Araucaria Heterophylla

Norfolk Island pine is a festive-holiday, easy to care for houseplant plant you can enjoy all year long! During the holidays, its needled branches look right at home decorated as a Christmas tree. A Norfolk Island Pine is also on NASA’s air-purifying list of houseplants that clean the air in your home. Although it’s called Norfolk Island pine, it actually isn’t a pine at all. This stately tree is a tropical plant native to the South Pacific. Indoors, it’s relatively slow-growing, but over several years, this plant can grow to 6 feet tall or more. If you want to encourage faster growth, move it outdoors to a shaded or partly shaded spot during the Summer. Wait until all dangers of frost have passed before moving it out and bring it back in before the first frost in Fall.

Norfolk Island Pines require very bright, indirect light and sometimes direct sun. The bottom branches will start to fall off if the plant doesn’t get enough light.

Norfolk Island Pines are somewhat drought-tolerant, so they are forgiving where water is concerned. It’s a good idea to let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. Keep an eye on the needles. If the needles turn yellow, the plant needs more water.

Feed only once a month during the Spring and Summer months with a well-balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the recommended strength. No fertilizer is necessary during the Winter when the plant growth naturally slows down.

Norfolk Island Pine’s love high humidity. Dry air causes the needles to fall off. Keep a Norfolk Island Pine away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents and heating vents.

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