Sago Plams

Does anyone know how to sprout the seeds for Sago Palms?

The only reference I find on this subject is in Success with Houseplants. It says: "Cycases are propagated commercially from seed. This type of propagation is a particularly slow process with these plants, however. Most indoor gardeners agree that it is not really feasible in the home."

I have never seen seed on mine but had a sucker plant start to grow. It probably was from a seed. Never one to leave things alone, I removed it and tried to make it grow. Need I say, unsuccessfully!

Had mine for many years from a flea market and I still have it in a pot. I can't decide where to plant it. I was shocked when I later saw how pricey they were. I love this plant and wish you luck. pod

I have sprouted several of them.
I didn't find it to be very difficult.
I just placed them in a pot sideways, because
I didn't know which way it would open up, then
I just barely covered it with soil, and placed in
full sun. I did this in spring. Within a month or two
it sprouted!!! Not sure if this is the correct way,
but it worked for me!!
janet

Great info, that is worth remembering.

Thank you for the info. I have grown Sagos for a long time now and take the babies that grow off the sides all the time. Podster, let them dry for a week or so after you remove them from the mother plant and then plant them about half way sticking out and treat like any other sago. I have a chance to get some seed and though it might be neat to try and sprout them. I will keep you all up on the process.

Dee

Thanks to both of you! Your invaluable information has been saved. Best wishes... pod

Zone 8b, Heat Zone 9b, Southeast, TX Lake Sam Rayburn
Podster, about the Garden Talk forum:
Your Sago looks good; so does your Cast Iron.
My question is, "Where do you place your Sago during cold weather?
I have mine in 23" pot on South side of house. This is first winter I had the Sago.
What do you feed your Sago?
Thanking you in advance .....
Have a wonderful Christmas week end

Hi Ms Sudie ~ thanks for thinking they look good. You out to see the cast iron after a new puppy addition got done with it. I said "oh well it needed cutting back by spring". Looks terrible and I hope by spring he will get over the habit.
I love the Sago palm. I keep it in a pot smaller than yours and used to move it onto the porch and cover with a sheet for protection from frosts/freezes. After I watched a neighbor plant his in the ground and ignore them, I decided I was babying mine and have left it out. The leaves were not bothered by the 20 degree nights we recently had. As yours is a new plant, placing it on the protected side of the house should help the roots get established. That is not a bad idea. I have had mine for many years now. I do not use excess amounts of fertilizer but try to use good potting soil and when I use fertilizer, I use a smaller than recommended amount diluted in water only in summer when it is growing. Good luck with your Sago palm, they are pretty. pod

Hi Sudie

I keep my sagos in pots here in San Antonio and bring them into the greehouse in the cold so the tips of the leaves don't get any frost bite. I have mine for sale and they need to look great this spring. The weather here is mild enough to plant them in the ground and they do pretty good.

Dee

Sagos are really tough plants, if they do get frosted and the leaves turn yellow, just cut them off, all of them! You will be rewarded with a flush of fresh new leaves.

This is a good site with info on starting them from seeds. http://www.rhapisgardens.com/sagos/sagoseed.htm

At the bottom of the page you can access their other info on sagos.

When you say cut of the leaves, do you mean just the green or the branches too. I will check out this link. Thanks... pod

Cut the whole branch off. A lot of folks who successfully grow sagos do that on a regular basis just to get a new flush of Branches (Fronds ?).

I had one that had been in a pot for many years and had many pups. I removed all the pups and planted it and the fronds all died. I cut them off and left it in the ground because the trunk was firm. After 2 years it put out new fronds and has lived happily since.

I cut the whole frond also but I want as many fronds on each plant for sale purposes. Sagos take too long to produce new leaves.

I have two 9 year old plants and have never had a problem with the cold hurting them. We have several 32 degree days but not usually continuously. I have cut off the pups and just stuck them in the ground or in a pot. I have various sizes and would be glad to share for postage is someone wants some.

Kamikid, you are more than generous. I was admiring these plants in the garden centers and whew are they expensive!

Does anyone know if there are variations of the Sago. The reason I am asking is the ones I saw had short compacted fronds. Somehow even the larger ones looked a little different. The tag said Cycas revoluta if I recall. Just curious... pod

Hi Podster

Do you know the difference between the male & female sago?

Check out this link: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53327/index.html

Jeri