants that it’s time to grow.
Dig up your bulbs in the fall to store them inside if you live north of zone 7.
‘Cornwood’ Pineapple LilyChris Burrows/Getty Images
The plants tolerate all humidity types, as long as the soil itself isn’t soggy.
Fertilizer
A balancedflower fertilizerevery two weeks will help your pineapple lilies grow large and vigorous.
Plants that are fertilized are also more likely to produce offsets.
For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
Replant the original bulb.
Pineapple lilies also can be propagated from leaf cuttings.
Plant three to five bulbs in a 12-inch diameter pot.
Choose chunky or coarse potting mix and a container with adequate drainage holes.
Do not place a dish that collects water under the pot;use pot feetto let water drain away.
Overwintering
Keeping bulbs dry during winter dormancy is important to plant survival.
Remove them naturally with a blast of water.
How to Get Pineapple Lily to Bloom
How Long Does Pineapple Lily Bloom?
The flowering begins at the bottom of the stalk and proceeds upward.
What Do Pineapple Lily Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The tiny, delicate flowers are greenish-white tinged with purple.
Caring for Pineapple Lily After It Blooms
Pineapple lilies don’t require much care after blooming.
Cut spent flower heads if they look messy.
Remove dead leaves in the fall.
Remove bulbs and dry them off for winter storage.
Watch for these issues:
Drooping, Wilting Leaves
The plant may be overwatered.
A more advanced sign of overwatering the pineapple lily is yellowing leaves.
The base of the plant may begin to blacken, as well, when there are overwatering problems.
Pair pineapple lilies with other South African ornamentals, likeagapanthus,pelargoniums, or nemesia.
However, the bromeliad is an epiphyte and does not need soil to grow.
Bromeliads have a longer blooming time than pineapple lilies, but after blooming, the plant dies.
Bromeliads are also very frost sensitive and cannot survive outdoors below zone 10. confirm to move it around during the day to capture the sunniest spot possible.
Eucomis comosa.Missouri Botanical Garden.
