The Araucaria plant is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the family Araucariaceae. The plant has been traced back to the Jurassic era and is renowned for its needle-like leaves.
Benefits of Araucaria Plant
The Araucaria is a permanent plant and is relatively low maintenance and does well with minimum but appropriate care.
Ornamental :
The Araucaria plant is widely used for ornamentation in landscaping and gardening due to its beautifully conical shape.
Long-living plants :
The Araucaria plant lives long and strong and provides ample shade and a home for birds.
Helps the Environment :
The Araucaria plant is very effective in controlling soil erosion. Its dense growth makes it a great option for stabilizing slopes, to prevent landslides and soil erosion.
Christmas Trees :
The Araucaria plant is used as the beloved Christmas Tree, which is symbolic of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated globally with great pomp and show.
Care Tips For Araucaria Plant
Watering :
Water the Araucaria plant only when the top soil looks dry. Water thoroughly so that the water can reach the roots.
Light :
The Araucaria is a plant that does extremely well in temperatures between 15 - 30 degrees Celsius. Keep it in full sunlight during this time. In the tropics, during summers, try to keep the plant in partial shade. You can keep the plant under the shade of a bigger plant.
Placement :
The Araucaria plant does well both as an indoor and outdoor plant.
Fertilisation :
The Araucaria is not a very demanding plant. You can use vermicompost or cow dung compost every 15 days to maintain its nutrition balance.
It can easily be propagated from seeds or cuttings.
Ideal Soil Mix :
The Araucaria plant requires porous, well-draining soil. The ideal soil mix for this plant is, Cocopeat (50%) + Garden Soil (30%) + Vermicompost (20%).
Pruning :
It is very important to consistently prune the Araucaria plant to give it a better shape and encourage rapid growth. You can sow the cuttings from the plant directly into the soil, after removing leaves from the lowermost portion of the cutting.
Pest Control :
The Araucaria is a non-fussy plant and is less prone to pest attacks. Control the pests by using neem oil spray every week on the leaves.
