When receiving the Norfolk Pine, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes. Repot this little guy in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.) Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Fill in around your container and the bottom with equal parts of sterilized potting soil, coconut coir, and sand or perlite, with one tablespoon of bone meal to encourage root growth. Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit overnight. Add well-draining interior potting soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim them off with sterile pruners. Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. Do not water again until the soil is registering three on the plant meter. If soil settling occurs after watering, add more periodically but do not cover the trunk above the surface.
