Cycads don't really go dormant, otherwise they'd lose all their leaves like a deciduous tree. They're just storing nutrients in the caudex to flush leaves all at once. Here in Florida, cycads will flush a new set of leaves in the winter...depending on weather. You're typical sago, if properly grown, will be 6 feet or more in diameter. That's a lot of floor space...:>)...Z

If watering and fertilizing is kept to a minimum, a cycad will stall its growth, so it can be "tricked" into an apparent dormancy. Most cycads come from subtropical areas that experience seasonal rainfall, so they have adapted by slowing down growth during this lull.

If warmth, light, water and nutrients are not reduced, a cycad outdoors in Florida or elsewhere may keep on growing.

For me, the fun of all this is trying to grow a big enough plant in a pot so that I can make my patio look better. I like the tropical theme and though I can't live in the tropics, I can have the look somewhat.

I think alot of people don't understand the cycads and probably don't know where to get them. Most people see a little sago at the store and that is about it.

I myself would love to get more cycads. One of my favorites is the Macrozamia mooreii. Problem is, the darn thing cost an arm and a leg, but one day I am going to get one. Hey its just money, right. :-)

Is this thing not beautiful or what.
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Macrozamias are pretty damn cool, I have one, not nearly as big as the one in the photo - a nice specimen can fetch $600-$1000. The leaves, however, are quite stiff and sharp, they just look graceful. They are Australian natives.

If you figure out how much someone might spend on palm trees, soil, fertilizers, new containers, creating contraptions for heating, humidifiers, insecticides, etc., it no longer seems so cost prohibitive, but I suppose one has to try.