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Cycas revoluta growing like CRAZY this year!

12 years ago

All of the Sagos are taking off this year!(Plants are grown outside March-December)--Strange, because last year they grew very little. Last year, I transplanted them in order to provide more space and I fed. It was extremely HOT and ARID last year but I did water. This summer--which so far has been relatively normal in terms of temps and rainfall (see how long that lasts)--I did nothing for them (no soil improvement, feeding, etc.). Yet in this state of 'neglect' they are growing much, MUCH better. Was it the heat last year? Or do they just resent being disturbed at the roots? I wanted to add additional soil to the bottom of the containers (keeping the same pot), but afraid to do it now because of their growth spurts.

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Comments (7)

chadec7a
12 years ago
Whenever you figure it out, let me know cause mine doesn't grow for nothing. I have been about ready to give up on it ever growing.
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Chadec, cycads really grow in bursts then do nothing for a year. I know that Floridians may get two bursts per year but I usually get one--but the plant may sent out over a dozen new leaves in a matter of a few weeks. How are you growing your Sagos?--Ground or container? (If in a container, I assume it is outside now.) If yours has been sitting dormant for over a year, I would consider container size, fertilizing, sun levels or soil issues. Palms are like cycads in requiring excellent drainage--hard to over water them in the heat of summer--but I understand they like more spacious pots than palms--that being the case it's imperative that your soil mix offers excellent drainage (more so than with even palms). Good luck with the Sagos!
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Any basic fertilizer will make cycads happy. Something a little higher in nitrogren will help promote new fronds. Generally they only make one flush of fronds a year, but in climates with longer growing seasons it will probably make 2 once they are established if they are happy and they can make at least a dozen fronds in a flush once they get a older! I hear people water with epsom salt occasionally (not the same as table salt) to keep their sagos green. Usually they are either getting ready to flush, or are deficient in some kind of nutrient if they are yellowing this time of the year. They tend to yellow more in pots than when they are planted in the ground, a good fertilizer will help keep them from yellowing further most times, but it will never undo the yellowing that took place (You'll have to wait for a new flush). Good luck! -Alex
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If you sprayed pesticide on the emerging leaves that is most likely the culprit. Sago leaves are tough as nails,except when they are still soft/new. It is possible it is the fertilizer as this can happen but I have bombed mine with super high doses of grass fert(high N, 21-1-3) and never observed this,not to rule it out but I would say less likely. So-this flush will be a dud,keep an eye on the plant(Caudex)though,just to be sure there isn't some hidden cause below.
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Thanks! Yeah, that's exactly what I said to my buddy, it must've been a miracle. It would not have shocked or surprised me if this thing showed up a year or maybe even two after I discarded it, but for it to rise from the ashes 5 years later....just seems improbable but not entirely impossible. And yet as improbable as it seems, its the most likely thing that could have happened. And yes, I agree, revoluta has very distinctive leaves, particularly compared to any kind of garden plant I ever planted and have ever grown in this area. That particular site is zone 7a, so C. revoluta is only really marginally hardy in those conditions. But anyway, based on the photo I was sent, I have no doubt as to the ID of the leaf.
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I ( the OP) have moved 2 sagos and they died. They were growing in rocky soil. I dug them up and moved them and immediately planted them. I probably immediately watered them which might have started rot in the broken bruised roots. I can not remember whether I cut the leaves off or not. It was several yeaRS AGO, maybe 12 years.. Do you let the plants callous their roots before replanting by waiting a couple of days before replanting like one does with succulents? do you uses a fungicide like cinnamon on the roots. What time of year is best to move them ? Should I clip the leaves off ? Does that let them rest by not having to supply nutrients of does it deny chlorophyl and stored energy and put it in added stress. How do you "Treat" the larger roots? On the siting for the Panzi in partial shade is because That is where I have dirt. otherwise there is no top soil , just caliche and limestone marl.
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jimhardy
12 years ago
njoasis

I transplanted mine about a month before it flushed-
it put out a massive flush this year,almost doubling what
it did last year.
I think it likes it new pot and didn't seen to mind being
moved into it!

Chad

One way to get your Cycad to flush is using lawn fertilizer,
make sure it doesn't have any weed killer in it.

They are usually like 27-2-5..mainly high N.
chadec7a
12 years ago
My cycad does flush every year. This year it put out more leaves than it had last year. Except they were much shorter. Its still potted and is outside. I think my soil my contain too much sand. I also had a bout with scale where I lost 2 other sagos.
I have been using a fertilizer for azaleas which is high in nitrogen too. I think its 24-12-8.
Matfx7
12 years ago
Hi Chadec7a

You could have saved your 2 Sagos by destroying the scales with Coffee beans spray. It worked for me like a magic. I found this www.cycad.org/documents/Broome-Coffee-2007.pdf

I am afraid my Cycas is not getting enough sunlight as it gets more shade with tall trees and new buildings under construction. It gets 2 hours of sunlight if there is no trace of a cloud. Will it survive too much shade? I bought it in June 2011 with trunk diameter of 8 inchs. Temperatures here are warm between 27c to 37c in any season except in summer it is below 42c.
chadec7a
12 years ago
The problem with scale always showed up during winter when the plants didn't receive light or heat. But will try that if i have problems again.

Thanks,
Chad
brooklyngreg
12 years ago
how about a picture.

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