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Norfolk Island pine care
Araucaria heterophylla · Araucariaceae
Also called Norfolk pine, House pine, Star pine.
A conifer found wild only on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, where it grows into a tree up to 60 m tall. Indoors it is a slow, symmetrical little tree with soft needles on tiers of horizontal branches, often sold as a living Christmas tree. It likes bright light and a cool room, and it takes years to reach 1 to 2.5 m.
Light
Partial SunWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
MediumPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
0.9-2.5 m
Growth
Slow
Temperature
13-18 °C
Not below 2 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
40% - 60%
Average room humidity
Soil pHUnconfirmed
5.5-6.5
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- NFK
Through the year
From spring to autumn, water whenever the top of the mix starts to dry, without letting it turn soggy. Give it much less in winter.
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Spring
WeeklyStart feeding and repot if it is several years in the same pot.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep the soil lightly moist and shield it from hot afternoon sun.
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Autumn
WeeklyMove it to the brightest spot indoors as days get shorter.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksWater sparingly, keep it cool and bright, and mist or use a pebble tray in heated rooms.
Feeding
Every 2 weeks in spring and summer and autumn. Diluted liquid fertilizer from spring to autumn. Do not feed in winter.
Care tips
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Turn it every week
Rotating the pot keeps the trunk straight and the branches even.
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Raise the humidity without overwatering
Stand the pot on a tray of wet gravel so it is not sitting in water.
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Keep it cool in winter
A bright room around 13-18 °C suits it better than a warm spot next to a heater.
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Repot rarely
Moving it to a slightly bigger pot every 3 to 4 years is usually enough.
Common problems
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Lost lower branches
What you seeThe bottom tiers brown and drop off, and the tree looks sparse.
What to doIt needs more light; move it to the brightest window you have. Lost branches do not grow back.
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Spider mites and scale
What you seeDull, speckled needles, fine webbing or small bumps on the stems.
What to doRinse the tree in the shower, raise the humidity and treat with insecticidal soap if needed.
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Yellowing needles
What you seeNeedles pale to yellow, sometimes on the sunny side.
What to doGive it light afternoon shade if it sits in hot sun, and check that the soil is neither soaked nor bone dry.
Pets
Is norfolk island pine safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs (entry 'Australian Pine', which names Norfolk Island pine).
Good to know
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It is not a true pine but belongs to an ancient conifer family that was widespread in the age of the dinosaurs.
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The tree appears on the flag of Norfolk Island.
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Europeans first recorded it on Captain Cook's second voyage in the 1770s.
