Feijoa (Pineapple guava) care

Light

Feijoa needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Fruits best in full sun, with at least 6 hours daily; it tolerates partial shade at the cost of yield. In hot inland areas some afternoon shade prevents stress, but ample light is needed for flowering and fruit set. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water feijoa when the top 4-5 cm of soil dries, roughly weekly in summer, less in cooler months. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Established plants are quite drought-tolerant, but consistent moisture during flowering and fruit development greatly improves fruit size and prevents premature drop. Avoid prolonged drought and avoid waterlogged soil.

Soil and pot

Feijoa grows best in well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil. Adaptable to sandy or loamy soils with good drainage, pH 5.5-7. Tolerates a range of soils including poorer ground, but performs best in fertile, moisture-retentive yet free-draining conditions. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Feijoa sits happiest at around 40-70% humidity and 15-30°C (59-86°F). Undemanding about humidity outdoors and copes with both coastal and dry-air conditions. Good airflow around the canopy helps reduce fungal issues in damp climates. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed feijoa sparingly. Feed in spring and again in early summer with a balanced fruit-tree or citrus fertiliser. Feijoa is not a heavy feeder; moderate, balanced nutrition supports steady growth and fruiting. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which favours foliage over fruit. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on feijoa in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Poor fruit set without a pollinator — Many feijoa cultivars are partly or wholly self-incompatible and need a second variety nearby plus pollinators (birds and bees). Plant two cultivars and encourage pollinators to improve cropping.
• Premature fruit drop — Fruit can drop early due to drought stress or irregular watering during development. Keep soil evenly moist through the fruiting period and mulch to buffer moisture swings.
• Scale and mealybugs — Sap-sucking scale and mealybugs may colonise stems and leaf undersides, sometimes with sooty mould. Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap and encourage natural predators.
• Fungal leaf spot in wet conditions — Damp, crowded canopies can develop leaf spotting. Prune to open the centre, improve airflow, and clear fallen debris.

Propagation

Seedlings are easy but variable and slow to fruit, so named cultivars are propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings (with rooting hormone and bottom heat), layering or grafting to stay true to type and crop sooner. Cuttings can be slow and benefit from misting. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Feijoa is mildly toxic to pets. Acca sellowiana is not clearly listed on the ASPCA Toxic/Non-Toxic Plants database, so treat its status as uncertain and verify with a vet. The ripe flesh is widely eaten and generally considered safe, but the seeds and leaves can contain cyanogenic compounds, and pets eating large amounts of seed or foliage may show GI upset; keep pets away from fallen fruit and prunings. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Feijoa deep-dive guides

Every aspect of feijoa care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Feijoa watering schedule
• Feijoa light requirements
• Best soil mix for feijoa
• Feijoa fertilizing guide
• When to repot feijoa
• How to propagate feijoa
• Feijoa growth rate & size
• Feijoa cold hardiness
• Feijoa temperature & humidity
• Is feijoa toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is feijoa toxic to cats?
• Is feijoa toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Feijoa qualifies for 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Feijoa is also known as Feijoa, Pineapple guava, and Guavasteen.

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• All 5561 plant care guides in the Growli library