Description
Growing Podocarpus is an easy way to add a tropical flair to your garden. When you know how to care for Podocarpus plants, you will be rewarded with many years of lovely evergreen plant.What makes it special:
- One of the best attractive evergreen foliage plants.
- Low maintenance plant.
- It remains a shrub or a small tree when grown in a tub or pot..
| Sr | Item name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Podocarpus Macrophyllus, Buddhist Pine, Fern Pine - Plant |
Podocarpus macrophyllus is a conifer in the genus Podocarpus, family Podocarpaceae.It is a small to medium size evergreen tree.The leaves are strap-shaped, 6,12 cm long, and about 1 cm broad, with a central midrib.
The cones are borne on a short stem, and have 2-4 scales, usually only one (sometimes two) fertile, each fertile scale bearing a single seed, But mainly grown for ornamental purpose.Podocarpus macrophyllus occurs in forests, open thickets, and roadsides. Podocarpus is a very tolerant plant, easy to care for, and survives a wide range of temperature. It is a versatile plant which can thrive in tubs or as a topiary.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.Plant Specifications
| Plant Height | 12 inch (30 cm) |
| Plant Spread | 4 inch (10 cm) |
*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%
| Common Name | Yew plum pine,Buddhist pine, Kusamaki, Fern Pine. |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 6-12 meter |
| Bloom Time | Non-flowering |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
Planting and care
Refer our Garden Guide for detailed procedures and meanings of words related to gardening.
Sunlight
- Morning sunlight of 3-6 hours a day is ideal and plant grow well in bright light for rest of the day.
- The soil should be well drained, fertile and rich in organic content for growing Podocarpus plant.
- Poke your finger/plain small stick into the soil to check the moisture.
- Apply 3 cup(approx.150ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch.
- Do not overwater the plant.
- As a rule of thumb, water the plants thoroughly in summer and reduce watering in winter and rainy season.
- Water should be applied preferably in the morning or evening.
- Before application of fertilizer loosen the topsoil without disturbing the roots of the plant so, it can uptake the nutrients and moisture easily.
- Apply organic fertilizer to the plant once in a month.
- Apply water immediately after application of fertilizer.
- Remove dead, infected or damaged plant parts and discard them away from the plants.
- For any insect attack or disease, you can use Neem oil, Eucalyptus oil or Citrus oil spray for primary treatment.
Donts
- Do not overwater the plant specially when pot doesnt have drainage hole.
Podocarpus Macrophyllus care
Initial care for 1-2 weeks after receiving plant at your location:
- Poke your finger/plain small stick into the soil to check the moisture.
- Apply 3 cup(approx.150ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch.
- Keep the plant in indirect bright light.
- Do not re-pot for min. 2 weeks after receiving it.
Key requirements to keep plant healthy:
| Sunlight | Natural bright light with morning sunlight(3-6 hours) |
| Watering | Apply 3 cup(approx.150ml) of water when the top soil (1-2 inch) in the pot feels dry to touch |
| Soil | Well drained, fertile and rich in organic content |
| Temperature | 20-40 Degree Celsius |
| Fertilizer | Apply organic fertilizer to the plant once in a month |
Podocarpus Macrophyllus special feature
It is a versatile plant which can thrive in tubs or as a topiary. The plant can be used to make a bonsai as well.
Podocarpus Macrophyllus uses
Ornamental Use:
- This plant makes a good hedge or screen, and can grow either indoors or outdoors
Medicinal Use:
- The stem bark is used in the treatment of worms (especially ringworm) and blood disorders
- A decoction of the fruit is tonic for the heart, kidneys, lungs and stomach
- Note: The following information is general guidelines, be sure to ask your healthcare provider for guidelines