Expert: nick mccann - 11/30/2008

Question
I received a beautiful Norfolk pine plant for Thanksgiving.  I have other plants, but, this is my first Norfolk pine.  It is a beautiful plant, app. 3-4 feet tall and consists of 7 little trees all growing together. Should they be repotted or just left as is?  if so, when do I repot?  I want to keep it indoors near a window in the bathroom.  It is very pretty and an asset to the room. If it gets too big, is Houston weather too hot to grow them outside later?

Answer
Hi Judy, if you can separate them, that is fine, because it will get much larger and each little will tree will start to compete with the other for room and nutrients; I live in Southwest Florida and I have a 50 footer growing in my back yard, so the answer is yes, you can move it outdoors, but I would wait until it gets larger and is well established. Nick