Water your trees when the soil gets slightly dry. Adding organic compost to the soil or using compost as mulch can also help to increase acidity and maintain acid soil conditions. These hardy, drought-tolerant pine yews need moist, but not damp soil to grow. The Arnold Arboretum recommends placing your palm flat on the soil. If you notice gray leaves, reduce watering. The plant can look somewhat sparse and spindly when young, so cut it back in spring, if you do nothing else. Alternatively, you can feed with a natural organic plant food. Keep the seeds in the refrigerator for about two months or until roots appear. Podocarpus Plant: How to Grow for Podocarpus Hedge or Tree - Leafy Place How often should I water Podocarpus? - Question Library Not only will you want to pick a color of container that goes well with foliage color and texture of your Podocarpus, you'll also want to pick a container that matches the style of your home or other structures and other plants in the surrounding environment. However, the color will look deeper and richer in a shadier spot than in a sunny one. Apart from its impressive nutrient content for plants, blood meal is a non-synthetic, high-protein animal feed. This shrubby plant has a short height and doesnt require much pruning. Prefers winter temperatures between 61-68F. If you care well for your Podocarpus shrubs, the hedges will grow with minimal care for many years. Podocarpus hedges have a few specific care needs when it comes to the right kind of soil. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants. Growing in the shade, the plants foliage can be sparse, and the leaf color dark green. Podocarpus will reach a mature height as short as 2 feet or well over 100 feet, depending on the species and growing conditions. African Fern Pine is dioecious with separate male and female plants. If this occurs, water deeply. All Rights Reserved. Scale Management Guidelines--UC IPM - ucanr.edu To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Podocarpus Plant after it doubles in size or once a yearwhichever comes first. If you're unsure about the pH of your soil, and whether or not it's suitable for growing Podocarpus, it's a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area. Almost any site will do for this plant, although good drainage, average water, at least six hours of sun per day, and moderately fertile soil will promote the best growth. 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. Learn how to get instant curb appeal with fast growing plants and landscaping techniques! Podocarpus can be grown successfully indoors in a well-lit spot. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening andPlant Care Review Board. How to Water Trees and Shrubs with Drip Irrigation (and Tips!)