Keep Your Yard Ornamental With Sago Palm
Care
Proper Sago Palm care is essential for a beautiful looking plant. The
Sago Palm tree, scientifically known as the Cycas revoluta, is one of
the most primitive living seed plants. They are unusual ornamental
plants that are very hardy.
In the United States, they are typically
found in warm moist climates like the Houston area. They are related to
conifer trees. They are characterized by a rough trunk with light
feathery leaves.
Sago Palms are one of the simplest plants to grow, whether indoors or
out, no matter your level of gardening expertise. They live for an
extremely long period of time, and are tolerant of many different
temperatures, levels of sunlight, and types of care.
There are several
things to remember with Sago Palm care. Do not bother the plant as it
new leaves emerge. Moreover, do not allow the plant to dry out during
this time. While Sago
Palms are quite tolerant, temperatures too high or too low can damage
the plant. The growth rate for a Sago Palm is very slow. Most only
increase in size one inch per year.
While not difficult, sago palm care is essential for the maintenance and
reproduction of your Cycas revoluta.
A part of Sago Palm care includes reproduction. Sago Palms are dioecious,
which means there are both male and female plants. If you wish to
propagate these plants, it is best to do it through hand pollination
techniques.
May is pollination season. The female seed is ready to be
removed in January or February. Once removed, you should place the seed
in water for a number of days. Take off the red covering, but do not
remove the hard white coat.
You can then plant the seed or hold it until
spring. The seed must be planted sideways. Do not expose more than the
top edge in moist soil. If the soil gets soggy, you might have problems
growing your Sago Palm.
The seed will usually begin to sprout in three
months, but it will require several years to reach more than one inch in
height. An excellent way to propagate Sago Palms without hand
pollination is to remove an offset of a healthy Sago Palm by popping it
off gently with a
small shovel. It should be allowed to dry for at least a week. It should
then be planted and well watered.
A beautiful looking plant can only be achieved through proper Sago Palm
Care.
Sago Palms make lovely plants. It is important to remember, though, that
proper Sago Palm care, while not difficult, is essential to the life of
the plant.
