Commonly known as the Sago palm, the exotic-looking cycad is a remnant of the age of dinosaurs. Growing cycads is easy if you give them the right conditions. These slow-growing plants are found around the world in warm, arid areas. They are impressive in the garden or on your sun porch.
A common name for them is Sago palm. This plant has a woody stem that can grow entirely underground or several feet above it. They are usually three to five feet tall but may be as tall as ten. Their leaves form a rosette at the crown, as the side leaves fall off. Seed is produced in cones in female cycads; the male plant also has a cone but it produces pollen. Pollination is done by different species of beetle.
Scientists think there were hundreds of species of these primitive evergreens which are now extinct. However, several hundred species are still found in warm, dry regions in Australia, Africa, Mexico, Central America, China, Japan, and arid islands around the oceans. Some look more like tree ferns than palms.
These little trees will not thrive in heavy, wet soils. They prefer the rocky, dry lands they grow in naturally but will do fine any warm place with very good drainage. In the garden, they like to be watered twice a week in summer; in winter, they can be left alone. The tuberous roots are home to a blue-green algae in the wild; this algae fixes nitrogen from the air and feeds the plant. Cycads grow fine in terra cotta pots that are kept moist but never allowed to be water-logged. They don't need to be re-potted often, since they do best when root-bound.
In the garden, these hardy plants like twice a week watering in summer. In winter, they need little extra attention. They require light fertilizing four times a year to flourish. Look for a special palm food that contains phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
Some species of plants that come from very dry areas will produce a protective wax that slows evaporation from the leaves. This waxy coating, which can be rubbed off with the fingers, makes the leaves look blue. The color ranges from silvery-white to deeper blue, but even 'blue' plants will turn green in humid conditions. This is because the plant will stop producing the wax if it's not needed.
As house plants, the cycad is particular. However, if given what it needs, the plant is easy to care for. It needs excellent drainage, lots of natural light, and a constant temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not be placed near a source of heat, since the soil should never dry out completely. Outside, they will be perennials in southern zones if given full sun, excellent drainage, and regular watering.
The impressive cycad attracts attention in the garden or indoors. If given the right conditions, they are long-lived, slow-growing, and easy to care for. The attractive blue color can be maintained in low-humidity rooms or gardens. If you are looking for an exotic touch for your home, you should check out the living fossil Sago palm.
A common name for them is Sago palm. This plant has a woody stem that can grow entirely underground or several feet above it. They are usually three to five feet tall but may be as tall as ten. Their leaves form a rosette at the crown, as the side leaves fall off. Seed is produced in cones in female cycads; the male plant also has a cone but it produces pollen. Pollination is done by different species of beetle.
Scientists think there were hundreds of species of these primitive evergreens which are now extinct. However, several hundred species are still found in warm, dry regions in Australia, Africa, Mexico, Central America, China, Japan, and arid islands around the oceans. Some look more like tree ferns than palms.
These little trees will not thrive in heavy, wet soils. They prefer the rocky, dry lands they grow in naturally but will do fine any warm place with very good drainage. In the garden, they like to be watered twice a week in summer; in winter, they can be left alone. The tuberous roots are home to a blue-green algae in the wild; this algae fixes nitrogen from the air and feeds the plant. Cycads grow fine in terra cotta pots that are kept moist but never allowed to be water-logged. They don't need to be re-potted often, since they do best when root-bound.
In the garden, these hardy plants like twice a week watering in summer. In winter, they need little extra attention. They require light fertilizing four times a year to flourish. Look for a special palm food that contains phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
Some species of plants that come from very dry areas will produce a protective wax that slows evaporation from the leaves. This waxy coating, which can be rubbed off with the fingers, makes the leaves look blue. The color ranges from silvery-white to deeper blue, but even 'blue' plants will turn green in humid conditions. This is because the plant will stop producing the wax if it's not needed.
As house plants, the cycad is particular. However, if given what it needs, the plant is easy to care for. It needs excellent drainage, lots of natural light, and a constant temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not be placed near a source of heat, since the soil should never dry out completely. Outside, they will be perennials in southern zones if given full sun, excellent drainage, and regular watering.
The impressive cycad attracts attention in the garden or indoors. If given the right conditions, they are long-lived, slow-growing, and easy to care for. The attractive blue color can be maintained in low-humidity rooms or gardens. If you are looking for an exotic touch for your home, you should check out the living fossil Sago palm.
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