Norfolk Island Pine Growth Rate

Norfolk Island Pines are super popular right now (currently the holidays). Big box stores often sell them this time of year dressed up as Christmas trees. If you’re lucky, you can often snag them after Christmas for a killer discount. Many plant lovers, like myself, keep them year-round and want to know more about the Norfolk Island Pine’s growth rate.

Norfolk Island Pine Growth Rate Indoors

This post is specifically about indoor Norfolk Island Pines. They also grow out in the wild of course and they get quite tall (up to 200 feet). Despite looking like a Christmas tree, these are native to tropical regions. I don’t think they are related to actual pine trees at all. The needles are very soft as well. Norfolk Island Pines as houseplants are often characterized as slow growers. Sorry to disappoint you if you were hoping otherwise.

I’ve had mine for about five years and in that time it’s probably grown about a foot in height. I have a plant with multiple trunks and I would say that on average they sprout one new tier per year. Although it’s a slow grower, it’s still one of my most complimented plants. And since I got one that was about three feet tall already, it’s still a sizeable tree. There are some upsides to slow growth though. Slow growth means you do not have to repot your plant very often. I’ve only repotted mine once in the five years I’ve had it.

My Norfolk Island Pine is about four feet tall now, not including the pot. Indoors, they tend to grow up to about eight feet tall, with a lot of time of course. Mine is also nearly as wide as it is tall, so it has taken up significant space.

Can I Make My Norfolk Island Pine Grow Faster

Not really. The best you can do is provide it with proper care. This means proper water, light, and fertilization.

Norfolk Island Pine Watering

Norfolk Island Pines like humidity. I actually lost my first one many years ago before I realized this. It became quite crispy. You can help boost humidity near your Norfolk Island Pine by keeping a tray of water nearby or by using a small humidifier. I like the stick humidifiers because they’re easy to clean compared to other humidifiers with inner workings.

Norfolk Island Pines do well in loose well-draining soil. There’s no specific amount or schedule you should follow with regard to watering. However, Norfolk Island Pines do not like to dry out, so keep the soil at least lightly moist. Your pot should also have adequate drainage holes. For Norfolk Island Pines, I like to avoid terracotta, which dries out more quickly than glazed pots.

Norfolk Island Pine Light

Norfolk Island Pines like a lot of light. They will grow best in bright direct or indirect light. If you have a south-facing window that’s perfect but a west-facing window will do too. If you have lower levels of light, a Norfolk Island Pine may survive in your home but it will grow extremely slowly. A Norfolk Island Pine that’s not receiving enough light might have growth that is stretched out and unhealthy.

Norfolk Island Pine Fertilizer

Norfolk Island Pines are not heavy feeders. Probably due in part to their slow-growing nature but that’s just a theory. You should fertilize them only a few times during the growing season (spring/summer) and not at all during dormancy (fall/winter). Any all-purpose indoor balanced fertilizer will be fine. A balanced fertilizer has even ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or n-p-k.

How big is your Norfolk Island Pine? Share in the Comments section.