Cycads are woody plants whose appearance resembles that of palms and ferns. These plants can survive in a wide range of climatic conditions ranging from tropical to subtropical to warm temperate. Their evergreen pinnate leaves have made them a preferred option for landscaping. There are a number of things that you need to know if you have plans of growing cycads.
Understanding some basics about the reproduction of the plants will go a long way into helping you take care of them. When mature these plants propagate themselves through the production of cones. Each plant is classified as either male or female. The cones produced by each of the groups differs in size, shape and even color.
The plants can survive in virtually any environment. The soils should preferably be well drained as too much is likely to result in the rotting of roots. The plants grow well in potted soils hence the popularity for its use indoors. Growth is usually quite slow which also means that there is no need to change pots on a frequent basis.
You start by preparing the soil well. If your soil is heavy clay, plant above ground level in a raised bed. Mulch well to prevent loss of moisture from the soils. Fertilizer should be added about four times in a year to ensure that growth is optimal. The fertilizer should have phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Spray on a regular basis to keep away pests.
If there is a need to transplant a potted seedling to the garden, this should be done at the earliest opportunity. Once the planting has been done, there should be minimal disturbance to the roots until the trunk has been well established. The best time to do the transplanting is in spring due to the gradually rising temperatures. The ideal temperature is 21 degree Celsius.
If you have acquired cycads for indoor use, there are a number of things that you need to bear in mind. Among them is the fact that the plants should not be allowed to dry out. Keep the soils moist while taking care not to saturate them. This means that watering needs to be done at least twice a week. During winter, the watering should be kept at the very minimum.
Location is another important consideration when dealing with indoor plants. Make sure that the plants are placed at a point where they are exposed to adequate natural light. Avoid putting the plants behind glass windows as this puts on them at risk of burns from the sunlight. Ensure also that they are placed away from direct sources of heat. In the frost free months, it is advisable to keep the plants in the open for a couple of hours.
Dust accumulation on the leaves is a problem that you may have to deal with from time to time for plants that are grown indoors. The dust interferes with the amount of light getting to the leaves and should therefore be removed. The best way to deal with this problem is to wash off the dust using slightly soapy water. Light rains may also help get rid of most of it.
Understanding some basics about the reproduction of the plants will go a long way into helping you take care of them. When mature these plants propagate themselves through the production of cones. Each plant is classified as either male or female. The cones produced by each of the groups differs in size, shape and even color.
The plants can survive in virtually any environment. The soils should preferably be well drained as too much is likely to result in the rotting of roots. The plants grow well in potted soils hence the popularity for its use indoors. Growth is usually quite slow which also means that there is no need to change pots on a frequent basis.
You start by preparing the soil well. If your soil is heavy clay, plant above ground level in a raised bed. Mulch well to prevent loss of moisture from the soils. Fertilizer should be added about four times in a year to ensure that growth is optimal. The fertilizer should have phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Spray on a regular basis to keep away pests.
If there is a need to transplant a potted seedling to the garden, this should be done at the earliest opportunity. Once the planting has been done, there should be minimal disturbance to the roots until the trunk has been well established. The best time to do the transplanting is in spring due to the gradually rising temperatures. The ideal temperature is 21 degree Celsius.
If you have acquired cycads for indoor use, there are a number of things that you need to bear in mind. Among them is the fact that the plants should not be allowed to dry out. Keep the soils moist while taking care not to saturate them. This means that watering needs to be done at least twice a week. During winter, the watering should be kept at the very minimum.
Location is another important consideration when dealing with indoor plants. Make sure that the plants are placed at a point where they are exposed to adequate natural light. Avoid putting the plants behind glass windows as this puts on them at risk of burns from the sunlight. Ensure also that they are placed away from direct sources of heat. In the frost free months, it is advisable to keep the plants in the open for a couple of hours.
Dust accumulation on the leaves is a problem that you may have to deal with from time to time for plants that are grown indoors. The dust interferes with the amount of light getting to the leaves and should therefore be removed. The best way to deal with this problem is to wash off the dust using slightly soapy water. Light rains may also help get rid of most of it.
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