The Monkey Puzzle Tree does well in a damp atmosphere and in moist, but not soaked, loamy soil. If the ground is full of grit, the lower branches will die and the trees soon lose their vigor. A. excelsa thrives best in a sunroom or cool greenhouse and should have a compost of two-thirds loam and one-third leaf mold, with a bit of sand added. These plants should be repotted yearly until they are placed in 7 or 8-inch pots. Once they are in these size pots, they will not need to be repotted, though it is beneficial to remove some of the old surface soil in the spring and replace with fresh compost. A sprinkling of fertilizer every month from March to September will keep the plants vigorous.