Norfolk Island pine

Norfolk Island pine: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Straight trunk with horizontal branches in tiers; indoors 1–2 m tall and up to 1 m wide.

Leaves

Fine, soft, awl-shaped needles about 1 cm long, bright green, densely set around the shoots.

Growth

Slow, usually one new tier of branches a year at the top.

Roots

A fine root system; it likes to be fairly snug in its pot.

Cones

Indoors it does not form cones; in the wild a mature tree bears large, round cones.

Plants: March–April

Why grow it?

• A symmetrical, evergreen houseplant that looks fresh all year.
• Suits cool, bright rooms, hallways and conservatories, where many other houseplants struggle.
• A lovely living Christmas tree that you simply keep after the holidays.
• Grows slowly and stays manageable for a long time.
• Soft needles that hardly prick.

Norfolk Island pine: where does it grow best?

• Bright light without fierce midday sun: close to an east- or west-facing window or in a bright conservatory.
• Fairly cool: room temperature in summer, 5–15 °C in winter.
• Humus-rich, slightly acid potting compost mixed with a little sand for good drainage.
• Moderately moist: do not let it dry out and do not leave water in the saucer.
• Enough space around it so the branches do not press against walls or furniture.

Light

Bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Moderately

Size

2 m tall, 1 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 5 °C

Goes well with

• Cyclamen: Also likes a cool, bright room in winter.
• Cast iron plant: A tough foliage plant that tolerates cool, less bright corners.
• Spider plant: Easy and tough, even in cooler rooms.
• Ivy: Trails nicely over the edge of a pot and also likes cool conditions.

Norfolk Island pine: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, every two to three years, when the roots fill the pot.
2. Choose a pot only slightly larger, with a drainage hole and a layer of gravel at the bottom.
3. Use humus-rich, slightly acid houseplant compost, perhaps with a little sand added.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before; do not bury the trunk any deeper.
5. Water afterwards and let the excess water drain away.
6. Do not repot large, older plants: replace the top layer of compost each spring instead.

Care

Water

Keep the compost lightly moist from spring to autumn. Water less in winter, but never let the root ball dry out completely.

Feeding

From April to August, half-strength feed for foliage houseplants once a month.

Humidity

In heated rooms, mist regularly or stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.

Turning

Give the pot a quarter turn every week so it grows straight and evenly.

Summer outdoors

From June to September it can stand outside in a sheltered spot in partial shade. Let it get used to the outdoor light gradually.

Tip: In winter, keep it in a cool, bright room at 5–15 °C and give the pot a quarter turn every week: that way it stays straight and keeps its lower branches.

Norfolk Island pine: when to prune it?

When: Norfolk Island pine is not pruned. Only remove dead branches, at any time of year.

How:

• Cut dead, brown lower branches off flush with the trunk.
• Never cut off the top: it will not form a new straight leader.
• Do not shorten side branches: they do not reshoot and stay bare.

Caution: Never cut off the top: the plant will not form a new straight leader and loses its symmetrical shape.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh seed in spring at 18–24 °C. This is rarely possible at home, as houseplants do not produce seed.

Separating

Shop-bought pots often contain several seedlings together. You can carefully separate them in spring and pot them up individually; only do this with young plants, as the roots are fragile.

Norfolk Island pine: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: it will not survive our winters outdoors.
• Ideal winter conditions: bright and cool, 5–15 °C, for example an unheated bedroom, hallway or frost-free conservatory.
• In a warm, dry living room it often loses its lower branches: mist regularly and keep it away from the heating.
• In winter, water less and do not feed.

Diseases and pests

• Brown, falling branches: Too warm and dry, too dark or dried out. Move it somewhere cooler and brighter and water regularly.
• Lopsided growth: It grows towards the light. Give the pot a quarter turn every week.
• Drooping branches: Too little light or too little water. Move it somewhere brighter and check the root ball.
• Mealybug: White, woolly tufts between the needles. Wipe them off with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol.
• Red spider mite: Fine webbing and discoloured needles in dry, warm air. Mist regularly and shower the plant.

Through the year

• January: Cool and bright, 5–15 °C. Little water.
• February: Keep cool. Little water.
• March: Repot if needed. Water more.
• April: Growth begins. Feed monthly.
• May: Feed. Give the pot a quarter turn every week.
• June: Optionally move outside to a sheltered spot in partial shade.
• July: Water and feed regularly.
• August: Last feed of the year.
• September: Bring indoors before the nights turn cold.
• October: Choose a cool, bright spot. Water less.
• December: Decorate lightly as a Christmas tree if you like, nothing heavy and away from the heating.

Did you know?

• Captain James Cook saw the trees on Norfolk Island in 1774 and hoped to use them for ship masts, but the timber proved unsuitable.
• The tree appears on the flag of Norfolk Island.
• A cutting taken from a side branch keeps growing horizontally: only the top grows into a straight tree.