Question
Dear Mr Hyland,

Thanks for taking my question. I live in Canada. I'd like to know if it's possible to keep any conifers indoors all year long. I just love the smell of those trees and would like to keep some inside my home, in pots or whatever. I keep my home cool and well lighted. Your advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer
Some conifers can be used as houseplants and some species survive indoor conditions quite well. This is the only practical means of growing tropical conifers in temperate climates although not all conifers will tolerate indoor conditions well.

Conifers that do well as houseplants are those which can meet the following conditions:


1. able to grow under relatively low-light intensities;
2. do not require exposure to a pronounced cold period;
3. can tolerate alternate wetting and drying of the soil;
4. can tolerate diurnal temperature variations.

The Norfolk Island pine, Araucaria heterophylla, is a tree widely used for indoor culture. Other species of Araucaria can also be grown indoors. The cultivar "Goldcrest" of Cupressus macrocarpa is often sold as a houseplant as are juvenile forms of several species of Pinus (e.g. P. canariensis or P. pinea)

Here is the web link sited above.http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0453E/X0453e07.htm