Cycad offset propagation

[BeyondTheGarden]

This C revoluta (presumed) I mentioned in the cold hardy forums, but I would like some advice on propagating the offsets, please. 

The very small ones seem easy and from everything I've read, they propagate just like opuntia. Snap them off, callous, use cactus potting media.  If I'm wrong or missing anything, please let me know. 

What about the larger trunks?  How large of a wound can they recover from, both offset and main trunk?  I'm afraid of killing these. 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Jesse PNW

[Merlyn]

Propagating small to medium sized offsets is fairly easy.  I used a sharp shovel or I have a big Kukri-style knife that's razor sharp.  A serrated kitchen knife is also a great tool because it doesn't get "gummed up" and stuck in there as easily.  I have transplanted large ones (2 to 5' of trunk) with no issues, but I've never cut apart clusters like that.  My best guess is that if you slice off the various pups you'll be able to see a clear spot to slice up the remaining 3 big trunks.  The risk is they'll have a large number of small wounds that need to callous over, and that requires moisture to create that sap.  Ideally you would have had the chance to slice off all the small pups and let the main cluster heal over before digging it up, but of course it's a freebie.    On the bigger trunks I'd do the same thing...cut, callous, pot out in quick draining, mostly inorganic mix.  If they were full trunks (each with a separate root system) I'd just stick them straight in the ground.  Revoluta used to be extremely expensive, but with the arrival of cycas scale you can buy a trunking pot from Home Despot for $50.  And there's always people giving them away for you-dig-it-yourself on FB Marketplace. 

[BeyondTheGarden]

Getting a cycad of any size worth planting in-ground costs $500 up here, at least that I have been able to find so far.  It would be quite a bit smaller than any one of these 3 large trunks.  This was a FB freebie.  The guy has more, smaller clusters, but it's a 90 minute drive each way.  I'll probably try to go back next weekend, and get some palmettos as well.  

[N8ALLRIGHT]

I've never had to split trunks like that but have had much success with the smaller offsets. I 2nd what Merlyn said about fast draining mix, other than that man there pretty easy.  I would think that the trunks might even be easier because they have a large reserve of carbs ready to make roots. All of our revoluta I'm pretty sure are clones that my wife split off from one sago that survived her family's greenhouse catching fire. They are all 25 yrs old or so

Nice score

Edited September 17, 2023 by N8ALLRIGHT
Misspelled

[N8ALLRIGHT]

Here's  a couple of them today. Never flowered but I expect they will all be the same sex when they do. Ranging from 15 to 20 in caudex height

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Jesse PNW said:

This C revoluta (presumed) I mentioned in the cold hardy forums, but I would like some advice on propagating the offsets, please. 

The very small ones seem easy and from everything I've read, they propagate just like opuntia. Snap them off, callous, use cactus potting media.  If I'm wrong or missing anything, please let me know. 

What about the larger trunks?  How large of a wound can they recover from, both offset and main trunk?  I'm afraid of killing these. 

Yep you got it correct very easy to do that’s a few you have there 

[BeyondTheGarden]

Well I practically forgot about these things, with the move into the new house and all.  I guess we'll see if 3 months worth of callousing and being out of soil isn't too long.  The potting media isn't as wet as it looks.  Miracle grow is the only thing I have on hand at the moment.  

[Brian]

I actually just went through this separation processes with an Encephalartos eugene-maraisii. Like you did, I found it easiest to remove the whole plant before separating. I washed off all the dirt so it was easier to see exactly where the offsets were connected. To separate them I used a sharpened chisel which made it easier to cut and avoid damaging other parts of the plant. Most of my offsets had and retained roots which makes recovery much quicker. Once separated I applied a copper based fungicide on the cuts and let them dry. I then painted the cut areas with tree pruning tar and let them dry for two more days. I then planted them in course perlite and only water as needed. The main stem got planted back in its original spot after the two days drying time and is doing fine.