Sago Has Trouble

[JASON M]

I have had this palm for about 5 months now, and there are these little brown stubs where the new leaves should be. What should I do with them? Cut them down and see what happens?

[tjwalters]

My potted sago (Cycas revoluta) has gone as long as two years between flushes, so I wouldn't do anything other than make sure it's getting proper care (summer it outside, etc.)

[BS Man about Palms]

As an aside, its not a palm, but a Cycad. And Tom is spot on. Most Cycads die from "overcare" as people try to speed it up to do something.

Patience, young Padawan..

[peachy]

Sagos will get a fit of the sulks for no apparent reason sometimes. If you have repotted it or moved its position they often throw a tantrum. I planted one of my bigger ones 2 years ago and it is still sulking. Those cycads get more mood swings than most men I know.

Peachy

[AggiePalms]

I repotted one of my large king cycads last summer. Slowly but surely it lost every leaf, they turned brown and died. I overwintered it in the garage, and at the beginning of spring I was ready to "leave it to the lost" inside, ready to reuse the 24" pot for another plant. However, I did take it outside in February, in the hope something might happen, and by the end of April a new flush was 10 feet wide. Beautiful, the best around here. Not bad for a "dead" cycad. Just leave it alone, water when absoluately necessary, it will do fine. Best of luck.

[tew]

have had great luck with my sagos here in baltimore. I bring them inside for the winter (as late as possile) and get them out as early in spring as is possible. My largest is about 4 feet tall with 2 feet of clear trunk. My biggest mistake in the beginning was over-watering these pots! Patience is the key in waiting for these cycads to flush but well worth it in my estimation. they are a great addition to the landscape up here!

[Ryland]

I agree with the posts above. My sago will go 12-20 months between each new growth period. Just average care is all that is necessary. Be wary of hail- If it is in a pot you could easily move/cover it- one hailstorm severely damaged the fronds of mine in the summer of 2007.

[Tampa Scott]

Jason, You should try the Emperor Sago (Cycas taitungensis) grows 3x faster than the King Sago. Here are a few pictures of my Emperor Sago.

[Just1MorePalm]

I have moved many Sagos and very rarely loose any...Big or Small...Roots or no roots...If they die its from rot...If you have watered it...don't any more...If you suspect that it is sitting in wet soil remove it from the pot...the wet soil will rot and kill it...remove all the brown roots and any part of them that looks like its rotted or dying...let it dry out for a day or two ion the garage after pruning the roots...Sagos don't need roots to survive a re-pot or move...I prefer to remove all the leaves and roots when I move the larger ones and will only keep roots on the smaller ones if the roots are not broken...remove all the leaves except the inner most ring......get a fresh bag of cactus soil, re-pot it 1" deep in the smallest pot you can fit it into and DO NOT WATER...the moisture in the soil is plenty for now...put it outside in a warm spot out of direct sun, if possible...if not don't worry it will still be fine...

Treat it like a cactus...if you think it needs watering wait a week and then check again...Water will rot and kill it when it is not rooted and actively growing...Good Luck!

Below...Pic 1..Just dug up 2009...Pic2 planted without roots or leaves last summer, never watered, ever...Pic3 1st new flush this year... Pic4 is a cutting from a double headed(Y)Sago that my neighbor cut off with a chainsaw...I placed it in my planter about 1" deep and it is growing very well...this is the second flush since planting...2 years ago...

[DoomsDave]

Jason:

As I suspect you're already aware, sagos (Cycas revoluta) don't hurry about much of anything.

One way to tell if it's alive is to water it sparingly and look at the soil in a couple of days. If it's all dry, that means the plant's drinking the water from the soil, getting ready to send up leaves one of these days.

Other cycad species are much faster, though, and they'll do well inside, since, as a group, they like dry much better than palms do, and I know that northern houses get all dry in the winter.

Keep us apprized of your plant's progress.

Be warned, it may take a long while to leaf again. I've had them sit for a year or more.

dave

[Don]

Just a thought Jason: one picture is worth a thousand words

[freakypalmguy]

Hi Jason,

The "little brown stubs" are called cataphyllys, and are there to protect the growing point and are formed prior to the plant producing a new flush or cone. If the caudex is firm to the touch and is fairly solid in the soil, it should be fine. I've had cycads sit for years without flushing, so you never throw them away unless they are soft or rotten. Like others have stated, over watering is bad, but don't take that too the extreme, a Cycas revoluta loves water when the temps are hot, just make sure it doesn't sit in it.

Matt

[Kostas]

As already said,Cycas revoluta is a Cycad,not a palm and only grows leafs once every year usually so its absolutely normal to have it sit 5 months doing nothing. As the weather warms up now,if you have it outside receiving good light,it will probably flush somewhen this summer/fall. Before flushing,you will see movement of the cataphylls and/or fast production of new ones so you will know its growing! Cataphylls add to trunk height eventually as leafs do!

Moist soil is good and welcome to the cycad during growing season,soggy soil and cool tempratures are not viable long term,especially indoors!

[JASON M]

I have my sago outside, whenever my mom tells me to water the plants, I should just wait for the rain on my sago?

[Kostas]

It all depends on your weather and how fast the soil dries. When the soil starts to dry at the top 1-2cm,you should water

[Just1MorePalm]

Try to keep it as dry as possible...to much rain will kill it too...very rarely will a Sago die from under watering...You have very high humidity in WI so be aware of that...Keep it in a warm and sunny location and wait...Patience is the key...My .02

[JASON M]

Weirdly, a month after I posted this, it was halfway through a new set of leaves!

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Ah yes, so you are learning that patience is a virtue...Ha, ha, most of us have yet to be virtuous...

I am almost 59 yrs old, and when it comes to growing plants, be them palms or others, my favorite epitaph is:

God give me patience..NOW, Dammit NOW!!!!!!!

You're a real pioneer, hope you continue to post!

Rusty