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Fern Pine

4.3 out of 5 (7 experiences)

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

Also known as

Podocarpus Plant, Podocarpus Plant, Buddist Pine and Chinese Yew

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Podocarpus macrophyllus

Genus

Podocarpus

Family

Podocarpaceae

Order

Pinales

How to care for Fern Pine

💦 Water

How often to water your Fern Pine

Fern Pine needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Podocarpus Plant in your home

Fern Pine may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Fern Pine in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Fern Pine

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Fern Pine: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Fern Pine after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Fern Pine is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Podocarpus Plant →

Benefits of Growing Podocarpus Plant →

Common Podocarpus Plant Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Podocarpus Plant →

Outdoor Care Guide for Podocarpus Plant →

💦 Water Needs

Fern Pine prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Podocarpus Plant Water Frequency →

Podocarpus Plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Fern Pine may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Podocarpus Plant Light Requirements →

Podocarpus Plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Fern Pine is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Fern Pine does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Podocarpus Plant →

Best Pots for Podocarpus Plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot Podocarpus Plant →

What Are Healthy Podocarpus Plant Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Fern Pine grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Podocarpus Plant →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Fern Pine grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Podocarpus Plant Lifecycle →

Podocarpus Plant Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Podocarpus Plant →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Fern Pine can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Podocarpus Plant Temperature Tolerance →

Podocarpus Plant Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Podocarpus Plant →

When to Plant Podocarpus Plant →

How to Plant Podocarpus Plant →

Where to Plant Podocarpus Plant →

Winter Care for Podocarpus Plant →

Best Companion Plants for Podocarpus Plant →

Is Podocarpus Plant a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Fern Pine can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Podocarpus Plant →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Fern Pine, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.