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.
Cycads are generally hardy plants that grow quite easily. The main requirement is that they should be provided with well drained soils. Too much water is damaging as it causes rotting of the roots. Their ability to do well in potted soils have made them a common plant indoors. You will need to be very patient bearing in mind the slow growth rate of the plants. The slow growth also means that there is no need to repot frequently.
The first step in growing the plants is soil preparation. If the soils are poorly drained, consider preparing a mound or a raised bed to aid with the drainage. Mulch well to restrict the loss of moisture and ensure that fertilizer is added at least four times in the course of the year. The most important chemicals in the fertilizers include potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
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.
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.
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.
Cycads are generally hardy plants that grow quite easily. The main requirement is that they should be provided with well drained soils. Too much water is damaging as it causes rotting of the roots. Their ability to do well in potted soils have made them a common plant indoors. You will need to be very patient bearing in mind the slow growth rate of the plants. The slow growth also means that there is no need to repot frequently.
The first step in growing the plants is soil preparation. If the soils are poorly drained, consider preparing a mound or a raised bed to aid with the drainage. Mulch well to restrict the loss of moisture and ensure that fertilizer is added at least four times in the course of the year. The most important chemicals in the fertilizers include potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
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.
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.
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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