Monkey Puzzle Plant

Monkey Puzzle Plant Care

Araucaria araucana

What is the plant

The national tree of Chile, the Monkey Puzzle tree, shares many characteristics with ancient species and has become a popular garden plant. It particularly distinguishes itself with irregular prehistoric-looking physical traits, namely, massive arching branches and symmetry.

Araucaria araucana, also known as Monkey Puzzle or Chilean Pine, is an evergreen tree, the hardiest species of conifers in the Araucaria genus. The age of its fossilized cones, extracted from sedimentary rocks, is estimated at 100-200 million years. Native to Chile and Argentina, it can grow up to 80 feet (24 m) in its natural habitat. The name Araucaria comes from the name of the Chilean Arauco Province.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

8°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

7a - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
The A. araucana needs abundant watering in the spring and summer, and in winter, it is enough to keep the soil moist.
Pruning
Carefully remove yellowing pine needles as they appear.
Fertilizer
The main fertilizer during planting or active growth is well-rotted organic matter, 11-33 lbs (5-15 kg) per plant. In summer, add 0,17 fl oz (5 ml) of liquid complex fertilizer per bucket to the water for irrigation once a month.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Chilean Monkey Puzzle is light-loving; it grows well only in full sun. Allocate the Monkey Puzzle tree indoors in a well-lit place with diffused light, protected from direct sunlight.
Soil
Use a mixture of soddy soil, peat, and sand. The soil should be evenly moist and slightly acidic to ensure the tree’s growth, although pretty much any well-drained soil type will do.
Propagation
Seeds and cuttings can carry out propagation. In March, place a few seeds in a small pot 3-6 in (8-10 cm) in diameter with seed soil in a cool room. It is also possible to cut an apical shoot in July and plant it in a mixture of peat and sand for rooting.

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Temperature
Adult specimens tolerate low winter temperatures below −4 °F (−20 °C) well, while young plants are sensitive to cold, so they should remain in a protected place for 2-3 years. At temperatures above 68 °F (20 °C) in summer, ensure good ventilation in the room.
Container
To grow this unusual exotic plant, first get a spacious pot 8-9 in (20-25 cm) large, then choose a tub.
Fun fact
The Mapuche Native American tribe believes that the tree is sacred, which is not surprising, and this fact only accentuates how fragile is the beauty of this species.

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Additional
Monkey Puzzle indoors do not like to be moved.
Popularity
877 people already have this plant 209 people have added this plant to their wishlists