By John Green, Certified Texas Expert Gardener, Orange County TX
The needled branches of Norfolk Island Pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla) look at home during the holidays, especially when embellished with ornaments and ribbons! The tree when simply adorned and lighted provides a beautiful, eco-friendly holiday accent (image courtesy: capegazette.com).
Gardeners, yet another ‘frantic’ week has passed, and Christmas is rapidly approaching. Holiday shoppers are all about, and unfortunately so were we, getting to experience ‘firsthand’ grumpy shoppers (not me this time), long checkout lines, and humbling traffic patterns that were further confounded by road construction and plant expansions. Take a few minutes to calm down & prepare yourself before driving as there are many stressors which are going to test your patience, and this includes distracted drivers (be nice and don’t use gestures)!
Norfolk Island Pine trees are beautiful accent trees which grow well indoors. The needled branches of Norfolk Island Pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla), look at home during the holidays, especially when embellished with ornaments and ribbons! They can easily be decorated as Christmas trees and once the holidays have passed (hopefully, pleasant memories remain), the decorations removed, their classic appearance provides a ‘statuesque’ structure for any room but require bright light for optimal growth. Norfolk Island Pine trees are not deciduous which means they maintain needles year-round unless the trees become stressed. They are evergreen conifers but despite their resemblance, are not “true” pine trees. The trees are tropical with their native habitat originating in the South Pacific Islands (New Zealand, Australia, & New Caledonia).
Growing indoors, the tree is considered slow growing but over the course of a few years can reach 8 to 10 feet in height. The tree makes a wonderful accent to a kitchen counter, Livingroom end table, or mantle. As the tree grows larger, it is better situated as a floor plant used as a stand-alone focal point, to fill bright corners or flank large furniture. If faster growth is the goal, move the Norfolk Island Pine tree outdoors to a protected site which is shaded, or an area which receives morning sunlight. Since the tree is tropical, wait until the danger of frost has passed, then relocate the tree outdoors during warmer months, returning indoors before the initial frost.
The Norfolk Island Pine tree enjoys growing indoors when it receives medium to bright light. One of the most important things to remember is the tree’s light requirement-the less light it receives, the slower the tree will grow. Avoid low light situations since the tree will not perform well if it doesn’t receive enough light, becoming flimsy, unsightly, and lanky.
The watering requirements for Norfolk Island Pine trees are straight forward, they like evenly moist soil but do not like too much water or when the roots are standing in water “wet feet”. The tree’s roots can rot quickly if they remain standing in water. If the plant remains dry for long periods, the tips of its branches will die, turning brown. Fertilize the tree twice annually- once during the spring and again during the summer months, or more often if faster growth is preferred. Norfolk Island pines are low maintenance plants but do require some care. Use the following tips to maintain a beautiful tree almost effortlessly, year after year!
Growing Tips
Soil- if a tree is purchased during the holidays, remove the colored wrap (after the holidays have passed) as they retain water, meaning the tree will often suffer from root rot if left in place. Repot the tree using a high quality, peat-based potting soil mix adding perlite, sand, pebbles, or bark for increased drainage. Select a new pot with several large drainage holes at the base of the pot to ensure adequate drainage.
Light- is required for the Norfolk Island Pine tree to flourish indoors. Direct sunlight can severely damage the tree. Place the tree near a south-facing window as bright, indirect light is best. Norfolk Island pine trees enjoy high humidity, especially daily misting. This is always problematic for me as I never remember to mist the trees’, so another option to consider is purchasing an inexpensive humidifier (for gardeners like me who tend to forget this step).
Root Care- Norfolk Island pines are highly susceptible to root rot. If the needles begin to brown or the tree limbs wilt, immediately look at the tree’s roots as this is preventable with the correct soil mix. If root rot is noticed, remove the clumpy, rotten roots and rinse thoroughly with clean water and repot the remainder of the root system in a soil mixture which provides increased drainage.
Fertilizer- fertilize infrequently, unless faster growth is wanted. Keep in mind your young Norfolk Island pines want to grow—and grow very tall. These tropical trees are slow growers, so when the tree begins attaining heights beyond what is considered manageable, this would be the time to consider pruning it.
Pruning- is simple, cut the tree to a desirable height, discarding the top portion (or propagate), and then allowing it to grow again from that point. Consider trimming the upper branches at this point and leaving the lower branches intact for a more natural look.
Pests- Norfolk Island Pine trees are susceptible to insect infestation (just like all other plants). My preference is to utilize insecticidal soap or pesticide as needed, depending on pest infestation type: aphids, mealybugs, white flies, and many more, specifically following insecticide “intended use” guidelines.
Propagation- propagation of the tree is possible through seed germination and cuttings. Seeds should be purchased rather than using them from the tree itself. Cuttings must be taken from the tree’s trunk (center). Note: limb cuttings will not propagate.
Until next time fellow gardeners, let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener and more sustainable world, one Norfolk Island pine tree at a time! Please send your gardening questions to: jongreene57@gmail.com
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