Cycas flower - how to care for a sago palm

Tsikas (flower) can often be found in apartments and houses. This palm tree is a decoration of offices and various premises. When growing, it is important to observe certain features. There are different types of this plant, which differ in characteristic features.

Cycas flower - what is a sago palm

The second name of the flower is "cycad" or "sago palm". It belongs to the only genus of gymnosperms in the Sagovnikov family. You can meet the culture in Asia, in the Pacific Islands, but Japan is considered the homeland. Since ancient times, many plant species have already disappeared, but the genus of Cycas continues to exist due to its unpretentious appearance.

Tsikas is a beautiful plant with decorative foliage

How does cicas bloom? This rarely happens at home. In nature, female plants form a shoot with a cone on the upper part, in which seeds are formed.

Cycas species with a short description

There are currently 20 species of cycas. However, there are several of the most common and popular.

Cicas drooping, or rolled cicas, or cicas revoluta (Cycas revoluta)

The plant gained popularity for its compact appearance. It is a small thick shoot, on top of which there is a rosette of 10-15 feathery leaves.

Curled cicas, or cicasus cochlea (Cycas circinalis / Cycas neocaledonica)

The indoor plant cicas curled differs from the previous species in its large size. At the top of the thick trunk are feathery leaves, collected in bunches of 30 pieces. The central vein is well developed, covered with small spines.

Cicas medium (Cycas media)

Tsikas average is a palm-shaped bush, large feathery leaves are collected in the form of a bunch. The seeds can be used as food after special processing.

Tsikas rumphii (Cycas rumphii)

This plant is found in Sri Lanka and the coastal islands. The culture can reach a height of 15 meters. The leaves are pinnate, the plates are in the form of a lancet, up to 2 cm wide, up to 30 cm long.

Siamese cicas (Cycas siamensis)

The variety is distinguished by narrow, feathery leaves with a bluish-white tint, located on short petioles. The trunk is thicker at the bottom than at the top.

In nature, cicas can reach impressive sizes.

Tsikas: home care

Cycads are grown in several ways. Each of them has features that should be taken into account.

How to grow from seeds

Getting seeds at home is difficult, so it's best to buy them. If they are fresh, they will sprout well under the right conditions. The procedure is performed as follows:

• Soak the seeds in warm water and leave them for 10-12 hours.
• A mixture of peat and sand, perlite is used as a soil.
• The seeds are placed in the ground, slightly pressing down, a small amount of earth is added on top.
• The container is covered with foil or glass.
• They monitor soil moisture, regularly ventilate and maintain the required temperature.
• The first shoots appear in a month and a half, after which they remove the shelter and transfer the pot to a well-lit place.

The plant has large feathery leaves.

How to grow from scions

For reproduction of cicas, lateral processes are used. They look like onions. At the end of the winter period, they are carefully separated from the adult plant. Cut sites are recommended to be treated with activated carbon.

The shoot is dried during the day and placed in moist perlite or soil of peat and sand. After some time, roots and new leaves appear at the shoot. During this period, it is necessary to maintain the temperature from +25 to +30 ℃ and light humidity. After signs of growth appear, you can transplant the plant to a new location.

Many growers believe that the cicas is a capricious plant. In fact, proper home care for a cicas flower does not take much time, so even a beginner can grow a crop.

Lighting and temperature control

For cicas, it is better to choose a lighted place, but not in direct sunlight. In partial shade, the flower can also grow, however, young leaves in this case will develop rather slowly.

Normal room temperature is good, but in winter it is better to provide cooler air (but not lower than +15 ℃).

New leaves grow from the top of the culture

Watering and humidity

The correct irrigation regime is essential for good crop development. In the summer, the flower requires moderate watering; in the winter, the amount of irrigation is reduced. The amount of water used depends on the room temperature - the warmer, the more fluid you need. For irrigation, use settled and warm water. It is important to ensure that the liquid does not fall on the crown, watered at the root.

Tsikas loves air with high humidity - up to 70-80%. It is recommended to regularly spray the foliage and wrap the trunk with moist moss. Culture will also like the regular wiping of the leaves with a damp cloth.

Top dressing

It is recommended to feed the cicas once every 4 weeks during the period of its active growth. In this case, it is recommended to use organic fertilizers that are free of potassium and magnesium. Horse manure or mullein is considered the best. Organic dressings are not used.

Transplanting a palm tree, how to prepare the soil

Adult plants are rarely transplanted, while young ones, on the contrary, need frequent changes in soil and pot. It is recommended to select a container 20 cm larger in diameter than the barrel. The depth should be 2.5 times the trunk diameter.

Choose a soil with neutral and low acidity. The soil for replanting cicassa should be loose. It is important to ensure good drainage and high moisture permeability. Perlite, pumice, coarse sand may be present in the soil.

The most suitable soil for such a palm is a mixture of 1 part of bark, charcoal, perlite (all in large sizes), pumice or slag, pebbles and coarse peat. It is allowed to add a little bone meal. You can do it yourself.

You can transplant cicas at any time of the year, but it is better to choose spring. During this period, the plant adapts faster and grows. Before planting, cut off a third of the old leaves, examine the root system.It is important not to damage the old roots during transplantation, otherwise the development of flower decay is not excluded.

During transplanting, it is important to maintain the planting level, as in the old pot, therefore, if necessary, add soil to the bottom. The flower is removed from the old container and placed in a new one, carefully adding the required amount of soil. After planting, they are thoroughly watered and moved for several days in partial shade.

At home, cicas rarely bloom.

Cycas pests and diseases

Cycas palm is susceptible to damage by various insects. The main crop pests are scale insects and thrips. Adult insects are removed manually, and the larvae are destroyed with the help of special preparations in the morning and evening. If the plant is affected by aphids, spraying with phosphorus preparations is carried out twice a day. Tsikas leaves turn yellow what to do?

Why do cicas' leaves turn yellow?

The yellowing of foliage in cicassus variegated is a common problem that many gardeners complain about. The reasons are:

• Lack of trace elements. It arises as a result of the lack of dressing or provided that they are not absorbed due to poor content. After fertilization, the new leaves grow healthy, while the old ones remain yellow.
• Lack of nitrogen in the soil. The problem is solved by applying the necessary fertilizers, but the old foliage will remain yellowed.
• Inappropriate lighting. It is important to correctly determine the type of cicassa and fulfill the conditions for its maintenance. Some species need more light, others, on the contrary, less, as a result, the leaves may turn yellow.
• Damage to the root system. Palm roots can suffer from high humidity, too low temperature, high concentration of fertilizers. It is important to carefully examine the flower, if necessary, change the conditions of detention and transplant the plant into a new pot.

Palm does not require special care

Rotting of the lower part of the trunk and roots

Rotting of the lower part of the trunk and root system occurs as a result of non-compliance with watering rules. Heavy soil often causes various types of rot. It is almost impossible to save the plant; you can try to plant it with shoots. The damaged culture is dug up and destroyed.

Despite many assumptions, cicas is an unpretentious plant. Subject to all the rules of care, the flower will delight you with excellent growth and beautiful appearance. It is important to choose the right container and soil, as well as monitor the temperature and lighting.