Cycad

Cycad Care

Cycadophyta

What is the plant

Cycads are attractive evergreen palms that will add an exotic touch to your home garden. In addition, they are easy to care for.

Cycad is native to Japan. The plant was already in the Carboniferous at the time of the dinosaurs, making it perhaps the oldest cultivated plant. We can identify it as a representative of the Cycadales family.

This plant boasts a crown of leaves on a robust trunk. The trunk height can be up to 22 feet (7 m) high, but it needs 100 years because the plant grows slowly.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

18°C - 24°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 12

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
The roots of this plant are sensitive to excessive water, so the soil should dry well between waterings. Otherwise, you may encounter root rot. In winter, it is enough to water the Cycad once every 4-6 weeks.
Pruning
Cycad usually does not need specific and additional pruning for growth. However, you can trim dead and dry leaves or remove them to get the desired plant shape.
Fertilizer
Cycad a priori grows slowly, so it does not need too much fertilizer. However, you can fertilize your plant with a green houseplant fertilizer using ¼ of the dosage indicated on the package. The best time for this is spring and summer.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Cycad likes bright and full light; in particular, it needs direct sunlight. That is why you can put your plant on the south windowsill. You can also grow this plant outside if the climate allows it.
Soil
This plant grows on different soils in the natural environment, starting with sandy soils and ending with forest ones. Prepare a balanced, high-nutrient mix for your Cycad.
Propagation
You can propagate this palm by lateral budding. To do this, cut one and remove all the leaves. Then put the bud in a tray with pine bark compost and put it in a dry place. Be prepared to wait a year because these plants develop roots slowly.

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Temperature
Cycadales is not a frost-resistant plant; on the contrary, it loves warmth and heat. The minimum temperature this palm can withstand is 40ºF (5°C).
Container
Cycad does not like its roots to be disturbed, so do not repot the plant too often. Choose a spacious pot with drainage holes to drain excess water. The material of the container does not matter.
Fun fact
These vascular palm-like plants so defined the landscape of prehistory that the Jurassic period is sometimes even dubbed the "Age of Cycads."