Lighting: | A. heterophylla will survive in low light, a mere 800 Lux. It dislikes direct sunlight. |
Temperature: | Likes heat - it is preferable to keep them above 60F. The Norfolk Island Pine is a common houseplant, and can be grown successfully indoors. The monkey-puzzle tree is hardy in zones 7-10, but doesn't grow well in overly hot areas. |
Watering: | Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Araucaria does not like damp soil. |
Feeding: | the Samsons recommend organic fertilizer in spring and autumn. My mom feeds hers (houseplant, not bonsai) with ordinary ol' houseplant food. |
Repotting: | Every second year in spring, using fast-draining soil mix. |
Styling: |
Can be wired at any time, but avoid wiring tender
shoots. Wire should remain on the tree for a maximum of four
months. Learning to prune can be difficult, as Geoline attests:
>These are not easily pruned because you can't just cut a >frond or tip and expect new growth. In the spring, only prune new buds >just when they are beginning to emerge and are still light green in >color. Remove just the tip which will include about three soft, >needle-like leaves the same way you would go about bud pruning a >Juniper. In a few weeks to a month, two new buds should take the place >of the missing buds. If you pinch a bud wrong, new growth at the tip >will cease. NIPs are one of those trees which you should practice bud >pinching on several inexpensive practice plants first to develop an eye >for pinching at just the right time.Araucaria makes especially good cascades, as they can be trained towards a light source. They also work as simulated palms. |
Propagation: | From seed in spring - germination is slow, and is aided by the use of bottom heat. Cuttings may be taken from terminal shoots, not from laterals. |
Pests etc.: | Spider mites, scale, mealy-bugs, chlorosis. |
The comment at the top of the page, that they grow on some Pacific Islands, should also include the continent of Australia, where 3 or 4 unique species grow. They are A. cunninghamii (Hoop Pine); A. bidwillii (Bunya Pine); A. wollemi (Wollemi Pine, recently discovered). The Norfolk Pine, A.heterophylla is also endemic to eastern Australia.
I WOULD LIKE INFO ON PROPER CARE OF NORFOLK ISLAND PINE TREES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
I would appreciate any information of the araucaria tree (any type) and if it wolud be possible to find anyone down here in Argentina. I mean if it would be possible to find any type of these trees in Buenos Aires. The fact is, that I think I have found one of 300 years old in a small village (according to the housekeeper), in Adrogue city 25 km from Buenos Aires. It has two m in diameter and over 25 m. tall. Thank you Hugo. PD: sorry for my English.
I study the Araucaria angustifolia specie in the Botany Department of the University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Porto Alegre city. My search involves the relation between the specie and water stress. I would like to receive more informations or papers about it. Thanks...
Living in NE Oklahoma. Want a monkey puzzle tree. Can anyone help?
Living in NE Oklahoma. Want a monkey puzzle tree. Can anyone help?
Living in NE Oklahoma. Want a monkey puzzle tree. Can anyone help?
Can anyone provide me with the tolerances and other information for the following species of Araucarias A. angustifolia A. balansae A. beccarii A. biramulata A.humboldtensis A. klinkii A. muelleri A. rulei If you could, it would be most grateful
Can anyone provide me with the tolerances and other information for the following species of Araucarias A. angustifolia A. balansae A. beccarii A. biramulata A.humboldtensis A. klinkii A. muelleri A. rulei If you could, it would be most grateful
Any ideas on soil pH for Araucaria araucana?
I am interested in finding out more about propogating a Araucaria araucana any information would be helpful.
Here in Brazil we have only one native Araucaria (arauraria angustifolia). My hobby is to grow and plant our araucaria in deforested areas and parks. I would like to have seeds of the other species of the Araucßria family; specially the Araucaria Araucana.
From my research on Araucaria araucana it looks like propagation from seed tends to produce plants with wide spacing between the scales and it doesn't look as good as if it is taken from terminal cuttings from a stock plant that has been pruned to multiple leaders.
I, too, would love to purchase a Monkey Puzzle Tree. If anyone knows of a place in or around Massachusetts please let me know. Thanks!
I would like to know where I could buy this tree in my area, and that would be Allentown, PA.
Gentlemen, I have a garden in Brittany France wher I grow Araucaria Araucana. This species is quite common. I would like to grow other araucarias species. We have little or no frost. I grow also Rhododendron arboreum. Can you send araucarias seed? Yves Tuset APBF Association des Parc Botaniques de France
The Norfolk Island Pine is thriving here in the Azores (on the island of Terceira anyway). I have been trying to identify them for the past 6 months and finally figured it out. Everything I read says they only grow in the S. Pacific, thought I'd let you know about the Azores.
From: havener@netten.net (havener)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 15:09:12 GMT
The Polynesian in me misses all the wind tossed coconut and pandanus
trees. NIPs (the Iris addendum: Araucaria heterophylla or A. excelsa)
make wonderful miniature representatives of coconut trees. However, if
you are going for the oriental look, NIPS can be shaped into just about
any style with alot of patience because it will take several years to
shape via tip pruning. My favorite oriental style is cascade. Cascade
works with NIPs because they are will grow phototropically toward the
light source. These are not easily pruned because you can't just cut a
frond or tip and expect new growth. In the spring, only prune new buds
just when whey are beginning to emerge and are still light green in
color. Remove just the tip which will include about three soft,
needle-like leaves the same way you would go about bud pruning a
Juniper. In a few weeks to a month, two new buds should take the place
of the missing buds. If you pinch a bud wrong, new growth at the tip
will cease. NIPs are one of those trees which you should practice bud
pinching on several inexpensive practice plants first to develop an eye
for pinching at just the right time.
NIPs are tropical evergreens which will suffer freeze burns or die if
exposed to freezing temperatures. Bring NIPs in the house during
winter or keep in a heated greenhouse or garage. They will live in
shady areas of the house during winter as if in a lazy slumber and will
start growing with vigor when brought outside in the spring.
Otherwise, grow NIPs indoors. If you want to
induce new growth, use grow lights.
Good luck practicing...
Geoline,
Memphis Musubi Hard Rock Bonsai Sports Cafe
Happy Hour Slug-gers Special: Bud Light
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