Podocarpus

[MrFancyPlants]

I collected this guy about the same time last year and put it on the back porch at my moms place in north central Florida. It is generally a risky proposition to leave plants at my mom's but this one seems to have done ok. Perhaps because my mom actually likes it. I followed the general recommendation to pick a main trunk, but I left a few secondary trunks, because I figured it might help out with the basal flare.
I could replant this into a pond basket that I saw sitting around, but I will probably leave it where it is and find a new recruit for the pond basket. There are lots of live oaks , elms, a few winged elms, and some sand pines around that would probably survive unattended only if in a pond basket.
I am debating messing with the podocarpus this visit, although I may just let it go another year. I know they don't like having their roots messed with, but how would they do with a chop?

 

[mat]

I have a couple of small ones. They seem to do okay with heavy pruning/trunk-chopping. It's hard to tell how thick the trunk is in your photo, but it seems like it may be pretty skinny. Just remember that if you want the base to get bigger, then you don't want to chop foliage off the top. The more leaves it has the faster ther trunk will grow. Good luck.

 

[stacy allen muse]

????????????

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Thanks for the input, I'll let it go at least another year or two and then reconsider my options.

 

[nathanbs]

As Mat said when you do chop it they do respond very well and back bud like crazy. Do it in warm weather.

 

[Neli]

Sorry to disrupt your thread, but I have a plant that looks just like yours and dont know the name. Could it be a podocarpus too?
Sorry for the bad picture.

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

Sorry to disrupt your thread, but I have a plant that looks just like yours and dont know the name. Could it be a podocarpus too?View attachment 29274
Sorry for the bad picture.

It's hard to tell but I'm 80% that's a weeping podocarpus. I've never seen one bonsai-ed but it would make an awesome tree! Can't wait to get my hands on some...

In regards to your podo- everyone has good advice. Let it hang out for a little while, if for nothing else it's hard to have a scale looking mame or even shohin podo. I've had great success with root pruning podos here in Florida. I've done several 70-80% root reductions and the trees don't miss a beat. I collected about a 14" caliper podo earlier this year (it was about 500 lbs...) and must have easily cut 80-90% of the roots off and it's still pushing new growth. I will say it doesn't look spectacular, but alive none the less.

Good luck!

 

[Si Nguyen]

I collected this guy about the same time last year and put it on the back porch at my moms place in north central Florida. It is generally a risky proposition to leave plants at my mom's but this one seems to have done ok. Perhaps because my mom actually likes it. I followed the general recommendation to pick a main trunk, but I left a few secondary trunks, because I figured it might help out with the basal flare.
I could replant this into a pond basket that I saw sitting around, but I will probably leave it where it is and find a new recruit for the pond basket. There are lots of live oaks , elms, a few winged elms, and some sand pines around that would probably survive unattended only if in a pond basket.
I am debating messing with the podocarpus this visit, although I may just let it go another year. I know they don't like having their roots messed with, but how would they do with a chop?

View attachment 29237

Hi Fancypant, this tree is small and is perfect for wiring now. Just wire the entire trunk and twist it . By leaning it and twisting it, you can effectively reduce the height of it by at least half, all without chopping anything. Then leave it alone for a few years. You can always chop off any bad curve later. This little tree should make good bonsai.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

A few of my characteristically bad photos. Looks like I never got much movement wired in, but the trunk is nice and honking. I wonder if I should take back with me to SC?