Mistletow and Norfolk Island Pine Facts

Last week, we examined the virtues of the ever popular Christmas poinsettia along with the Christmas cactus, cyclamen, and rosemary. This week we take a look at a couple of other standbys of the season-mistletoe and the Norfolk Island Pine.

Mistletoe is a plant which has been associated with Christmas for hundreds of years. I thought it would be interesting to explore its history, culture, and seasonal significance.

Mistletoe is actually a plant parasite, meaning it derives some of its nutrients from a host plant. Mistletoes attach to and penetrate the branches of trees and shrubs through a specialized “root” structure, through which they absorb water and nutrients from the host plant. Typical host plants are shrubs and deciduous hardwood trees such as pecan, oak, maple, cottonwood, apple, eucalyptus, and scores of others.

Mistletoe plants, as they grow on their many host plants, commonly reduce their growth and a large plant can kill the branch on which it is located. Heavy infestations can kill entire host plants. The leathery green leaves of the mistletoe plant contain chlorophyll, allowing it to manufacture some food of its own.

The tradition of hanging mistletoe in the home goes back to the time of the ancient Druids. It was said to possess mystical powers which would ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to the household.

In Norse mythology, mistletoe was used as a sign of love and friendship. The custom of kissing underneath it comes from Victorian England. The original custom was that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath a mistletoe branch and that bad luck would befall any woman who refused the kiss.

Another Christmas beauty is the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). This specimen, belonging in the pine family, is a prominent year-round house plant. Its popularity stems from its easy-to-please nature, its beautiful shape, and its attractive needle-like foliage. I’m sure you have seen them decorated like Christmas trees, either as large tree-size specimens or as smaller, more petite ones.

Norfolk Island Pines are easy to please-as an indoor plant at least. Unlike most familiar pines, they are far too tender to plant outdoors in here in middle Georgia. Indoors, they will grow well in either direct or bright indirect sun, but will survive in quite dim light. If the source of light is coming from only one direction, you will want to rotate the plant a quarter turn weekly to keep it from tilting toward one side. A word of warning is in order-older plants or plants that have been neglected or not watered properly (too much or too little water) will eventually lose their lower branches, and there is nothing that can be done to get them back or encourage new ones to grow.

Cool and bright is the recipe for success with the Norfolk Island Pine. They do best if the night temperatures are cool (in the low 50s) and daytime temperatures are in the 70s. They will actually tolerate day temperatures in the 45 to 85 degree range.

Norfolk Island Pines thrive in a relative humidity of around 50 percent, which is sometimes difficult to achieve in the home. Running a humidifier will increase both people and plant comfort. Too dry air will eventually cause serious needle browning.

The soil must be kept constantly moist (water when the top inch or two of the soil feels dry to the touch). Feed every three or four months with a fertilizer formulated for indoor houseplants. They can stay in the same pot for about three years- when they become overcrowded, repot them in a good African violet-type soil mix in a pot at least a couple of inches larger in diameter than the original.

Norfolk Island Pines are not propagated vegetatively-new plants arise from seed, which is a very slow process. It is best to buy a small plant and leave the propagating to the commercial growers.

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor, and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Hwy 26 two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478)954-1507 or timlewis1@windstream.net and at LewisFarmsNursery.com.

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