Podocarpus Care Guide

Our Podocarpus care guide has everything you need to know about this upright, dense evergreen. Podocarpus has pointed, leathery, dark green leaves arranged on stiff, symmetrical branches and work very well as a screen, hedge, strong accent plant, or a framing tree. The crown forms a pyramidal to oval outline. Nagi Podocarpus is usually seen at 30-40 feet in height due to the moderately slow growth rate, although they are capable of reaching 90 feet in height. Compact branching habit and very dark green foliage make this a dense tree, in full sun more open but surprisingly dense in the shade.

Old Podocarpus bonsai are impressive with their stately elegance. Although trunk and bark formation always takes quite a few years, their growth varies with climate – slow-growing indoors and towards the cooler end of their range, fast-growing in sunny areas. Their evergreen leaves are similar in formation and shape to yews, although Podocarpus leaves are larger – just under two inches to a maximum of four inches.

LIGHTING – For best Podocarpus care, provide direct sunlight. Too little light will result in large, elongated leaves. Podocarpus can survive, however, on as little as 800 lumens. Can suffer leaf burn in some very sun-intense areas, therefore they require shade during the hottest part of the day.

TEMPERATURE – Zones 9 – 11. For best results, keep above 55 degrees. If you are looking to grow Podocarpus indoors, it is possible if you have a well-lit spot. Prefers temps between 61-68 degrees.

WATERING – Likes slightly moist soil but be sure to provide adequate drainage. Gray needles are a sign of overwatering. Appreciates humidity indoors.

FEEDING – We recommend Peters 20-20-20, fish emulsion, and fertilizer cakes. Growing indoors and don’t like the fishy smell? You can use liquid bonsai fertilizer applied every two weeks in warm weather and every six during winter. Podocarpus likes slightly acidic soil so a dose of Miracid several times a year is helpful. These plants need additional iron and magnesium; iron is partially supplied by the Miracid. In addition, apply a dose of chelated iron twice yearly. To prevent magnesium deficiency, use 2-3 applications of Epsom Salts ( 1 tbs per gallon of water) a year.

PRUNING & WIRING: Young Podocarpus plants have a tendency to grow straight up with no side branching. This is easily remedied by cutting them back hard which will result in aggressive back budding. Pinch back new growth as necessary and remove oversized needles. If half of the bud is pinched away, back budding is stimulated and leaf reduction will occur. Cutting the leaves will only in brown edges. Smaller replacement leaves will not necessarily form. Wire lignified wood for 2-3 months being careful to watch for any signs that the wire is beginning to cut into the bark. Green wood may be wired loosely. Old Podocarpus wood becomes very rigid and is difficult to bend. They are suitable for all sizes and styles except broom. You can successfully incorporate driftwood into the design.

PROPAGATION – Podocarpus roots easily from cuttings. The best method seems to be simply to place softwood (preferably new growth) cuttings in water until roots form, then transplanting them into bonsai soil. Hardwood cuttings require the use of rooting hormone and bottom heat. Although it is possible to grow Podocarpus from seed, seeds can be hard to obtain.

REPOTTING – Every 3-4 years during spring. Only prune roots by 10-15%.

PESTS & DISEASES – Scale, mealy bugs, and sooty mold. Root rot can occur in soils with poor drainage. Because of this, be sure to use well-draining soil.