A woman plants pineapples on a baking sheet

Growing plants indoors is advantageous because they help purify the air and studies have shown that greenery can help improve one’s mental state. However, not all plants are aesthetically pleasing. Interestingly, One woman found an adorable way to grow air plants into the shape of a pineapple. 

Pineapple Plants Made with Clay

A woman shared a cute hack she found for growing air plants into the shape of pineapples. She purchased Sculpey oven-bake clay, which comes with 5 sheets. Firstly, she cut them in half, giving her 10 sheets to work with. 

Read More: 4 Houseplants You Can Easily Propagate From Cuttings

Steps to Make the Craft

Secondly, she began to “knead” each sheet until it became pliable. Next, she shaped each sheet into an oval with a flat bottom and then hollowed out the center. Children can do this with a plastic knife and adult supervision. Or by an adult using a standard knife. Either way, the goal is to create a fitted alcove or opening for the plant. Lastly, she used a toothpick to poke holes and draw x’s, giving the appearance of a pineapple. 

Painting the Final Touches

The final step is to bake the clay and then let it cool before painting pineapple colors. She explains that she used metallic gold to paint the pineapples, starting with the inside. Once it has dried, she adds a dash of brown satin paint everywhere on the pineapple but quickly removes it to “leave the detailed markings more visible.”

Edible Produce Indoors

Although growing plants in the shape of pineapples or other fruits and vegetables can be fun and decorative, it turns out you can grow actual fruit and vegetables indoors. Remember that like people, some plants have different needs than others. So, it’s best to research a few things like how specific plants respond to certain conditions, how much water or light they’ll need, and to which pests or diseases they’re susceptible. However, here are a few tips to ensure healthy, nutrient-rich produce and a few options that can easily be grown indoors. 

Caring for Indoor Produce Like Pineapples

First and foremost, fresh soil and clean pots prevent diseases or pests like spider mites. You’ll likely have to check indoor plants continually as they grow because even indoor plants are susceptible to certain pests. Additionally, plants need room to grow. As such, they must have plenty of space and support. For example, thriving tomato plants often need stick-like supports to prevent drooping or breaking. 

Plants Crave Light

Light is one of the most basic, and important, elements to growing produce indoors or year-round. It’s ideal if you have a large window that faces the sun most of the day. Alternatively, you can buy LED lights or a shelving unit with built-in grow lights. Moreover, some lights and shelving units can be run on a timer so plants get plenty of light without overdoing it and you don’t have to keep track. Either way, it’s recommended that plants get direct light for around 12 hours a day. Note that your light time may differ significantly if you live somewhere with intense sun, like Arizona or New Mexico.

More Watering

Water is another important factor for growing plants, but how you water them may matter more. For example, vegetables need more water than typical houseplants, especially pineapple-shaped air plants, which hardly require water. They should be evenly damp but not saturated. Furthermore, you can ensure this by allowing produce plants to drain fully.

Read More: 15 Medicinal Plants That Can Easily Be Grown In Your Yard

Assist with Pollination

Next, plants need to be pollinated, which becomes a difficult task indoors as there aren’t likely butterflies or bees flying inside. Luckily plants can be pollinated using a brush and a tiny massage. For instance, growing strawberries will require you to “catch some of its own pollen on a small artist’s brush and brush it into the center of the flower,” according to Family Handyman. Meanwhile, cucumbers need their pollen removed from the male flower, “attached by a thin stem, then brush the pollen onto a female flower. Female flowers have a little bulge at the base that will become the cucumber.”

Grow a Pineapple Inside

Lastly, plants require nutrition but fruits and vegetables grow faster than house plants, depleting the soil more quickly. Therefore, frequently fertilizing food-growing plants is recommended. Here are some ideas for foods that can be grown indoors. While it is possible to grow the pineapple plant indoors, it won’t be easy to produce the fruit because the trees need about 6-by-6 feet of room to grow before they start producing large tasty fruit. Luckily, there is a way to grow fresh pineappl indoors but it’s not from the plant.

Grow Pineapple From Pineapple

Instead, chop the green part, and about an inch of fruit, off of a fresh pineapple. Next, set it aside to dry. After it has dried, plant it in a pot with “well-draining soil.” Be sure to water it regularly, and keep it in dircet light. Furthermore, keep the climate as consistently warm as possible as pineapples thrive in tropical regions. Consequently, regular misting may also prove advantageous.

Citrus Can Be Year-Round

Similarly, citrus fruits can be grown inside and enjoy the warmth. As such, they should be planted in pots and put in front of a window or grow-light. Interestingly, several varieties of citrus are “self-pollinating” such as Meyer Lemons. Moreover, the trees and fruit will have a mouthwatering and refreshing scent to naturally freshen the air.

Bananas

Bananas are another fruit easily grown indoors. However, they’ll face a similar problem as the pineapples. Bananas need room to grow. Fortunately, dwarf banana trees can be purchased online. Additionally, they, too, enjoy humid and warm climates so regular misting and warm temperatures are recommended.

Veggies to Plant Indoors

The squash plant will grow into a bush so it requires a large area of space. Corners of rooms are recommended and warm climates help yeild the best results. You can start from scratch using seeds from zucchini, pattypan, butternut, or acorn squash. Let them dry and plant them. Alternatively, some squash plants can be bought online or in the garden section of your local supermarkets.

Lastly, Peas Can Be an Indoor Plant

Dwarf peas. sweet peas, and snow peas are among the easiest foods to grow. They don’t require much care, only a watering every other week, maybe more for hotter areas. They will require supports but are small so they won’t need much.

Creative Pineapples

It’s great news that pineapples and other produce can be grown indoors but the adorable idea first mentioned is a great way to incorporate low-maintenance, air purifying plants into your home. Furthermore, they make great gifts or decor for a festive summer party or bridal shower and are a fun activity to do as a family on a rainy day indoors.

Read More: Use These 5 Plants to Help Calm Your Nerves and Have a More Restful Sleep