Cycads are among the most elegant plants found in private gardens. Although the plant closely resembles palms and ferns in appearance, it is in a distinct family of its own. One of the advantages of the plant is the fact that it can survive in a wide range of environmental conditions. It maintains the green color of its leaves throughout the year making it quite ideal for landscaping. Before growing cycads you need to know a number of things beforehand.
One of the most important things that you need to know is how these plants propagate themselves. Mature cycads produce cones that contain seeds. Each plant is either a male or a female and pollination occurs in a similar manner as for other plants. The cones of male plants differ from those of female plants in color, shape and size.
These plants are quite hardy and are therefore quite easy to grow. One of the main requirements is that there should be good drainage. Too much water may cause the roots to rot. They have been known to do well in potted soil. Regardless of the conditions provided, growth tends to be quite slow and one should be patient. Unlike similar plants, frequent repotting is not necessary.
The soil should be carefully selected and prepared. In the event that these soils are poorly drained (for instance, in the case of heavy clay soils), a small mound or raised bed can be used for planting. Mulching around the seedling is important as it helps in conservation of moisture. Fertilizer is applied about four times a year. The most important elements in the fertilizer include magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
If you need to have the plant transplanted into the garden, do it when it is still a seedling. Once the planting has been done, disturbance of the roots should be kept to the very minimum until the trunk establishes itself well. Spring is the best time to do the transplanting due to the favorable ambient temperatures. In general, these should average 21 degrees Celsius.
There are a number of things that you need to consider if you intend to have the cycads indoors. Every effort should be made to ensure that the plants do not dry out. This may mean that you water them about twice a week in summer and sparingly during winter. The idea is to keep the soils moist while avoiding to saturate them.
The best location for indoor cycads is that which receives plenty of natural light. If the sunshine comes through glass, there is a risk of burning the leaves. While the plants will be unaffected by the central home heating, direct heat sources should be avoided. During the frost-free months, potted plants can be moved from the indoors to the outdoors from time to time so as to benefit from the free movement of air and the sunshine.
Dust accumulations is another problem that you may be faced with from time to time. Leaves that are covered by dust do not get adequate sunlight exposure and this may interfere with growth. Removal of the dust can be easily done using a little amount of soap in water. Alternatively, it can be left in rain showers during the rainy season.
One of the most important things that you need to know is how these plants propagate themselves. Mature cycads produce cones that contain seeds. Each plant is either a male or a female and pollination occurs in a similar manner as for other plants. The cones of male plants differ from those of female plants in color, shape and size.
These plants are quite hardy and are therefore quite easy to grow. One of the main requirements is that there should be good drainage. Too much water may cause the roots to rot. They have been known to do well in potted soil. Regardless of the conditions provided, growth tends to be quite slow and one should be patient. Unlike similar plants, frequent repotting is not necessary.
The soil should be carefully selected and prepared. In the event that these soils are poorly drained (for instance, in the case of heavy clay soils), a small mound or raised bed can be used for planting. Mulching around the seedling is important as it helps in conservation of moisture. Fertilizer is applied about four times a year. The most important elements in the fertilizer include magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
If you need to have the plant transplanted into the garden, do it when it is still a seedling. Once the planting has been done, disturbance of the roots should be kept to the very minimum until the trunk establishes itself well. Spring is the best time to do the transplanting due to the favorable ambient temperatures. In general, these should average 21 degrees Celsius.
There are a number of things that you need to consider if you intend to have the cycads indoors. Every effort should be made to ensure that the plants do not dry out. This may mean that you water them about twice a week in summer and sparingly during winter. The idea is to keep the soils moist while avoiding to saturate them.
The best location for indoor cycads is that which receives plenty of natural light. If the sunshine comes through glass, there is a risk of burning the leaves. While the plants will be unaffected by the central home heating, direct heat sources should be avoided. During the frost-free months, potted plants can be moved from the indoors to the outdoors from time to time so as to benefit from the free movement of air and the sunshine.
Dust accumulations is another problem that you may be faced with from time to time. Leaves that are covered by dust do not get adequate sunlight exposure and this may interfere with growth. Removal of the dust can be easily done using a little amount of soap in water. Alternatively, it can be left in rain showers during the rainy season.
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