People love the exotic look of the cycad, a prehistoric plant that has survived in many areas of the world. It is not hard to learn the requirements for success in growing cycads; if you give them what they want, they are easy to grow and are guaranteed to impress visitors to house or garden.
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.
Although many species are extinct, there are still hundreds around the world. They grow in China and Japan, Africa and Australia, and Mexico and Central America. They are also found on arid Pacific Islands. They are most closely related to the palm tree, which many species resemble. Other kinds look like ferns.
This hardy evergreen prefers dry, rocky soil. It does well in a terra cotta pot as long as the drainage is excellent. The gardener should not let this plant dry out; the soil should be moist but never water-logged. The fleshy roots rot easily. The plant likes to be root-bound, so re-potting is seldom necessary. They exist in the wild with a symbiotic kind of algae in their root mass which takes nitrogen from the air.
In the garden, it's recommended that they be fertilized four times a year. There are special palm food mixtures that you can buy in southern garden centers. The fertilizer will contain magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, all minerals that are plentiful in the dry, rocky soils of the cycad's native regions.
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.
Inside, the plant should be given as much natural light as possible. They should not be close to a source of heat. A room, like a sun porch, with low humidity and a temperature in the 70 degree range is ideal. The potted plants can be kept outside year round in tropical or sub-tropical zones. Northern gardeners need to keep them indoors in the colder months.
These are impressive plants which attract attention inside or out. There are about 300 kinds to choose from, but the blue-green varieties are most popular. If they are given the right conditions - regular watering, excellent drainage, and a light sandy soil - they can give years of pleasure. Under these conditions, they are easy to care for, so if you like the exotic appearance you should definitely try one of these remnants of the prehistoric era.
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.
Although many species are extinct, there are still hundreds around the world. They grow in China and Japan, Africa and Australia, and Mexico and Central America. They are also found on arid Pacific Islands. They are most closely related to the palm tree, which many species resemble. Other kinds look like ferns.
This hardy evergreen prefers dry, rocky soil. It does well in a terra cotta pot as long as the drainage is excellent. The gardener should not let this plant dry out; the soil should be moist but never water-logged. The fleshy roots rot easily. The plant likes to be root-bound, so re-potting is seldom necessary. They exist in the wild with a symbiotic kind of algae in their root mass which takes nitrogen from the air.
In the garden, it's recommended that they be fertilized four times a year. There are special palm food mixtures that you can buy in southern garden centers. The fertilizer will contain magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, all minerals that are plentiful in the dry, rocky soils of the cycad's native regions.
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.
Inside, the plant should be given as much natural light as possible. They should not be close to a source of heat. A room, like a sun porch, with low humidity and a temperature in the 70 degree range is ideal. The potted plants can be kept outside year round in tropical or sub-tropical zones. Northern gardeners need to keep them indoors in the colder months.
These are impressive plants which attract attention inside or out. There are about 300 kinds to choose from, but the blue-green varieties are most popular. If they are given the right conditions - regular watering, excellent drainage, and a light sandy soil - they can give years of pleasure. Under these conditions, they are easy to care for, so if you like the exotic appearance you should definitely try one of these remnants of the prehistoric era.
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