this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2025
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It started growing the normal pineapple a couple months ago, and I just noticed this parasitic twin popping out out the side

What is happening? Is it a pup? @TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world

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[–] 667@lemmy.radio 17 points 3 weeks ago

This is the way pineapples grow.

[–] artifex@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 weeks ago

In south Florida you can literally stick a pineapple top in the ground, wait 5-7 years and get pineapples like this. They’re bromeliads so when not making a fruit they’ll make a new cane/stalk thing and grow out that way.

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This had never happened to me before, but I saw this on my neighbor's pineapple! He had two coming in kind of size by side. I think it's totally normal. Looks great!!

[–] dirthawker0@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks! I'm really enjoying watching this thing go.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If that pineapple is what you mean parasitic twin, then that's the way pineapple grow 😅

I remember the pineapple grower told me after harvesting this one, wait for a bit and there will be offshoot coming out from the side. Wait for it to grow a bit bigger then cut that thing from the base, peel off some of the leaf blade, and soak it in water(and change the water every two days or so) until the root grow, then plant that. He told me you will get fruit quicker than when you use the fruit's head. Cut off the original plant too, it won't fruit any more.

[–] dirthawker0@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Are you saying the growth on the side is a pup? Should I wait to cut it until after the fruit is ripe? Thanks

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I can't see any pup in this picture so i assume there might be one growing, but you can cut it if the size is big enough for you to propagate it, like maybe about 6 inch or so long, peel off some of the leaves at the base, soak the base in water until it root, then plant it.

[–] dirthawker0@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

See the leaf that's at the top right and is all blurry? Trace that down to where it meets the stalk. There the leaf splits in the middle and there's a bump growing. That's the thing I'm wondering about.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ohh! That's new to me. Maybe leave it and see what it is, i'm not sure what that bump is.

[–] BagOfHeavyStones@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

So swinging is natural after all.

[–] anthropomorphized@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Are they only supposed to have a single fruit/plant?

[–] MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Nope, pineapple plants (after fruiting) will produce multiple "pups" or offshoots from the base that'll each grow into new plants - it's how they naturaly propagate and why you'll often see clumps of them growing together in the wild.

[–] dirthawker0@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

See, that's why I'm confused, I thought pups grew from the base and this thing is near the top.

[–] Getting6409@piefed.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Pineapples got a few words for their offshoots. I'd guess because it's a commercial fruit. I've never seen this terminology applied to offshoots/sets for other bromeliads. Other bromeliad species also send out pups from different parts of the plants. There's some tillandsias and orthophytums that make offshoots from the flowering stalk. Here's a nice diagram of pineapple offshoots and their labels

[–] dirthawker0@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Very useful, thanks! So I guess this would be a slip? or maybe aerial sucker