Cycas Revoluta - only two shoots

9 years ago

Hello, I am new here, and I have a question about a Cycas Revoluta or King Sago palm. It's a small potted plant that I bought at IKEA several years ago as a complete plant newbie. When I bought it, it looked almost exactly like the image I am posting, and each shoot was about a foot long. It stayed like this for about a year. Then I went away on a trip for a month and my house-sitter unfortunately forgot to water it. The leaves turned dry and brown, and eventually all fell off. The plant stayed without leaves as a small pineapple-looking thing for a few months. I kept watering it even though I was sure it was dead. Eventually, two shoots began to grow. They grew to about 2.5 feet each, much taller than the older shoots, but there were only two of them. They lasted for about a year, then yellowed and fell off. Again the plant was without leaves for a few months. And then again, two more shoots sprouted and grew to about 2.5 feet. These shoots have stayed for over two years now.

I'm still learning how to best care for all my plants, and what I'm wondering is, is there any reason my plant will not develop more than two shoots at a time? Every image I find of a Cycas Revoluta online shows it with a big mass of shoots.

I am planning to re-pot it soon into a bigger pot. Do you think this will help to make it grow more shoots? Thank you so much for any help you can give!

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Comments (3)

User
9 years ago
Your posting offers no information on the conditions your plant is experiencing. But I will put it succinctly.

Cycas revoluta is not a good "houseplant".

They want to be outside. They prefer a subtropical Winter (cool even chilly temperatures but protection from hard frost) and long, warm to hot subtropical summers. Slight to moderate frosts are not a problem for them btw. They want a well-drained soil with plentiful moisture in the Summer growth season. They grow seasonally. So typically they will show a growth spurt from Spring into Summer (assuming they are summering outside). In my zone, they will push one growth spurt per season (so maybe up to 20 new leaves will develop in a season). In Florida, they can push two growth spurts. Mine get wheeled out in early Spring (March) then wheeled into a sheltered area before a harder frost (December). So, March through November they are outside, basically, in full sun with maybe a bit of protection from the hottest sun. Indoors, there is not sufficient sun for the foliage to mature and growth indoors is actually deformed. Mine are kept cold enough in the Winter months to inhibit growth. The cold temps also reduce problems with scale and mealy bugs with this species.
Sorry I can't be more optimistic. I have other species of cycads but these too don't get into the house. Maybe someone might suggest a species or genus of cycad more tolerant of home conditions. I happen to really like Dioon but don't know how they would do in an average home.Good luck!
oxford_pictionary
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much for your response. I had a feeling the plant was not thriving because it wasn't in the right conditions. To be more clear about how I'm keeping it, it's right next to a window in a fairly warm room--about 20-25 C (70-77 F) at all times, and I water it every 7-10 days, fertilizing a few times a year. This was the first plant I ever bought and I did so without any research as I was in my early 20s and had never owned one before. It is still kicking, but I guess based on this information that I should not expect it to ever really thrive.

I will try re-potting into a bigger pot at least, and I will keep it right next to the window for the brightest possible conditions. I wish I could just plant it outdoors, but I live in Toronto, Canada, and our winters here drop to -15 C (5 F). Even keeping it outside in summer is not an option because I don't have a yard, alas.

Thanks again for your help.

This post was edited by oxford_pictionary on Thu, Feb 5, 15 at 17:53
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secretsquirrel007
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Well the good news is you really can't ever kill a cycad.There is a good article online by Tom Broome.They are traced back to prehistoric times.They can grow for over 100+ years.There are some really large examples in St.Augustine.As far as your situation goes -well yes put in a bigger pot.Cut back on fertilizer.Don't need so much.A very little goes a long way for such a small plant.Would only do 1 × a year.Could be causing your burnout.Also in warmer months move away from window.Sun being magnified thru glass.Will cause burn.

Cycas Revoluta - only two shoots

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Cycas Revoluta - only two shoots

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oxford_pictionary
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