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Norfolk Pines are stately symmetrical evergreens that thrive indoors in very bright light. Many people use them as living Christmas trees, but be careful not to dry them
out with too many lights. Norfolk Pines come small enough to sit on a table and large enough to fill the corner of a large
room with tall ceilings. When purchasing a Norfolk Pine be sure that it has multiple trunks; this will prevent the plant from
looking bare and skinny as it grows taller.
A Norfolk Pine has two main drawbacks. It is poisonous and will make
pets and small children quite ill if ingested. You cannot trim the tree or make it shorter without the tree losing its symmetrical
shape.
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CARE OF NORFORLK ISLAND (STAR) PINE
Light: A Norfolk Pine needs bright indirect light. All areas of the trees, including the very bottom need this light: or the branches will die. Turn your tree every week to keep it looking symmetrical Water: Norfolk Pines should be kept moist but never soggy. Allow the top 20% of the soil to dry out and then
water well. Permitting all of the soil to remain dry for several days can result in all of the branches turning gray and quickly
dying. Temperature: Norfolk Pines like temperatures a little cooler than
most house plants, 60-70 degrees during the day and 50-60 degrees at night; they will do fine in higher temperatures as long
as you don’t let the soil get too dry. These plants make a great addition to an out door patio just remember to bring
them in before temperatures go down to freezing. Fertilizer: These indoor
evergreens, like other houseplants, grow quickly in the summer, more slowly in spring & fall, and “rest” in
the winter. Fertilize every other week during the summer, once a month in spring & fall, and not at all during the winter.
Propagation: If your tree is too tall or if all of the bottom branches
have fallen off and it looks like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, consider starting a new plant. Cut off the top 4”,
which will include the star like cluster of foliage that gives this plant its nickname Star Pine. Dip the cut end in rooting
hormone and plant it in a 4” diameter pot. Place the pot in a plastic bag for several weeks until the cutting
has rooted; keep the soil moist and don’t fertilize. As the plant grows move it to a larger pot. Pests & Disease: Norfolk Pines rarely suffer from pests or disease. If your plant does get spider mites or mealy bugs, spray with the green solution. This plant is poisonous!
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NORFOLK ISLAND (STAR) PINE FAQ’S
My tree is almost touching the ceiling. Will the tree look okay if I cut off the top few
feet? Can I start another plant with what I cut off? No & No! The tree will start to branch wherever
you cut it. This will destroy the beautiful symmetry for which the Norfolk Pine is famous. If you still want to start a new
tree just use the very tip of the new growth, where the star cluster of foliage is, and four adjoining inches of the trunk.
Plant this in a small pot, moisten well, and place it in a plastic bag for a few weeks while it develops roots .Since it’s an evergreen, can I plant my Norfolk Pine outside?These evergreens can only be planted outside in a bright sunny spot where the temperature never goes below freezing and
the humidity is very high. I have my 6 foot Norfolk Pine in a sunny spot; all of
the bottom branches keep dying, but the rest of the tree looks fine. What am I doing wrong? Will the bottom branches grow
back?The bottom branches of your tree are not getting enough light. As the tree grows the large upper branches
shade the lower ones. Try moving your Norfolk Pine to a location where the bottom branches are in the sun part of the day;
sadly, the bottom of you tree will always remain bare now. Why are needles on some
of the branches throughout my Norfolk Pine turning brown? Norfolk Pines like high humidity. Very dry air will
cause the needles to turn brown. Try grouping your pine with other plants; this creates something like a mini greenhouse effect
or place a cold air humidifier near your plant. Do not solve the humidity problem by allowing the Norfolk Pine to sit in water. My dog tries to chew on my Norfolk Pine; will this hurt him?Yes! The
Norfolk Pine is poisonous and your dog will become very ill and may even die if he eats any part of this plant.
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