Norfolk Pines

Norfolk Pines Care

Araucaria heterophylla

What is the plant

Norfolk Island Pines, simply called Star Pines or Norfolk Pines, are stately symmetrical evergreens that originated on the Norfolk Island of Australia. Many people use these as living Christmas trees.

Norfolk Pines come small enough to sit on a table and large enough to fill the corner of a large room with tall ceilings. When purchasing a Norfolk Pine as a houseplant, ensure that the plant has multiple trunks. This prevents it from looking bare and skinny as it grows taller. These plants are not considered poisonous, but if a child or pet eats the pine needles, it will cause severe stomach problems.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

5°C - 24°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Araucaria Heterophylla does not require a lot of moisture for its growth. Water the plant when the top inch (2.5 cm) of the soil feels dry. The Norfolk Pine will appreciate a slight boost in humidity during the winter months.
Pruning
You can propagate with seeds, cuttings, or by division. If you decide to divide the tree, examine how many stems are in your pot. That's how many trees you will be able to get afterward. For young plants, use your regular soil and water in the way mentioned before.
Fertilizer
Mix the recommended amount of liquid fertilizer and water in a watering can. Then simply pour the mix into the soil as if you're watering the plant.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
6 to 8 hours of filtered sun exposure is optimal. The plants like sunlight but will not tolerate a full day of it and need at least some hours of shade.
Soil
Norfolk Pine does best in conventional sandy potting soils that contain ingredients such as peat, manure, and black hummus. The mix should be well-draining and lightweight.
Propagation
You can propagate with seeds, cuttings, or by division. If you decide to divide the tree, examine how many stems are in your pot. That's how many trees you will be able to get afterward. For young plants, use your regular soil and water in the way mentioned before.

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Temperature
Norfolk Island Pines prefer temperatures between 60-75˚F (16-24˚C) but will survive temperatures as low as 40˚F (4.4˚C).
Container
When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) larger than the size of the root ball. Ceramic pots are porous, making your plants less likely to experience root rot from overwatering. It also means you'll have to water more often. Plastic pots are lighter, less likely to break, and easier to clean.
Fun fact
Norfolk Island pine is not an actual pine tree but rather a relative of the monkey puzzle tree and is often cultivated as a landscape tree.