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Fine pine
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Araucaria makes for an attractive indoor as well as outdoor decorative plant.
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ARAUCARIA HETEROPHYLLA, originally from Australia and South America, is the only aracaria grown indoors. It can grow very tall in the wild, but it rarely exceeds 45-60 cms indoors, where it grows very slowly - not more than 10-12 cms a year.
The branches, which radiale horizontally to give pyramid-shaped plant, are covered with soft, light green, needle-like leaves, (3 cms) for the whole of their length, so that the plant is very densely leafy.
New growth of this plant will be bright fresh green, and this colour slowly darkens. The branches are heavy but they do not require extra support, since the main stem turns woody in time.
This pine should be given a very well-lit position and should be turned around at intervals so that the growth remains symmetrical.
If the plant is left in the same position, the shoots tend to grow towards the light and the attractive symmetry will be lost. Repotting is needed every two years.
The plant should be watered plentifully during growth period and moderately during the rest period. Apply standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks and mist spray the foliage occasionally.
Propogation is by seed or cuttings, but very slow. However, Araucaria makes a charming indoor pot plant when young.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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