Podocarpus

Bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sun (right in the window where sun actually hits the leaves. A strong grow light 4-6 inches away can substitute) indoors (east or west-facing window). low light (more than 8 feet from a window, or a north-facing room. A grow light 10-12 inches away works great if your windows are not cutting it) results in sparse, elongated foliage. Outdoors, grows in full sun (6 or more hours of sun hitting the leaves per day. South-facing window, no obstructions. Under grow lights, keep them 4-8 inches away for 12-14 hours) to partial shade.

Prefers moderate humidity (40-60%. Most homes are fine, but a pebble tray helps in winter when heating dries the air out) of 40-60%. Use pebble trays or a humidifier in dry indoor environments.

Well-draining, organically rich potting mix with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Standard all-purpose mixes work well.

Scale, whiteflies, and aphids can occur but pests are rarely a serious problem. Root rot from overwatering is the main risk. Needle blight is a fungal issue linked to poor drainage. Tolerates air pollution, drought when established, and poor soils.