• You can grow a pineapple plant at home.Close up of a single growing pineapple fruit image by Paolo Frangiolli from Fotolia.com
  
  Hundreds of years ago, Caribbean Indians put pineapples outside their homes as a symbol of friendship and hospitality. Some people still use the pineapple motif on their doorway or somewhere outside the home to welcome guests. With the proper conditions and care, you can grow this tropical plant indoors in a pot, or even outdoors if you live in a temperate zone. It should take your plant anywhere from 20 months to three years to produce a ripe pineapple.
  
  

Plant the Crown

• Cut the crown off a pineapple about 1/2 inch below the leaves, and take off any remaining fruit. Cut the crown's bottom until you see root buds. Put the crown upside down in a shady, dry place for five to seven days before you plant. According to the Pineapple Research Institute of Hawaii, this helps prevent rot.
  
  

Outdoor Planting

• Pineapples need a well-drained sandy soil with a high content of organic matter. Soil needs to have sufficient acid, or you need to treat the soil with sulfur. The plant cannot tolerate being waterlogged, according to Purdue University's Center for New Crops and Plant Research.
  
  

Indoor Planting

• When planting indoors, start your plant in an 8-inch diameter, red clay pot. Keep the plant moist, but not wet, during the rooting period. Place the pot in bright, indirect sunlight. When it outgrows that pot, transfer the plant to a 12-inch pot. That is the largest size you will need. Improve drainage by putting a curved piece of broken pot on the bottom of your pot, top with gravel, and then add soil.
  
  

Fertilize

• You should fertilize indoor pineapple plants every two to three months with plant food that you scatter on the soil's surface. You can also use a liquid fertilizer, following the directions for small shrubs on the product label. Outdoor pineapple plants like a fertilizer with nitrogen, according to Purdue University.
  
  

Moving Your Plant

• If you live in a cold climate, you can only grow a pineapple plant indoors because frost or freezing temperatures will kill it, according to the Pineapple Research Institute of Hawaii. You should move your plant outside during the warmer months and bring it in when the weather turns colder in the fall. When you do move your plant outside, put it in a shady spot for a few days to prevent the sun scald.
  
  

Pest Control

• Pineapple plants are susceptible to certain pests, such as mealybugs and mites. You can treat the leaves with soapy water and rinse or spray your plant with an insecticide.