Norfolk Island Pine Care - Easy Care Tips

Welcome to our guide to Norfolk Island Pine care. The key is to water them regularly to avoid pines dropping.

Norfolk Island Pine Care Summary

Light needs:	Indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Let the soil dry out before watering again.
Fertilizer:	Balanced fertilizer monthly in summer.
Soil:	Well draining peat-based potting compost.
Humidity:	High household humidity levels, mist them.
Temperature:	10°C to 20°C (50°F-68°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Other names:	Norfolk Island pine, Norfolk pine, Araucaria heterophylla, A. excelsa.
Common issues:	Drooping from under watering and root rot from over watering.

Intro

Norfolk Island pine aka Araucaria heterophylla is originally from, yes you guessed it(!), Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean. They actually make great indoor houseplants. Welcome to our guide to Norfolk Island Pine Care.

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

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Light Needs

Norfolk Island Pines love good indirect sunlight, so put them in a bright spot in your home.

Tip: they love light! Give them as much as you can, some direct sun is ok too.

How Often to Water A Norfolk Island Pine

Let the soil dry out before you water this pine. Which will mean every 1 or 2 weeks in growing months.

Fertilizer

In the summer use a balanced fertilizer every other watering.

Soil

A well draining peat-based potting compost will suit your Norfolk Island Pine well. They do not like to sit in waterlogged soil.

When To Repot A Norfolk Island Pine

You probably won’t need to repot the plant very often but when you do, repot in spring up one pot size.

Humidity

Norfolk pines like relatively high household humidity levels. You can spray them every time you water the, but it is best to put them in a higher humidity room, even putting them near other plants will increase the humidity levels.

Temperature

These plants do not like heat, or freezing cold, so a range of 10°C to 20°C (50°F-68°F) is good for them.

How To Propagate Norfolk Island Pine

You can propagate them from cuttings or seeds. The seeds root fairly quickly. With both methods use soil as the rooting medium and cover in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high until roots are established.

Norfolk Island Pine Vs Monkey Puzzle Tree

They are related to each other, the monkey puzzle tree is much bigger, with much denser leaves and branches.

Norfolk Island Pine USDA Zone

They can live outside in zones 10-11.

Where To Buy a Norfolk Island Pine

You can get these at a lot of garden centers and plants shops, or try Etsy. If not try our list of Rare Plant Shops.

Other Names for Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island pine, Norfolk pine, Araucaria heterophylla, A. excelsa.

Norfolk Island Pine Care FAQs and Common Problems

Common problems are root rot, as with a lot of plants. Let them dry out before you water them and they should be ok. The main problems with norfolk island pine are due to overwatering or sunlight, we run through them below

Can I Put My Norfolk Pine Outside?

Yes you can, in they will be ok outside in the summer for some of the year as long as their temperature requirement are met 10°C to 20°C (50°F-68°F). So depending on where you live you may well be able to have them outdoors all year. The bigger the plant, the better it will do, as it can deal with extremities of temperature better.

Norfolk Island Pine Origin

Norfolk Island pine is originally from Norfolk Island, in the South Pacific.

Is Norfolk Island Pine Toxic To Cats?

Norfolk Island Pine is technically non-toxic to cats (source), however some pet owners have reported oral irritation and vomiting in cats are easting needles from the tree, so if you get these symptoms, seek vets advice.

Why Is My Norfolk Pine Drooping?

Norfolk Pine’s droop and sometimes even go crispy due to underwatering – make sure you are watering your Norfolk Pine regularly, but only if needed. Also tip out any excess water from the saucer about ten minutes after watering. It can also due to being very hot or very cold (and big fluctuations in temperature).

Why Is My Norfolk Pine Yellowing?

Too much sunlight will cause your Norfolk Pine to yellow, make sure that it is not getting direct sunlight. They can also yellow from too little sunlight, which is much more rare, but if your plant is yellowing and in a really low light area then give it a bit more light.

Norfolk Pine Growth Rate

Norfolk Pines will grow up to 2 feet (or 60cm a year), if given the right conditions.