How to Manage and ID Norfolk-island Pine
You might want to consider this coniferous tree as your next house plant. I have had several and used one several years back as my Christmas tree. I love Norfolk Island Pine or Araucaria heterophylla and have had one growing in my home for years. There are a few tricks to growing it successfully so read my management feature.
Extension Nursery Specialist Dr. Leonard Perry says: "If you want to invest in a houseplant with a future, buy a Norfolk Island pine. It requires minimal care, and because it grows slowly will remain small and attractive for many years indoors."
Horticulturist Rosie Lerner says: "The Norfolk Island pine has grown in popularity as a live indoor Christmas tree. Its lush green twigs of soft needles provide a lovely backdrop for festive holiday ornaments."
Norfolk Pine Photo - Wikimedia Commons/Kurt Steuber
Comments
I love my Norfolk Pine as a house plant.
Have been growing it sucessfully here in
Northern California. Minimal care!-Ann
I agree. Probably one of the most satisfying house plants I have ever grown. I like trees in the house…
Hi,
I have been trying to keep one alive for 4 yrs. now.
If the tips aren’t turning brown, the branches are sagging. Ikeep it out of the direct sun, water it weekly with miracle grow added to the water. What am I doing wrong? I can send a photo if you like.
THanks, Greg (Grafton, OHIO)
Greg,
I see several red flags! Your tree needs full sun on days that are comfortably above freezing or are less than 90 temp.
You also do not need to fertilize with MG every time you water. The tree only needs marginal food once or twice a year that is developed for conifers. I would also water much less often but wet until water drains from container.
You also should have repotted at least once and the pot should adequately drain. Any or all of these things can cause you problems…
Steve
Hello,
Hi Steve, thanks for your reply. I have tried keeping it in the sun, both north and south windows. When I do, it seems the tips of the branches turn brown (burned)? Also, this past week, all of the branches have drooped.
Thanks, Greg
Hello Steve…
Great column and information!!
I have a Norfolk Pine in my front yard in So California close to the beach. I have had it for about 30 years and is now approx 25-30 feet high. When it was about 15 foot, my gardener accidentally cut it to 6 foot tall…I was furious!! About 6 months later it started to grow again with two shooters going up and has gotten to be this tall. One of the arms or sides that was growing was leaning tooo far into my neighbors yard and asked me to cut it….I did about 1 month ago, and now there is one side cut at about 12-15 foot with the other at approx 25-35 foot tall. The tree
has always leaned a little towards the west setting sun, but still looks great!! I have been a little worried about the arms that are loosing many of the fingers from the branches as they are turning yellow and falling off. Also at the top I have noticed alot of round 4-5 inch round balls(heavy) with needles that fall off occaisionally as well. I love this tree as I planted it when it was approx 4″ in a tube of water…. Please advise what to do to ensure it will be allright for the future…
I’ve taken the little off shoot from my 6′ high norfolk island pine and replanted it.Both are outside trees. It gets the same treatment as the mother plant, but its branches seem to burn and droop. I’ve put it in a plastic bag, open a bit at the top, put it in a shadier place and spray it with water every day. Is this a good solution for those very hot days?
i recently acquired two norfolk island pine that are 8-10ft tall
i want them for indoor plants and need to know if i can prune them from the top to make them not as tall
if not or even so can i start new trees from existing trees
thank you
A number of my neighbors and I, about 3 years ago planted Norfolk Pines in our back yards here in Southern Texas. All of thetrees have done very well and we are all proud of our trees. However,all of the trees have come up as 3 or 4 trees rather than single trees. The question is, are we able to separate the trees at ground level and have the main tree still survive.
I live in Pennsylvania, and have a Norfolk pine for past 5 years. The tree is now approx 9ft tall. During the summer it sits on our deck and during the winter we bring it inside. What is the lower temperature range for our tree. Can it handle frost or 20 deg days outside in sheltered area?
Hello,
I live in Houston, Texas, and just purchased a Norfolk pine that is approximatly four feet high. Can I safety leave it on my balcony or does it need to come inside? Also, is this a toxic plant as I have house cats and dogs?
Thank you for any information you can provide. I have always yearned to have a Norfolk pine and just want it to thrive.
Best regards,
Pam
Hi All!
I live in Alabama and can’t keep a Norfolk pine out in winter. It is a semi-tropical conifer, is shade tolerant but needs warm toes. It can’t tolerate a frost…
I have a beautiful healthy norfolk island pine plant that is plagued with flies on it. They seem to be coming from the soil but I notice them on the trunk of the plant – what can I do to get rid of them – thanks! Kellie
I have been growing my Norfolk Pine indoors for 30 years. I have had it since elementry school and it is over 8 feet. I love it.
Congrats to all who have such good luck with their Norfolk pines. I’ve tried to grow them so many times over the past several years, but with little success. I got yet another one in early December, just a baby (about 15″ tall right now)in a 4″ plastic pot. It’s doing well I think except for one little branch at the bottom that has turned yellow – (this has always proved to be the start of their demise in the past.) Our house is kept on the cool side, but I find that the soil seems to dry out very quickly, so I’m watering it just about every other day. It gets a lot of light in my kitchen. I’ve also water-spritzed it to supply some humidity. My main questions are these. Should I transplant it into a larger container now? Any special potting mix? Should I fertilize it now? Thanks for your help.
I also have fingers falling off that are yellow and there is a large amount of sap falling out where they cut lower branches off. Such a dirty tree with these fingers falling off. What can be done? And the sap is really disgusting looking; it is pink and it makes the tree look alien! Is it diseased? I need to know as it is a huge tree and if it falls it will fall on my neighbors trailer. Please answer, sure would appreciate it. Thanks!