Joseph, I've had a norfolk island pine in the same very large pot for nearly 20 years. Regular potting soil will be fine. If you want to add a little extra perlite, I'm sure that would be fine. The Norfolk pines grow naturally in rain forests so they like to be sprinkled from the top down with water....meaning, water the needles as well as the soil. And Happy Birthday!

It's a container plant / greenhouse plant / houseplant in almost almost all of texas. it is not very cold hardy. I'm surprised someone has kept it going in a pot for 20 years. grows to well over 100 feet tall

Todd, with pot it's about 8 feet tall. I have a large greenhouse so it goes in for the winter then comes out again in the spring. They are easy to care for, so it's been a breeze to keep it going for so long. I'm west of San Antonio so our winters aren't too bad.

My sister, who lives in N.W San Antonio, grew one as a house plant for years and years. When it was taking up too much room in the house she kept it on a covered patio year round and pulled it close to the house in the winter. It lived there for years and years and finally it died as a result of an especially cold winter. Other than being susceptible to freezing temps they are a very forgiving plant. I think I repotted my sister's tree once.

With such a graceful growing habit what a beauty a hundred ft. tree must be!

I saw some tall ones at Port Aransas, not 100 footers but well over the rooftops.