Norfolk Island Pine: A Living Christmas Tree

 

Norfolk Island Pines are popular houseplants, even more so this time of year because many people use them as living Christmas trees. You can find Norfolk Island Pines in a variety of sizes, from less than a foot to over 5' tall. The smaller trees make ideal table-top Christmas trees. Keeping your Norfolk pine healthy and looking good through the holidays and beyond comes down to these things. Norfolk pines like bright, indirect light, at least 6 hours a day. It's a good idea to turn them every few weeks to keep them from growing lopsided. They do best with consistent watering, like most houseplants. Water your tree when the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Water thoroughly and be sure there is no standing water left in the saucer under the plant. Norfolk pines like to be in place where the room temperature is sixty-five to seventy degrees and away from drafts. The more difficult part of keeping your Norfolk pine looking lush is to provide sufficient humidity. Norfolk pines like high humidity. Some ways to increase room humidity is to group your plants close together, use a pebble tray under the tree or add a room humidifier.  A pebble tray is easy to assemble an effective way to raise the humidity level around your plants. Fill a saucer with rocks and add water until the rocks are slightly above the water line; then place the plant on top of the rocks. Make sure the water level is below the bottom of the pot.  Feed your Norfolk pine every two weeks during the growth period. Use a standard houseplant fertilizer such as 12-6-6. With a little care, your Norfolk Island Pine will be around for many Christmases to come.