Hey, I have a pine tree that I've had potted growing for a while and I have a few questions. I believe I have some suckers and I do not know if I need to get rid of them or not. Also some pines are discolored to being a bit darker than the rest, some near black or brown. Also there was a dead branch I removed a few days ago and it appears that the area around the dead limb has some dead needles as well. I appreciate any help as I am pretty new to plant keeping.

Can you pos some photos of the entire tree?

Here's the whole tree

First, although the common name is Norfolk Pine, your tree is not a pine, its an Araucaria. I assume you repotted it, hopefully in fast draining soil. It needs full sun and water when the top inch or more of soil is dry.

Your tree could be suffering from transplant shock, depending upon how long ago you repotted. Or overwatering if the soil isn't drying sufficiently between watering.

Did you put anything at the bottom of the pot? Pot shards or gravel impede water flow.

Your tree could be growing a second leader, Araucaria are known for that. It won't harm the tree. If stems are coming up directly from the soil, its probably a second tree.

I just know that it was purchased from a store near the beginning of this year. I believe we got it potted then. Would that be close enough for transplant shock? Would over watering also cause the place on the side of the trunk where the branch died? Also should it be repotted? I have heard that the pot might be too small for its current size.

No, not transplant shock from January so probably overwatering.

No, don't repot. It is the beginning of Norfolk Pine dormant season. They have very small root systems so that pot could be big enough for several more years.

I don't see a problem with that spot on the trunk except that's where the second leader grew from.

Thank you so much!!! This is really helpful!!!! Also what is a second leader? There was a branch there but it went all dead, brown needles and stiff. Is that bad?

No, not bad but a very Araucaria thing to do. The trunk starts as a single stem and then a second stem grows up beside the first. I don't think the dead branch you removed is an issue but I didn't see it.