In the wild, Norfolk Island pines are huge, towering specimens. While they are native to the Pacific Islands, gardeners around the world in hot enough climates can grow them outdoors, where they can achieve their normal height. A lot of people are used to them as houseplants, however. And they perform very well in containers, maintaining for years the soft, bushy appearance of their adolescent cousins in the wild. But how much fertilizer does a Norfolk Island pine need to stay healthy? Keep reading to learn more about how to fertilize a Norfolk Island pine, both indoors and out.
How to Fertilize a Norfolk Island Pine Tree
Norfolk pine trees don’t require a lot of fertilization. If you are lucky enough to be able to grow these trees outdoors, they should be able to take care of themselves, especially once they have become established.
If your tree is in a container, however, it will benefit from some regular feeding. Norfolk pine trees have a very regular growing schedule – they grow in the summer months and they are dormant in the winter. Even if you are growing your plant indoors, it’s important to lay off the feeding in the winter months in order to give the tree its natural period of dormancy. Make sure to reduce your watering, too.
How Much Fertilizer Does a Norfolk Pine Need?
Feeding Norfolk Island pines in containers is very easy. Opinions differ on exactly how much fertilizer is the right amount, ranging from every 2 weeks to every 3 or 4 months. The important thing is not to overdo it, as any regular, balanced houseplant fertilizer ought to be enough.
Choose a water soluble fertilizer and simply apply it occasionally when you are watering. As your plant matures and becomes more established, you can reduce the frequency of feeding.
In the wild, Norfolk Island pines are huge, towering specimens. While they are native to the Pacific Islands, gardeners around the world in hot enough climates can grow them outdoors, where they can achieve their normal height. A lot of people are used to them as houseplants, however. And they perform very well in containers, maintaining for years the soft, bushy appearance of their adolescent cousins in the wild. But how much fertilizer does a Norfolk Island pine need to stay healthy? Keep reading to learn more about how to fertilize a Norfolk Island pine, both indoors and out.
How to Fertilize a Norfolk Island Pine Tree
Norfolk pine trees don’t require a lot of fertilization. If you are lucky enough to be able to grow these trees outdoors, they should be able to take care of themselves, especially once they have become established.
If your tree is in a container, however, it will benefit from some regular feeding. Norfolk pine trees have a very regular growing schedule – they grow in the summer months and they are dormant in the winter. Even if you are growing your plant indoors, it’s important to lay off the feeding in the winter months in order to give the tree its natural period of dormancy. Make sure to reduce your watering, too.
How Much Fertilizer Does a Norfolk Pine Need?
Feeding Norfolk Island pines in containers is very easy. Opinions differ on exactly how much fertilizer is the right amount, ranging from every 2 weeks to every 3 or 4 months. The important thing is not to overdo it, as any regular, balanced houseplant fertilizer ought to be enough.
Choose a water soluble fertilizer and simply apply it occasionally when you are watering. As your plant matures and becomes more established, you can reduce the frequency of feeding.