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Sago Palm Overwinter

15 years ago

I have had a Sago for some years now, maybe 4 or 5 in a pot. I want to plant it in the ground. I'm in zone 6b and because of the fact that we unfortunately get frosts and freezes here, I will have to bring it in during the winter months. Can I plant it in the ground for summer and then in the late fall, dig it up and store it dormant in the basement? I do this with my bananas in a similar manner and the bananas come back fine.

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Comments (7)

dbrya1
15 years ago
I left my sago in the ground all winter,at the southeast corner of my house,about 2 ft away,from the foundation,covered it with plastic,it came back,and just now finished with the first flush,by the way it was just 2 ft away from my trachycarpus which would have been it's second overwinter in the ground,and it died!So is the sago hardy than the T.fortunei.

Don
gardenguy_
Original Author
15 years ago
Interesting dbryal!

Can the Sago handle being dug up and stored in a pot in the basement to induce dormancy?
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I leave mine out until sometime in November. When lows in the low 20s are predicted, you should bring it inside. Perhaps in a garage. They don't need a lot of sun in winter, although lower fronds may yellow. I used to put mine in a dimly lit basement overwinter and kept it barely moist. This year I'll keep in garage with a window. When weather warms again during the winter, I'll set it outside, but keep an eye on temps. Temps around 15 - 20 degrees will kill foliage but will probably not hurt the trunk. Below 15, trunk and root damage can occur. I left mine out too late last year (December) and 40% of foliage was frozen. In early Spring I simply cut off all the foliage and it reflushed beautifully. In Spring set it in a shady area until it acclimates to brighter light otherwise you'll burn foliage. Don't encourage any growth in winter. New foliage looks best when developing in full sun (otherwise it lengthens terribly).
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islandbreeze
15 years ago
Why not just bury the pot in ground and lift it out when its time to bring it in? That way you don't have to disturb the roots. As for dormancy, I think cooler temperatures and holding back water should do the trick. I store mine in my unheated but insulated garage. It does have some window light, but I only water it maybe once a winter, and in the dead of winter temps can run in the upper 30s in there constantly, and it does great. Its almost done uncurling leaves from its new flush. I'm hoping to maybe get 1 more flush out of it this year, but maybe thats wishful thinking lol.
dbrya1
15 years ago
Like most cycads,they don't like there roots disturb,so I think burying the pot is the better idea!
Don
xerophyte NYC
15 years ago
Cycas revoluta apparently handle root pruning better than other cycad species. They can be miniaturized bonsai-style. I've never tried it though.
magalhaes
15 years ago
I have it on the ground here in NYC (Brooklyn backyard). It dies to the ground by December, and it comes back with larger leafes. I treat as a perennial in this area. It is a great accent to the garden. Make sure you apply fungicide on the crown and mulch it after it looses its leafes. It starts to produce new leaves in the begginning of June. This next winter I will try protecting with landscape fabric all leaves and see if the technique works as well as it has been working for some palms, cycads and other tropicals and sub-tropicals over here.

Please, also read this books "Palms won't grow her and other myths" by David Francko. It has given me so much knowledge that I do recommend to anyone willing to push the bounderies.

Good luck!
jimhardy
15 years ago
I agree with Islandbreeze,why not just bury it in the ground in its pot,or bury a pot that it will fit inside of and just pull it out in late fall/early winter.If you want to experiment with it you can try planting it and mulching it up to 2' around and over the top with leaves and a little mulch,it might be good to put a cover over it if winter is wet,and as allways before you cover it,spray the crown with fungicide.I was thinking of trying this with my sago,but now that its growing(finally)I feel a little more attached to it lol-I aree that"Palms won't grow her and other myths" by David Francko,really is a great book with lots of wonderfull techniques for overwintering lots of plants you would probably never think to try!

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