How to Grow and Care for Rice-Leaf Podocarpus

Rice-leaf podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Maki') is a type of podocarpus, and because its leaves look like grains of rice, it is named rice-leaf podocarpus. Rice-leaf podocarpus bonsai is suitable for making miniature bonsai; its leaves are relatively small, it looks quite delicate and compact, and it grows very slowly. Because rice-leaf podocarpus consists entirely of male plants, it will not bloom or bear fruit. Being evergreen all year round and having a long lifespan are its characteristics. Below is an introduction to how to grow rice-leaf podocarpus.

1. Light

Podocarpus is a tree species that is neutral to shade-tolerant; it can accept relatively strong light and can also grow in a shadier environment. Although summer temperatures are high and sunlight is intense, because large podocarpus trees benefit from high temperatures and strong light in maintaining their tree shape and leaf form, there is no need to shade large podocarpus trees in summer. However, because podocarpus seedlings have tender tissues, they should not be exposed to strong light for long periods, and it is best to place them under tree shade for care.

2. Temperature

In garden plots, rice-leaf podocarpus should be placed in a humid location with good air circulation in summer, and indoors above 5°C in winter. However, the temperature should not be too high, so as not to affect its dormancy.

3. Watering

Podocarpus is tolerant of shade and moisture, and during the growing season it should be watered frequently, but it should not be waterlogged. In summer, spray water on the leaves often to keep the leaf color fresh green and the growth healthy.

4. Fertilizing

Shaped bonsai should not be fertilized too much; in spring, appropriately apply 1 to 2 times of dilute cake fertilizer water, and stop fertilizing in autumn to avoid sprouting autumn shoots, which is unfavorable for overwintering.

5. Styling

The styling of rice-leaf podocarpus is mostly carried out during the dormant period, mainly by wiring, with pruning as a supplement. Because the branches of rice-leaf podocarpus are soft and pliable, they are easy to wire, and pruning can also be carried out, so the styling forms are diverse. Common forms include curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, reclining-cloud style, cliff style, and exposed-root style, etc. The branches and leaves can be pruned into layered or bun-shaped forms.