Help with a pineapple plant

I just bought a pineapple plant from Lowes for $2.00. I couldn't resist it, I've always wanted one but haven't sat down to make one myself from the store bought fruits. The plant doesn't seem to be in great condition, however. The fruit is ripe for the picking, but the trunk its on is withered and pretty much dead. If I remove the fruit and trunk, will the mother plant still grow? The mother plant has nice green leaves and seems healthy, but its showing no new growth. What is the best way to keep this plant growing? I'm sorry I don't have a picture.

The bromeliad forum would probably be the most help to you. The pineapple is in the bromeliad family.

I'm not a paid subscriber and don't have access to the Bromeliad forum.

The mother plant will probably produce babies around it's base if you keep it well fed and happy, It may not, but then you do have the baby to plant from the fruit...

Hey I have a pineapple plant, and its in a gallon pot, I have had 2 babies grow from it but no fruit, what do I do to get the fruit, do I put it in another pot i have had this plant for a couple of years.

My Mom always put ripe apples around it and in between the leaves. They are "supposed" to off-gas something that helps them remember to bloom. We also put our apple cores in between the leaves.

ok i have reserched pinaple plants a lot and here is a short version. you must cut the pinaple off of the mother plant the pinaple is totaly edible you must water the mother plant let it get dry not to dry before you water it if you do not take the fruit off when its ripe the mother plant will not do well now if the plant you got from lowes has rocks around it remove them quickly it is not good for the plant. the mother plant will no longer produce pinaples but will clone new babys that will when the babys get to a certian size and have some roots plant them in another pot remember the bigger the pot the bigger the fruit. the basbies once fully mature a couple of months to a yr will take up to two yrs to produce fruit sometimes three yrs i hope this helps you guys:)

Here's the link to Plant Files for the Pineapple Plant: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/803/
And another link with good information for care and culture of Pineapple Plants: http://mrpineappleplant.com/PineapplePlantCare.aspx

Hey just to update, my mother plant has died, but both baby plants are doing great, should I separate them, there pretty good size, Do they have to be rootbound to produce fruit, I know most flowers plants have to be rootbound to produce flowers, Im not too familiar with fruit plants though,Thanks for all the help