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Conifer Care

Sporting distinctive needles in place of leaves, conifers make unique houseplant specimens. Their fine-textured canopy adds a welcome contrast to the bold, broad leaves of tropical houseplants. Adaptable to many areas inside and outside your home, these plants are very long-lived and will reward you with growth for years to come!

How to care for your Conifer

Use these instructions to care for a Conifer. This guide will tell you how to water a Conifer; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.

Lemon Cypress

LIGHT

Your Lemon Cypress prefers bright indirect light to direct sunlight. It will not do well in medium or low light environments.

WATER

Water your Lemon Cypress when 50% of the soil volume is dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer.

HUMIDITY

Your Lemon Cypress benefits from added humidity during the winter months. You can increase humidity for your Lemon Cypress by using a pebble tray, placing a humidifier nearby, or grouping it near other plants.

TEMPERATURE

Your Lemon Cypress prefers cool to average room temperatures between 55-75°F. Avoid exposure to heating or cooling vents which can cause the humidity to drop.

FOOD

Feed your Lemon Cypress once in the spring and once in the summer with a general-purpose fertilizer diluted to half-strength. No fertilizer is necessary during the fall and winter when plant growth naturally slows.

TOXICITY

Lemon Cypress is considered to be toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

ADDITIONAL CARE

Branch tips turning dry and crispy is a common sign of low humidity that can occur over the winter months. Increasing humidity will often solve this issue. Lemon Cypress plants naturally maintain a narrow, upright growth pattern and generally do not need to be trimmed, but feel free to lightly prune your plant to enhance the shape or to remove dried, brown tips.

Norfolk Pine

LIGHT

Your Norfolk Pine prefers bright indirect light to direct sunlight. It can adapt to medium light areas, but it may become leggy and less full.

WATER

Water your Norfolk Pine when 25% of the soil volume is dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer. If the plant stays too dry, the tips of its branches will turn brown and crispy.

HUMIDITY

Your Norfolk Pine will appreciate a boost in humidity during the winter months. You can increase humidity for your Norfolk Pine by using a pebble tray, placing a humidifier nearby, or grouping it near other plants.

TEMPERATURE

Your Norfolk Pine prefers average room temperatures between 65-85°F. Avoid drafty areas near heating or cooling vents, exterior doors, and windows.

FOOD

Feed your Norfolk Pine once a month during spring and summer with a general-purpose fertilizer diluted to half-strength. No fertilizer is necessary during the fall and winter when plant growth naturally slows.

TOXICITY

Norfolk Pines are considered to be toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

ADDITIONAL CARE

To encourage faster growth on your Norfolk Pine, move it outdoors to a shaded or partially shaded spot during the summer. Wait until all danger of frost has passed before moving it outdoors and bring it back in before the first frost in fall.

Grow Beyond Expectations

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What's a Conifer?

Botanical Classification: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa 'Goldcrest’

ABOUT

Conifers are perennial trees and shrubs bearing cones in place of flowers and with needle- or scale-like leaves. Representing an incredible array of sizes, shapes, and colors, this group encompasses over 600 species of plants! Many of these species are adaptable to life as a potted houseplant and can live happily for many years in a container with minimal care.

Thanks to the native northern range of many conifers, most can handle lower temperatures over the winter, making them a good choice to place near drafty windows or doors. They’ll appreciate an added boost of humidity throughout the dry winter months and require a well-draining soil kept evenly moist.

FUN FACT

Are you up for a challenge? Try growing a conifer as a bonsai plant — conifers adapt well to the frequent pruning required of bonsai and can take on unique and interesting forms with age.

Pictured Left: Lemon Cypress

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