Hello everyone ! 

I need some help with my Podocarpus planted last year around summer. Not sure if it's the season "Winter" because in Florida we never really get cold weather but it definitely changes. My Podocarpus were very healthy and beautiful but lately I have found these concerning issues. I water once a week giving the season temperature, I keep it most until it shows dry on my meter so I can water again.  If it rains I skip until the meter shows from moist to dry before watering. I don't want to overwater but not sure if I should water more ? 

I recently added fertilizer first days of December and before that was summer after planted.
This is the product I used: Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Continuous Release Plant Food

Bellow some picture of my concerts, any help will be appreciated!

Did the problems start before or after you fertilized?

They do have so mold/mildew problems...

It looks like you have 'sooty mold' which is a fungus that grows on honeydew droppings from insects like aphids or scale. Since there are no visible aphids I'd go with scale. A systemic insecticide will control them or you can spray with Neem oil. It looks like it's planted in a pot so overwatering outside really isn't an issue unless it sits in water for days.

Thank you again for your help.

There is only two that I still have in pots with that black mold that I would like to clean before planting. From the other 12 planted ones, only one is developing that black mold so I need to take care of that asap. Is Neem oil then a good option ?

These concerns started before the last fertilization. Worth mentioning my soil is kind of sandy and clay, typical in central Florida, not sure how that affects podocarpus or watering.

Since I only shared zoomed pictures of my concerns, I would like to share some other pictures of how they look from far, to get your opinion on how they look overall ? They used to be more green and less yellowish, and new born branches used to be very clear green and now they are kind of brown like the first pictures. Not sure if the season also affects ?

Thank you!

Now I see what you're working with!
To control the insects that are causing the mold problem, use Neem oil. You will have to use it several times for control. The mold will eventually wash off.
It doesn't look like a watering or fertilizing problem. It's much drier here and we water 2-3 times a week in the summer.
You don't need to wait until you have the insect problem under control to plant the remaining plants.

Thank you very much,

I ordered some Neem oil and should arrive Thursday. Should I apply once every 3 days until the problem is gone or more like once a week ?

Also I am currently watering like once a week since the temperature is lower right now in Florida, about 70-80 during the day with lots of sun and 50-60 once the sun is down. No rain in a while now.

I usually always check the soil as well just in case. Not sure why twice I had two branches getting completely dry/dead like the pictures I showed ? is that normal ?

Thank you again !

Oswin

oswinondarza said:
I ordered some Neem oil and should arrive Thursday. Should I apply once every 3 days until the problem is gone or more like once a week ?

Read the entire label, including the warnings, and follow the instructions carefully. Neem is not easy to use.

Thank you again ! so I read carefully the instructions and applied according to it. Looks like next treatment is in 7 days based on results.

Here are some more pictures from my second floor on how the plants look. I zoomed one particular that is concerning me. Also some pictures on my concerns about the new born branches which used to be super green and now they are brownish. Thank you again for any advice !

The damage on that new growth looks a lot like thrips, although I've never seen them feed on Podocarpus. The neem should do the trick, given time and repeat applications. If things get worse, post some more pics.

Hello! Thanks for all the recommendations, indeed there is poor water drainage around my plants, that gray clay soil I have is horrible (see pictures attached), I guess the construction company must have removed all top good soil when levering the site ( this is a new construction site from 1 year ago). I have removed as much as possible of the bad gray clay soil around the plants to add some much better soil, the gray clay soil I removed was completely wet and it's been weeks without rain.

The plants are looking way better, darker green and no black mold after oil treatment plus raising a bit with light soap and water.

However I still have issues with the tips of the new branches, they seem like burned, would it be the very cold days we just passed or the fertilizer (too much?) or any other factor ? I know for a fact it is not lack of waiter because I was having the opposite problem like you said, poor drainage.

Thank for the help !

Good job! The brown tips could be from a brief freeze damaging the new growth.