Christmas Eve! Perhaps as some of you read this, you will be watching for the first star to begin your Christmas Eve meal. May I take this opportunity on behalf of Keith and me to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and every blessing in the coming year!
There are many special plants that are associated with Christmas: poinsettias, holly, Christmas cactus, mistletoe, rosemary; but one that I did some reading about this week was the lovely Norfolk pine. Some very kind friends gave us a pretty little Norfolk pine, all decorated with cheery red baubles: an instant miniature Christmas tree! I wanted to be sure to know how to care for it properly, so time to do some homework!
Did you know that down in the South Pacific there is an island called Norfolk Island, and it is the home of the beautiful “pines” that bear its name? Though they look like pines, they are not really part of the pine family; they belong to a family of conifers with a long five-dollar name: Araucaria heterophylla. In their natural habitat, they can grow up to 200 feet tall, and are extremely straight and symmetrical.
I read some interesting little factoids about Norfolk pines. Back in the 1774, Captain James Cook was the first European to see these amazing trees. Because of their height and straight growth, he thought the trees might make good masts for sailing ships, but they weren’t as sturdy as they needed to be. Later on, in the 1950s, it was thought they might be used for lumber, but experts on the island decided this was not a sustainable idea. However, the wood is ideal for wood crafts, and I read that it is now used by Hawaiian artists. Isn’t that interesting?
The trees are now grown all over the world, and are enjoyed by so many of us as houseplants. The Norfolk pine likes a cooler indoor temperature, but I read that it should never go below 50 degrees. It likes bright light, but not direct sunlight, so we shouldn’t place it right in front of a window. We have to be careful not to overwater it: the plant likes moist soil, but does not like to have wet feet. Here’s something to remember: in the winter, we should wait until the soil dries out before we water it. That’s a good point, and a good way to prevent overwatering. I also read that we should never trim our Norfolk pine, except to snip off dead branches. We should keep its growth habit uniform by turning it regularly.
And here’s something else I learned: we can mist our plant with cool water (yes, they like cool water rather than room temperature water) and this will help to stop the tips from turning brown and the lower branches from dropping off.
It is a plant that has specific requirements, but none of them complicated, so the Norfolk pine would make a great addition to our homes! And if you have one that is decorated, like we do, I read that we should not leave the decorations on. So after the holidays, the finery comes off!
As I mentioned to you, the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society is in the process of planning the speakers and events for the coming year. We always try to choose a wide variety of topics that will appeal to everyone, and also teach us something new and interesting. There is so much to learn, isn’t there!
The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society wishes you a Merry Christmas! Thank you to all our members for their ongoing enthusiasm and support, it is an honor and a joy to share your company! Your presence makes the group what it is!
Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful week!
