Uses for pineapple bracts (skin) and crown:

-Use the crown to plant in a pot.
To remove pineapple crown, you may twist off crown. Leave 8 to 10 leaves and place root side in water. Or you may cut off crown and let it rest for 48 hours. Place root side of crown in pot with 1/2 sand, 1/2 peat moss, and a handful of rinsed and dried coffee grounds for acidity. Spray diluted fertilizer into crown. Keep soil moist and trim brown tips.

-Cut the pineapple.
Stand pineapple up and slice bracts about an inch deep evenly from top to bottom. Set bracts aside. Cut pineapple into wedges or bite size pieces and serve. Discard core.

-Make a dried pineapple lei.
In a bowl, break bracts apart. Get your needle and thread; make it about 50 inches long. String your lei. Poke the center of the bracts with the needle. You can add color beads to the lei as well or ribbons, too. Tie ends together. Hang the finished lei for about 2 to 4 days to dry completely. It will turn brown but you'll have your color beads in them or you can add a ribbon to it. This lei will last indefinitely.

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