Olimar gets Pikmin by bringing pellets , a type of food , and bad guys to an Onion , which is the Pikmin 's ship . The Onions play a vital role in Pikmin reproduction : When any food , such as prey or pellets , is delivered to an Onion , it propagates seeds , which grow and are then plucked from the ground as fully-developed Pikmin . An Onion also serves as an incubator for all Pikmin of its color , housing potentially hundreds of Pikmin .