Separating a Cluster of Norfolk Pines

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MissionVao Baltimore, MD Dec 19, 2015

Hey all,

I got a Norfolk pine at Lowe's, but it's actually at least four small trees at varying stages of development. I would much rather have one plant per pot. Here is the question:

Is it safe to separate these small trees, and if so, when? I've read it's better to wait till spring, but I also think it will be more difficult to separate the roots if I wait another four or five months, and this will be indoors all winter.

I have had a lot of success separating plants before (i.e. I've never had a plant die after being separated from its neighbors), but I've never operated on an actual tree (except a ponytail palm, but they're tough). I'd think trees would be a bit more difficult, even if they're small.

I've attached a picture of the pine. It's not quite as unhealthy as it looks, but it's still recovering from the abuse it got at Lowe's. I will wait for it to recover fully (or possibly wait till spring) before separating, if I choose to separate it. Just looking for advice at the moment.

Thanks!

Thumbnail by MissionVao
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DaisyPlantLady Reno, NV(Zone 6b) Dec 19, 2015

My thought is that you can separate the trees if the roots haven't grown together in a solid snarled mess. If you have to cut the trees apart, each tree would end up with only 25% of its roots, a certain death sentence. If the soil is loose enough that you could work the roots apart without destroying them, it would most likely work. If you do get them apart, don't over-pot. Norfolk pines do best when a little crowded.

The best time to transplant is late winter/early spring before the tree starts to grow again.

A better solution might be to choose which tree you want and cut the rest off a little below the soil level. Or separate them with the thought in mind that you are going to sacrifice a couple to save one or two.

Daisy

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sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Dec 27, 2015

I would wait closer to spring, as that seems better for the plants natural cycle. We're assuming the plants don't want to grow much for the next month or two, so it won't make much difference in terms of whether the roots are too interwoven or not. seems to me. I'm betting they have already been growing together for a while, not recently stuck together. Maybe you'll lose one or two, but then you only had 'one' to begin with.

This message was edited Dec 27, 2015 10:32 AM

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mylittletrees Corning, OH Jan 27, 2016

I got mine from the same place. I considered the same thing, but ultimately let it go. It's been going on now for several years. It has basically doubled in size, and I was quite surprised that they seem so easy to grow. I gave mine some sunburn once when I set it outside during the summer in full sun. It didn't like that AT ALL!

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