Cycas revoluta not flushing

[Coasta]

Hello all! 

I have been taking care of my neighbors sago palm for the last two summers, watering it every day feeding it fertlizier every other month l, managanese, sulfur, a mix of palm tree food. This summer it looked promising and I thought it was going to flush.  Below is a picture from about 2 months ago and afterwards is a picture of today. I noticed it may have been buried a little deep so I took some of the dirt around it out. I go out and water every morning as the cycad doesn't get much water otherwise. Any help would be appreciated. 

[amh]

Is the ground still wet before you water? What's your manganese source?

 

[Coasta]

Hi @amh the top of the soil is not wet, I am not sure about anything under that as its hard to tell. I have been giving it maganese from arizonas best. It is 31 percent derived from maganese sulfate. The last time I fed it was about a month ago. Also as a side note the caudex from above the soil level is hard so I don't think it's rotting.  

[amh]

It appears that the yellowing was starting in the first picture, so this wasn't all at once.

I'm no expert, but it may be too much water.

[GeneAZ]

That cycad is severely heat stressed after 40-plus days of 110 and higher.  We're having the worst summer for heat that I can recall since I've lived here beginning 1963.  The plant aborted its attempted flush of leaves in an effort to save itself.

The daily water is great!  The yellow is from unrelenting sun and heat.  Shade would help, but I see no reason to repeat the manganese sulfate so often.  The problem is not nutritional.  We usually get a second spring starting October 15, and that's when you should give the palm fert you're using.

Keep up the daily watering so long as our daily temps are 105 and above.  Hydration is the key at this point.  It should be getting at least 2-3 gallons a day.

Gene

 

[Coasta]

36 minutes ago, amh said:

It appears that the yellowing was starting in the first picture, so this wasn't all at once.

I'm no expert, but it may be too much water.

Thanks amh!! I appreciate the response. 

[Coasta]

8 minutes ago, GeneAZ said:

That cycad is severely heat stressed after 40-plus days of 110 and higher.  We're having the worst summer for heat that I can recall since I've lived here beginning 1963.  The plant aborted its attempted flush of leaves in an effort to save itself.

The daily water is great!  The yellow is from unrelenting sun and heat.  Shade would help, but I see no reason to repeat the manganese sulfate so often.  The problem is not nutritional.  We usually get a second spring starting October 15, and that's when you should give the palm fert you're using.

Keep up the daily watering so long as our daily temps are 105 and above.  Hydration is the key at this point.  It should be getting at least 2-3 gallons a day.

Gene

 

Geeze that's so sad to hear. I am rooting for this little guy to flush. Below are photos of last September when it did this weird thing. At the time I was giving it lots of water too. Also it has nothing to do with being planted a little too deep?

[amh]

20 minutes ago, GeneAZ said:

That cycad is severely heat stressed after 40-plus days of 110 and higher.  We're having the worst summer for heat that I can recall since I've lived here beginning 1963.  The plant aborted its attempted flush of leaves in an effort to save itself.

The daily water is great!  The yellow is from unrelenting sun and heat.  Shade would help, but I see no reason to repeat the manganese sulfate so often.  The problem is not nutritional.  We usually get a second spring starting October 15, and that's when you should give the palm fert you're using.

Keep up the daily watering so long as our daily temps are 105 and above.  Hydration is the key at this point.  It should be getting at least 2-3 gallons a day.

Gene

 

I'd listen to Gene. I have heat and sun stress too that appears to be more of a bleaching and am below 110.

[Coasta]

9 minutes ago, amh said:

I'd listen to Gene. I have heat and sun stress too that appears to be more of a bleaching and am below 110.

Thanks Amh! I will definitely do that. I think i may put some shade cloth over it too. Currently mine that is planted in the same south exposure is on its 3rd flush for the year. Hoping to get a fourth this October:). 

[GeneAZ]

On 8/26/2020 at 1:49 PM, GeneAZ said:

That cycad is severely heat stressed after 40-plus days of 110 and higher.  We're having the worst summer for heat that I can recall since I've lived here beginning 1963.  The plant aborted its attempted flush of leaves in an effort to save itself.

The daily water is great!  The yellow is from unrelenting sun and heat.  Shade would help, but I see no reason to repeat the manganese sulfate so often.  The problem is not nutritional.  We usually get a second spring starting October 15, and that's when you should give the palm fert you're using.

Keep up the daily watering so long as our daily temps are 105 and above.  Hydration is the key at this point.  It should be getting at least 2-3 gallons a day.

Gene

 

I've got 20 cycads starting growth now, so the second spring is upon us.  Go ahead with the fert, if I were you.

[Coasta]

@GeneAZ  Hi Gene!! Thanks so much for remembering my cycad issue. 

I ended up digging the cycad out and discovered it was planted about 6 inches too deep. I trimmed the roots and planted it in citrus and palm mix. I also put it in indirect sunlight to help it recover. Is it still safe to fertlize? 

I also discovered it had two pups growing under all that dirt! 

[GeneAZ]

Yes, give normal dose of fert for a container plant.  

Pups are more likely to form if the trunk is buried 3 or 4 inches below finished soil level.  

[Coasta]

@GeneAZ Thanks Gene!! I will do that today. I'm hoping to get a flush this year. 

I am going to PM you about something. :].