Can you ID this plant?

[Schila]

My husband and I saw this beautiful plant at Church and want to get one for our house. Can you recognize this plant and how to care for it?

[katrina]

Norfolk Pine. I killed the only one I ever tried to grow (about 10-11yrs ago) so I wouldn't dare give growing recommendation.

BTW -- it's not a true pine but I don't remember anything else except it's native to Norfolk Island.

[denite25]

same here.....i had one and it bit the dust....it was verrrrry messy pine neddles every where.....lol

[pikkumyy]

id agree with the others about it being a norfolk pine, but thats only because i googled them and the images look VERY similar, so i can't say with much certainty.
a very cool plant, i have never grown it so sadly i can't give care tips, but try looking them up on the net, goodluck

[Schila]

Originally Posted by denite25

.it was verrrrry messy pine neddles every where.....lol

Funny

[syndywindy]

Norfolk Island Pine. I have one although not that big. I tried a large one but my cats always were in it. The one I have now I've had for 3 years and it's doing great and has grown about a foot. Not sure what I am doing right with it. I do not put it outdoors at all, strictly indoors. Away from heating vents as it can dry out quickly. I also do not let it dry out totally. I did try setting it out for a few days in a shady area but the needles started to dry out quckly so it's been inside since. It gets a good watering once a week, and I have it sitting on a saucer with a bit of water in the saucer.

[-k-]

Yes, Norfolk indeed and they are lovely! Been growing one for close to 10 years now I got as a holiday gift, was teeny tiny back then, now its a monster! Care conditions included well drained soil; part sun / shade and repot should be done every few years as the plant outgrows it's current pot. I fertilize in the spring time and outside it goes and bring indoors during winter where it receives moderate light, and gets decorated for xmas!
Wish I had taken a pic when I first got it, but from what I remeber it was in a 4 inch pot at most... They are quite commonly found in garden centers around the xmas holiday so finding one shouldn't be too hard in the comming months.

[denite25]

that make me wanna try and grow one again

[Filb]

I've got one as well. It grows like a weed (very low-maintenance). However, they tend to get really top heavy.
The foliage is really soft though, and it's a nice plant to keep around.

[Schila]

Originally Posted by syndywindy

Norfolk Island Pine. I have one although not that big. I tried a large one but my cats always were in it. The one I have now I've had for 3 years and it's doing great and has grown about a foot. Not sure what I am doing right with it. I do not put it outdoors at all, strictly indoors. Away from heating vents as it can dry out quickly. I also do not let it dry out totally. I did try setting it out for a few days in a shady area but the needles started to dry out quckly so it's been inside since. It gets a good watering once a week, and I have it sitting on a saucer with a bit of water in the saucer.

Thank you Syndywindy...good to know all of these details.

Originally Posted by denite25

that make me wanna try and grow one again

Definetly I will look for one....

While we were at church looking at this plant, we thought that it would grow tall and fast, so we were talking about trimming it often, but by reading all of your postings I guess it doesn't grow that fast.

[Mira-Claude]

I found the care t be similar to that of a phal.
Same kind of light, same kind of I like water but like to dry out a bit but not too much, likes to be fertilize at 1/4 of the prescribe dosage, but prefers to be water by an under tray like most tropical plants.
I found it did well in S/H.
My dad killed mine while it was still small and weak. I use to have it cut (yes even very small) like a Christmas tree and decorate it like it was one!

[PaphMadMan]

As others have already concluded, this is Norfolk Island Pine (Auracaria heterophylla, syn. Auracaria excelsa). A few of its relatives might look similar, but the only other one that is at all commonly cultivated as a houseplant has a much coarser appearance (Monkey Puzzle, Auracaria auracana). Norfolk Island is north of New Zealand. Other species are distributed from South America to Australia.

I always found this species to be easy to grow, but hard to grow well. It takes some careful management to keep it full and symmentrical. Spindly, lop-sided and scraggly is much more common. It generally does not respond well to trimming, so I would allow it to grow in natural form. It is a very large tree when mature (50+ meters/yards) so it outgrows any indoor environment. In your Cypress, Texas location you're probably better off growing it as a yard tree outside. Indoor care as for a Phal (temperature, humidity, air movement, watering) is a pretty good description, but probably best in somewhat brighter light. It takes full sun in the wild. It is a commonly grown plant so detailed instructions can be found all over the 'net. Very susceptible to spider mites when the humidity is low.

[Filb]

Really, spider mites?
I will have to watch. Is that only a problem if the plant is kept outside?

[lmartiny]

I just may have to try one inside. I can't keep many plants happy inside. I'd picked up two on clearance after Christmas. They were about three feet for a $1.25. I put one out at our rural property but it was too harsh for it and it died. The other one I finally put in the groud in the back yard and it is doing well. I don't do anything to it and it survived freezing temps.

[orchids4me]

I had a couple years ago did well here then I moved to a hotter and dryer place and they bit it now I'm back here hummm making me want to try again. I gve it care like synda described.
Good luck they are beautiful trees

[zaeem]

Schila Hi!

A tropical plant grows well outside and can get huge!!!
I am posting a picture of a twenty year old.They look nice in Largepots till a few years

[Schila]

Originally Posted by zaeem

A tropical plant grows well outside and can get huge!!!
I am posting a picture of a twenty year old.They look nice in Largepots till a few years

Thank you Zaeem.
Beautiful plant...

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan288873

;In your Cypress, Texas location you're probably better off growing it as a yard tree outside.

Thank you Paph, but I'm not sure if this tree will survive the HOT temperature outside here in Texas. This summer has been very tough on all of our plants. Anyway I haven't seen anybody around selling it, will wait a little bit longer like -k- says..

Thanks to all of you for your input.

[Amblnc38]

Yup Norfolk Pine, I just broke out in hives thinking about them. >)