A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods for Making Podocarpus Bonsai

Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus) is a plant species of extremely high value. It is an evergreen tree of the family Podocarpaceae and genus Podocarpus, with a broad ovate crown and strip-shaped lanceolate leaves. It has the powerful, vigorous root system characteristic of plants of the order Pinales and evergreen leaves, and its branches are soft and flexible, making it very suitable for growing as an ornamental bonsai. Let us take a look together below at how to make a Podocarpus bonsai!

Podocarpus Growing Habits

Podocarpus prefers a warm, humid climate, has weak cold tolerance and strong shade tolerance, and favors well-drained, moist sandy loam. It is highly adaptable to soil and can even survive on saline-alkali soil. It has strong resistance to a variety of polluting gases such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxides, and strong resistance to pests and diseases. In China it is produced in places such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong, and is cultivated in gardens as an ornamental tree; wild trees are extremely rare.

Podocarpus Bonsai Propagation

1. Sowing: Seed propagation of Podocarpus can be carried out in August, usually in an open-field seedbed, sowing as soon as the seeds are collected, covering with rice straw, taking care to shade, and keeping the substrate moist. In winter it must be covered with plastic film to protect against freezing.

2. Cuttings: Cutting propagation of Podocarpus can be carried out in spring and autumn. For spring cuttings, in mid-March, select 1-year-old robust dormant branches as cuttings. For autumn cuttings, in July to August, select semi-lignified green branches as cuttings. The cuttings should all have a heel; take care to shade them, and March is the most suitable time for transplanting.

Potting and Styling of Podocarpus

1. Potting: Podocarpus is usually potted before it sprouts in spring, and the potting soil should be a loose, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam. Because Podocarpus has a simple, elegant and refined posture, it is best to use a purple clay pot or a glazed pottery pot for cultivation, with the pot shape determined by the tree shape.

2. Styling: The styling of Podocarpus is mostly carried out during the dormant period, mainly by wiring, with pruning as a supplement. Because the branches of Podocarpus are soft and easy to wire, and can also be pruned, its forms are diverse. Common forms include the curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, lying-cloud style, cliff style and exposed-root style, and the branches and leaves can be pruned into flat layers or bun shapes.

Podocarpus Bonsai Care

1. Location: In summer, Podocarpus should be placed in a warm, humid, well-ventilated place, and in winter it should be placed indoors at above 5°C, but the temperature should not be too high, so as not to affect its dormancy. Household potted Podocarpus should be kept outdoors in a ventilated place all year round and must not be left indoors for long periods, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and drop, leading to death. In summer, when temperatures are high, it should not be exposed to the sun and needs to be kept in a semi-shaded place.

2. Watering: Podocarpus likes moist soil. During the growing season it should be watered frequently to keep the potting soil moist, but water must not accumulate in the pot. In summer, water should often be sprayed on the leaves or the ground. Watering should be sufficient and thorough, which can keep the leaf color bright and beautiful. In autumn and winter, the amount of water can be appropriately reduced.

3. Fertilizing: During the spring and autumn growing seasons, Podocarpus only needs 1 to 2 applications of a nitrogen-based top dressing; there is no need for excessive phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Podocarpus that has already been shaped should not be fertilized too much. Usually during the growing season, apply a dilute, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once every 1 month, and stop fertilizing after the beginning of autumn.

4. Pruning: Podocarpus should be pruned frequently to maintain its tree shape. When it flowers, it is best to remove the flower buds promptly to avoid consuming nutrients. For bonsai that have already been styled, attention must be paid to pinching and pruning to prevent the branches and leaves from growing excessively, so as to maintain the original posture. Pruning and pinching are best carried out during the spring and autumn growing periods.

5. Repotting: Podocarpus is usually repotted once every 2 to 3 years, generally in March to April.

6. Pests and diseases: Podocarpus is mainly harmed by leaf spot disease and anthracnose, which can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. Insect pests include scale insects, red spider mites and large bagworm moths, which can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.