Norfolk Island Pine

Heather O'Neil

The Norfolk Island Pine, while not a true pine, really is a tree and it does come from Norfolk Island.  Norfolk Island is an
island in the South Pacific located between New Caledonia and Australia.  Captain Cook discovered Norfolk Island on one of his voyages through the Pacific in 1774.  When he landed he found that the island was home to an abundance of beautiful tall, green, pines.  Captain Cook brought specimens of this lovely evergreen back home with him to England and thanks to him we are enjoying it, in our homes, to this very day. 

When you go to the nursery and purchase a Norfolk Island Pine, you are not buying a houseplant, although your tree will be used as one.  What you are getting is actually a baby tree.  If it were grown outdoors in it's natural habitat, it would eventually reach a height of 200 feet with a trunk measuring 10 plus feet across.  Fortunately the Norfolk Island Pine is a very slow grower  -  4 to 6 inches per year - and it will be many years before you have to worry about raising the roof to accommodate your tree. This wonderful tree can, under good conditions, reach an indoor height of 20 feet and outlive several generations of your family so it is a great investment for the future.


Managing your tree:

Light: Good filtered light is best for your plant.  Avoid direct sunlight. While the Norfolk does like it bright, direct sun,
especially that which comes through a window, will dry out  and burn the delicate needles. An eastern or western exposure is best.

Temperature:  Night-time temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and day-time temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees are
best for Norfolk Island pines, but they can tolerate temperatures as low as 45 degrees and as high as 85 degrees.

Humidity:  Although the Norfolk pine will tolerate normal household humidity, it would prefer to have the humidity a bit
higher.  Misting is a good way to bring a little extra moisture to your tree.  Mist lightly every second or third day.

Water: Water your plant thoroughly when the top layer of soil is dry, allowing the water to run through the pot and pool into the saucer.  After 15 minutes, drain off the saucer water completely.  The Norfolk Island pine doesn't like to have it's feet wet for very long.  To guard against over-watering, always make sure the top inch of soil is dry before watering.

Soil:  The ideal soil is 1 part  garden loam, 1 part coarse sand or Perlite, 1 part sphagnum peat moss. However, my Norfolk has been growing along quite nicely for the past 5 years,  in ordinary black potting soil.  As long as the soil is not too dense or packed and there is adequate drainage, your tree will be quite happy.

Fertilizer: Your tree should be fertilized during the growing season only - March to September.  Use a good quality, liquid
fertilizer, dilute with water as per package directions and feed once every three weeks.  Do not over feed or your branches will start to fall off.

Flowers: The Norfolk Island pine produces cones similar to other pine trees.  Trees that are cultivated as houseplants seldom produce any cones.

Repotting:  Your tree will not appreciate being repotted often.  Repotting every 3 years is usually sufficient.  If you see a piece of root growing out of one of the drain holes, that is a pretty good sign that your tree would like a larger home.   When repotting, use the largest container that is practical for your space.  That way you will not have to repot as often.

Propagation:  Seeds, cuttings.  It is unlikely that your tree will every produce cones and since cuttings will damage the
symmetrical look of the tree and are remarkably difficult to root anyway, the recommended method of obtaining another tree is to go out and buy one. 


Problems:

Leaf scorch:  Caused by too much direct sunlight and not enough humidity.  Move to indirect sun and mist plant every other day.

Leaf drop: If you tree gets too dry, the leaves with fall off and the branches turn brown and brittle. Water more frequently and mist several times a week.

Root Rot:   Wet soil, as well as age, may cause the lower limbs to drop off and, in severe cases cause the roots to rot.  Once you have root rot it is very hard to correct the problem and you are better off trying again with a new plant.

Spider mites: Wash with soapy water and apply miticide.


Comments: 

This tree does not replace dropped branched or damaged tops.  If you are going to use it as a living Christmas Tree, be kind and only use light weight ornaments and tinsel.  Do not use lights as the heat, even a little of it, will dry out the delicate needles.  Spraying with artificial snow is also not recommended as it can kill your tree.