Norfolk pine is an engrossing, pine-like tree with a delicate appearance. Although it’s commonly referred to as Pine, it’s not a pine at all. This is a tropical plant native to Norfolk Island i.e. South Pacific region between Australia and New Zealand.
It is an incredible houseplant that grows up to a height of 5 to 8 feet. This article explains different crucial factors about Norfolk Pine care such as light, water, and humidity, etc. Let’s get started…
Norfolk Pine Care | Tips For Growing Healthy Plants
Caring for plants is very crucial to keep them healthy. Norfolk pine care requires proper watering at a suitable temperature and humidity for proper growth. Follow the instructions below to care for a Norfolk Pine:
Light
Norfolk pine can survive in different light situations but it prefers bright light. You should try to choose a place where it can get a few hours of direct bright sunlight every day. If you grow the plants indoors, you should place them near the window for direct sunlight. When the plant doesn’t receive enough light, they stretch out and reach for the light.
Temperature
The ideal temperature is between 65 to 75o F for the proper growth of Norfolk pine. You shouldn’t plant them in a too hot or too cold environment. Norfolk pine care requires you not to place them next to drafty windows or doors.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers don’t only speed up the growth process of the plants but also keep them very healthy. Therefore, it is crucial to add fertilizer once a month during spring and summer for Norfolk pine care. You should choose a general-purpose fertilizer for the plants.
Many gardeners prefer using a balanced fertilizer which contains equal parts of phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium.
Before adding it into the soil, make sure to dilute it to half of the recommended strength. Otherwise, it severely damages your plants. This plant doesn’t require fertilizer during the winter when growth is naturally slow.
Humidity
Humidity is another essential factor for Norfolk pine care. The plant really appreciates humidity during the winter months. If humidity is not high, you can increase it yourself. You can increase humidity using different ways. For example, you can use a pebble tray or humidifier for this purpose. The ideal humidity for this plant is 50% for better nourishment.
Trim Dead or Brown Foliage
The most interesting thing about Norfolk pine is that they don’t require cosmetic pruning at all. The only pruning you should do is to remove all dead and brown branches. Always use sharp shears to trim dead foliage. Otherwise, you might damage the healthy branches accidentally.
Try to avoid unnecessary pruning because it will prevent the cut point from growing any more. So, growth will start from somewhere else. It will result in changing the shape of the tree.
Additional Caring Tips
You should try to avoid moving the tree. Because the root system of this plant is very fragile so root can be damaged very easily when moving the plants. So, don’t move the plant until very necessary. After completely preparing the soil, move it carefully.