Why is My Norfolk Island Pine Tree Dropping Branches?
Is your Norfolk Island Pine tree dropping branches just in time for the holidays? Horticulture expert Matt Dursum takes you through the reasons this could be happening.
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Few indoor evergreens look as stunning as a Norfolk Island pine tree. Between its scaly, bright green leaves and thin Christmas tree shape, it’s the ultimate alternative to a true pine tree in your home. With minimal care, it will thrive in your home for years.
As beautiful and easy to grow as it is, things can go wrong. When its soft leaves and branches start falling off, it often means you have a problem.
This subtropical evergreen grows well indoors and doesn’t need much maintenance. However, if its ideal growing conditions aren’t met, it will show signs of stress and become ill. Below are a few reasons your Norfolk Island pine tree is dropping its branches and what to do to help it.
It’s Just Natural Growth
Dropping leaves and branches is normal for a healthy plant. If your evergreen is going through a natural growth spurt, there’s nothing to worry about.
This tree can reach heights of 200 feet in its native habitat on Norfolk Island. When this pine grows vigorously, it sheds its old foliage to make room for new growth. You may see leaves and even lower branches fall off.
There isn’t much you can do as long as the plant appears healthy. Feel the leaves and branches to make sure they’re not dry and brittle. If it’s shedding a small amount of growth and you don’t see other signs of stress, you’re totally in the clear.
The Humidity is Too Low
Norfolk Island pines are native to a subtropical island that lies around 1,000 miles off the coast of Eastern Australia. The island experiences over 50 inches of rain annually and high humidity. If you’re not recreating its humid natural environment indoors, your tree can experience growing problems.
Try to keep your space above 50% humidity. If you have a hygrometer, an instrument for checking humidity levels, this should be easy to monitor. Mist it regularly with a spray bottle. You can also place a tray of water next to it.
Humidifiers are another great tool for boasting humidity levels. Run one next to your Norfolk Island pine and keep other houseplants nearby. The humidity will increase drastically.
It’s Not Getting Enough Water.
Dropping branches from a Norfolk Island pine may appear brown and dry if there is a lack of water. This species doesn’t need a lot of water to thrive, but it does need frequent watering.
Let the soil surface dry out in between watering. Once it dries to about two inches, give it a good soaking. Wait until the soil dries, and repeat. If you wait too long in between waterings, it could stress your tree. A thirsty plant will eventually turn brown and drop its foliage and branches.
Check the soil for moisture with your finger. If it’s bone dry past an inch or two, it probably needs more water. Give it a good shower and water more frequently. Monitor your plant to see if it becomes greener and healthier.
It’s Too Hot or Too Cold
Although your houseplant comes from a warm climate, it doesn’t like extreme heat. The ocean moderates the temperatures on the evergreen’s home island. If it gets too balmy, the tree can become stressed and lose its branches and leaves.
Your tree thrives in temperatures between 55-65°F (13-18°C). If a Norfolk Island pine gets too hot or cold, it could stress your subtropical houseplant out, and cause it to drop its branches. Temperatures above 95°F (35°C) or below 50°F (10°C) are too extreme.
If you live in a cold climate, keep it away from the window in winter. Plunging temperatures outside could affect the air temperature around your inside window. Also, watch the air vents near your houseplant. If the heat is up too high, it will stress it out.
You Over-Fertilized It
You may feel tempted to fertilize your plant if its branches suddenly start dropping. However, over-feeding could be the cause. Giving it more food than it needs will only stress it out more.
Your living Christmas tree doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer to thrive. A little liquid organic houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength can help it during the spring and summer. Feeding your plant in the winter, when new growth is at its slowest, can stress your plant.
If you’ve been overfeeding your plant, stop fertilizing immediately. Wait until it recovers before you begin again. Remove any mineral buildup in the topsoil before watering. If this is the stressor, your plant should become vibrant and green within a few days.
It’s Not Getting Enough Light
One of the most common reasons your evergreen is losing its branches is low light. If it’s growing away from a light source, this could be the issue. Rooms, hallways, and living rooms may not be the best locations.
Move your tall houseplant near a south-facing window with plenty of light. Avoid growing near north-facing windows in the Northern Hemisphere.
A great trick is rotating your plant throughout the week. This lets the sunlight shine on each section, keeping the foliage green and healthy.
The Soil is Not Right
Your Norfolk Island pine is healthiest in slightly acidic soils with good drainage. Alkaline soils or soils that become soggy can put your plant under stress.
Plant your evergreen houseplant in well-draining sandy soil with peat moss. Try to keep the soil pH between 6 and 6.5. You can lower the pH by using mineral additives like this one. Always follow the instructions so you don’t overfeed your plant.
If your soil isn’t draining properly, you might have to repot it with better soil. This will stress your tree more but will be better in the long run.
Extreme Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature differences of 10° or less are normal, but extreme changes can stress your tree. If temperatures fluctuate more than 10° daily, your evergreen could start to turn brown and lose its leaves and branches.
This can happen during the winter if you leave the heat on during the night and turn it off during the day. This fluctuation can send your tree into panic mode.
A Norfolk Island pine prefers stable temperatures. Try to keep the temperature of your home between 55°F and 65°F (13-18°C).
It’s Running Out of Nutrients
One final cause could be depleted nutrients in the soil. When your tree outgrows its container and is over three years old, it may be time to repot it. Reporting your large holiday houseplant in new soil should help.
Choose a container that’s over two inches larger than the last. Make sure its root system has plenty of room to grow and establish itself. Use a slightly acidic soil that’s porous and full of organic material.
If you recently repoted your plant, this too could cause enough stress for it to lose its leaves and branches. Give it enough time to recover from the shock of repotting. During the spring, give it a little organic fertilizer to help encourage new growth.
Final Thoughts
Your Norfolk Island pine makes the perfect holiday houseplant. As resilient as it is, it can show signs of stress when its ideal growing conditions are not met. One of the most common signs of stress is dropping its branches and foliage.
Although this is normal in small amounts, it could mean there’s a more serious problem. Go through the list of possible causes to find out what’s stressing your plant. Once you find the issue, you should be able to stop it from losing its beautiful branches.
