posted
I have been given 2 Norfolk Island Pines as gifts. They are both multi-stem plants. As they grow should they be trimmed down to a single-stem? Can the stems be separated to propagate?
Plants: 1 | From: South Jersey, the 51st State | Registered: Jun 2003
| Seeded: 146.145.18.146
Will Creed
guest
posted
Multiple plants are potted together for a reason. Single plants often look skimpy. Multiple plants have a fuller, denser appearance.
The NIP's can be separted by dividing the roots. However, that process can be quite traumatic and you may end up with no plants. Unless, you are experienced or inclined toward the experimental, I don't recommend dividing them.
posted
Hi. I noticed your post cause I have a norfolk pine too that I got the same way yours is, with many stems, or individual trees growing in the same pot. As it grew, I noticed after a while the taller ones drying up and dying back, while the smaller ones flourished even though they were mishaped from the cramped space. finally, I cut out the dying ones altogether, and had two smaller ones growing fine. I tried to seperate them, but the roots were so entwined, I didnt want to risk killing them. Finally, when it became obvious that the taller of the 2 needed more space, and the shorter one was severly mishaped by all the cramped conditions, I cut out the smaller on. That was 3 years ago, and my one remaining tree is doing wonderful and getting big each year!
Plants: 2 | From: Ann Arbor, Mi | Registered: Jun 2003
| Seeded: 68.73.201.242
login | 
| 
| 
Printer-friendly view of this garden