Iget the feeling you do not know what a podocarpus is, since it does not have "leaves, it has branches like a fir tree and certain branches turn brown, some from bottom, some in middle, some in just a few places. If grown from cuttings or grafts of a mature tree, plants have the smaller, more closely set leaves just described, but they have very limber branches and are often reluctant to make strong vertical growth. This plant is relatively simple to care for and adapts well to various conditions. I will bring the branches to a local arborvitist to get answers. The bark is dark brown and gets furrowed and scaly with age. Old Podocarpus bonsai are impressive with their stately elegance. It is easily trained to be a bonsai Learn how to grow bonsai plants, and which plants make the best bonsai plants at Houseplant411.com or a … If any the roots appear shriveled and dead or smell rotten, use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut the dead roots from the plant before repotting your bonsai… In southern Asia the podocarpus is a very common bonsai and very large specimen in huge concrete or stone pots are often seen in front of parks, properties, company buildings or hotels. They have tear-shaped, hard-shelled bodies, averaging 3/8 inch long. If your bonsai leaves are discolored or your plant has a bit of a rotten smell, carefully lift the tree out of its pot to examine the roots for root rot. The leaves begin to go dry (turn brown) on their outer edges, and if the plant is not quickly watered, including being sprayed with a fine mist, they will end up drying out completely. Regular potting mix is too dense and becomes compacted, eventually suffocating the tree’s roots. These more willowy plants, suitable for espalier, hanging pots, or growing as vines along fences, are often sold as Podocarpus elongatus. We did have a cold spell a few days after we planted them here in CA where temperatures dropped to high 20's at night for 3/4 days. In warm regions the buddhist pine is often used for hedges, ornamental shrubs or niwaki. 1 In the most extreme cases, when conditions are ideal for the fungus to spread quickly, plants can die within 10 days. Drastic weather changes : Warm weather in winter prompts shrubs to start growing, but if there’s a sudden temperature drop, that growth stops in its tracks. The south wall will be … Have lots of new growth coming but some of the stems and green are turning a rust colored brown and appear to by dieing off. Weevil larvae, white grubs with brown heads, feed on Yew roots deep in the soil. what causes Podocarpus leaves/branches to turn a rust colored brown We planted several podocarpus trees about 24 inches high. Leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow or fall off, growth slows, and blooming may be delayed. A bonsai-specific soil mix allows water to drain without becoming compacted. I planted 53 podocarpus gracilior 5 gallon plants roughly 5/6 feet tall about 3 weeks ago about 4 feet apart to create a 210 foot hedge. Black Vine Weevils - Black vine weevils are a serious pest of Yews. Adults are brown beetles with long snouts. Extreme temperature: Frigid weather can shock shrubs into a brown cast, and extreme heat can turn shrub leaves dry and dull, too. A typical bonsai soil is a mostly inorganic mixture of lava rock, pumice, fine gravel, organic potting compost, and a clay-like soil called Akadama. They feed on leaves and bark, chewing out distinctive notches along the edges of needles. Thanks. A Podocarpus grows straight up with very little side branching unless it is actively pruned. Although trunk and bark formation will take quite a few years, Podocarpus growth varies with climate - slow-growing indoors and towards the cooler end of their range, fast-growing in sunny areas. It is easy to understand that in order to function properly, plants need a quantity of water that is at least equal to that used to carry out all their functions. Readers podocarpus with leaf scorch: Podocarpus showing very little podocarpus: A. Judging from the picture you sent showing the leaves turning brown, I really do not think it's going to be a continuing problem for you on the north wall once this is corrected. All them the leaves at the ends are turning brown.