Soil for a Norfolk Island pine

Soil for a Norfolk Island pine

1. 01

   Best soil mix

   Use peat-free, loam-based potting soil with extra grit for container culture. This is a practical direction, not a mandatory percentage or bonsai substrate formula.

   Choose a pot and mix that drain freely while holding some water. Free drainage does not mean the root ball should stay dry.

2. 02

   Match the mix to the pot and setting

   In frost-prone areas, grow Araucaria heterophylla as a containerized tree under glass. A sheltered sunny outdoor position is possible in summer before it returns under glass. Do not treat that move as required indoor care.

3. 03

   Soil pH

   It grows in acid, neutral and alkaline soil, so any ordinary potting mix pH suits it. Do not copy a pH number meant for another conifer.

4. 04

   When soil alone is not the problem

   Loam-based potting mix with extra grit is all you need, without an exact recipe. Keep this advice separate from garden soil and from other Araucaria species.