Dear
Craig:
I
think my sago palm is crying out for help. I planted
it in March of this year from a five‑gallon
container.
It gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It was
fine for about two months and then it started
turning yellow, and now it is completely yellow.
The plant gets twelve gallons of water every six
days. What does it want?
Thanks
for your help.
Bill
Dear
Bill:
The
most commonly planted sago is the Cycad revolute.
This beautiful palm‑like plant is actually
more closely related to conifers than any palm.
Cycads bear cones and have rich, glossy, leathery
leaves. Cycads grow very slowly and can reach
heights up to ten feet. Primarily planted in shady
areas, they can be planted in full sun if allowed
to acclimate. If you anticipate planting any cycad
in full sun, plant during the fall to allow for
a period of adjustment before summer returns.
In
general the cycad is drought tolerant and can
go for many weeks between watering, once acclimated
to its final planting area and established. A
newly planted cycad should have a regular watering
schedule for the first year. After an establishment
period, watering can be reduced by as much as
75 percent, although I recommend maintaining a
moderate watering program to keep these plants
looking their best.
I
believe that your plant may be experiencing problems
from lack of water, high amounts of sunlight (even
for short periods), and the need for nitrogen.
Try watering every two to three days using about
three to five gallons. For the yellowing problem,
I would recommend applying a low dose of nitrogen
with an acid or sulphur base during the summer
months or until the foliage returns to its natural
green color. Cycads can grow in just about any
soil type but prefer acidic conditions with good
drainage.
Sulphur
will react with the bacteria in the soil to acidify
the area around the root system.
Cycads
growing in shaded areas carry a darker green color
than those growing in full sun. Cycads leaf only
one time per year, so protecting its foliage is
very important. Each layer of foliage represents
one year of growth. To determine the age of this
plant you can count the layers of foliage and
the layers that have been trimmed. I’ll bet you
can find cycads sold in fifteen gallon
containers that may be more than twenty years
old.
If
the foliage does not return to a natural green
state and becomes brittle or white, the foliage
can be entirely removed from the base of the plant.
Once all the foliage is removed, keep the plant
hydrated with plenty of water on a regular basis.
This will force a new set of leaves to appear
out of its normal cycle. All plants require foliage
for photosynthesis and the cycad will produce
these new leaves to protect itself.
One
thing to remember: most nurseries provide cycads
that have been grown in the shade for optimum
appearance. If you are planning on installing
cycads in full sun, ask your nursery professional
to order them fully acclimated. This will save
you the trouble of acclimating them before
planting.
Craig
Allison is a registered landscape architect with
more than 30 years of landscaping and nursery
experience. He currently owns and manages Carefree
Gardens, a retail nursery located at the corner
of Carefree Highway and Central Avenue in Desert
Hills. Listen to Craig and call in Sunday mornings
from 8 to 9 a.m. on KFNX 1100 AM talk radio.
