Norfolk Island Pine
Araucaria heterophylla
Norfolk Island pine is a symmetrical evergreen with soft, tiered branches, sold in the US and UK as a living Christmas tree. Indoors it grows slowly into an elegant houseplant.
Photo: thinboyfatter · CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Bright indirect light, Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water when the top 3 cm of soil is dry.
Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic potting mix; pH 5.5–6.5.
Temperature and humidity
7–30 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed monthly in spring and summer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Do not cut the top; remove only dead lower branches.
May cause mild vomiting in cats and dogs if chewed.
Top Cultivation Tips
Turn weekly so it grows straight.
Dry air causes brown needles.
Decorate with lightweight ornaments only.
Outdoors only in frost-free climates.
Common problems
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →
