Basics Facts Concerning Growing Cycads

الأحد، 19 فبراير 2017

By Joyce Davis


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.

A proper understanding of reproduction of these plants is necessary for anyone who wishes to grow them. The plants produce cones as they mature. The cones contain seeds that can be planted. Each cycad plant is either a male or female and this will also be seen in the type of cones that are produced. The differences are in the sizes, shape and color of cones.

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.

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.

Another problem that has to be dealt with from time to time is dust accumulation on the leaves. The solution to this is the use of slightly soapy water to physically wash off the dust. Another commonly used alternative is to leave the plants in the open whenever there are rainy showers to have the dust washed off naturally.




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