I currently have a Monkey Puzzle Aricaria auracana, tree growing in a clay pot, at my appartment, in Nelson BC, what is the best way to care for such a magnificant plant? There is only one such tree growing in Nelson that I am aware of. Is a container reasonable, or should it be outplanted??
Hey Randall, this question pops up on the forums from time to time. After a review of the threads I realized it has never been answered. Aracauria araucana grows to be a very large tree. I found very few comments on the web about growing the tree indoors. Some people are successfully growing young plants. I think it is something like growing a large fir or pine in your house. You can probably grow it for a while but it will get too large to handle and will suffer from attempts to keep it confined. Maybe methods used to control size for bonsai would apply here. If anyone is growing this tree indoors please post your experience in this thread. People who want to grow the monkey puzzle but do not live in a climate where it thrives may wish to try a relative, Norfolk Island pine (A. heterophylla). This is commonly grown as a houseplant, but may not have the appeal of the "monkey" for some.
Apparently Araucaria can be grown in pots according to the links provided by Newt in this thread. I would still like to hear from people who are doing this.
I have one at my parents place in south surrey growing in an old oak barrel. the barrel is on an old stump left from a Douglas Fir.. I planted the monkey puzzle from a two gallon pot I think, about 8 or 9 years ago. it is now about 8 feet tall and the lowest ring of branches spreads about 6 or 7 feet. it is in heavy shade beneath a pine, linden and an ash tree. It seems happy and gets no special treatment.
Although generally hardy, reaching a large size here, a few long-established specimens appeared to have been nailed in 1990. Containerized monkey puzzles may be vulnerable next time we have a killer winter - if this happens in our lifetimes (some climate scientists are predicting a warming trend). Roots of plants are much less hardy than their tops. Superficially similar, decidedly tender Araucaria bidwillii has been displayed outdoors, among hardy plants and sold by nurseries here in recent years. Is there a possibility your house plant is actually an example of this species? Or are you growing it in a clay pot outside your apartment?
