Buddist Pine

Buddist Pine Care

Podocarpus macrophyllus

Other names: Buddhist Pine, Fern Pine, Japanese Yew

What is the plant

Podocarpus is a very dense, upright, slow growing evergreen plant that originally came from China and Japan. It has long slender dark green leathery leaves. Podocarpus grows straight up with very little side branching unless it is actively pruned.

This plant is relatively simple to care for and adapts well to various conditions. It is easily trained to be a bonsai or a topiary. When planted outside in the ground a Podocarpus grows quite large, but when used indoors or on the porch as a potted plant, it remains a small tree or shrub. These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

15°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

min 7a

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Brown leaf tips or gray needles indicate over-watering. These plants do best in medium humidity. If your home is very dry, especially in the winter, set a small humidifier near your Podocarpus or place it on a bed of wet gravel. Be sure the plant is sitting on the gravel and not in the water.
Pruning
Propagate Podocarpus using soft wood stem cuttings in the early spring.
Fertilizer
Feed Podocarpus every two weeks in the spring and summer when it is actively growing. Use a plant food that is designed for acid loving plants such as Miracid at 1/2 the recommended strength.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Podocarpus requires very bright indirect light. If it is not getting enough light the lower needles on the branches become large and elongated.
Soil
Use a well-aerated acidic soil. Add perlite or sand if your soil seems too heavy or clay-like.
Temperature
Podocarpus prefer cool temperatures between 50-75 F.

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Container
Doesn`t require any special container but make sure there are enough drainage holes. To keep the plant moist you may need to place it on a bed of wet gravel.
Popularity
2,192 people already have this plant 285 people have added this plant to their wishlists