The Norfolk Island Pine originates from Norfolk Island located in the South Pacific Ocean, between New Caledonia and New Zealand. In nature these beauties can grow up to 200 feet, but as a houseplant they grow up to 6 feet. Here in Canada, these trees are houseplants and a customer favourite during the holiday season.
The branches are in tiers leaving a good amount of room for ornaments and decorations. Norfolks make a wonderful holiday gift, as they live much longer than a poinsettia and they are not messy unlike some other pines.
A bonus to owning a Norfolk pine is that they are air purifiers, research by NASA showed that the Norfolk can remove harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air.
These trees are great beginner houseplants, and very easy to care for. Norfolks thrive in medium to bright light. From October to January, allow the surface of the soil to dry between waterings, as for February to September they like evenly moist soil. Lower branches will drop if the soil gets too dry or more light is needed.
Misting benefits the Norfolk pine, as well as fertilizing every two weeks with Art Knapp 20-20-20 during their active growing months between February and September. Repotting should only take place every 2-3 years, as they like to be root bound.
A common question is if Norfolks can be planted outside, and the answer is no because they do not like the cold. During the summer months they can be placed outside in a shaded area, but need to be transitioned back inside before frost occurs. If the Norfolk is happy in its location expect 6 inches of growth per year, with no pruning needed. The Norfolk Island Pine is not only a living Christmas tree, but also brings its beauty to your home during all seasons.
