Sago Palm Care & Pruning Sago Palms

Sago Palm Care & Pruning Sago Palms

Oftentimes, unsightly yellow fronds are a signal of a nutrient deficiency, which can usually be remedied with a boost of fertilizer, such as palm food. Poor, sickly looking plants can be rejuvenated with Epsom salts – using about one teaspoon to a gallon of water. To reduce the chance of nutrient deficiencies, sago palm should be fertilized at least every six weeks during the growing season.

Although some people feel the need to prune sago palm by removing these yellowing fronds, this is not recommended, especially on the lower leaves of deficient palms. This can actually cause the problem to worsen, moving up to the next tier of leaves. Even as yellow leaves are dying, they are still absorbing nutrients, which if removed, could stunt plant growth or leave it susceptible to infections.

Therefore, it’s best only to try trimming sago palm fronds and growth that are dead, which will be brown. However, trimming sago palm annually can be done for aesthetic purposes, but only if done carefully.
 
How to Prune a Sago Palm
Pruning sago palms should never be excessive. Only remove completely dead, badly damaged, or diseased foliage. If desired, the fruit and flower stalks can be pruned as well. In addition to decreasing growth, cutting the green fronds can weaken the plant, making it more susceptible to pests and diseases.

Cut the oldest and lowest leaves as close to the trunk as possible. In some cases, all but the very top fronds are removed—but this would be extreme. You should also refrain from trimming sago palm leaves that are roughly between a ten and two o’clock position.

Prune Sago Palm Pups

Mature sago palms develop offsets, or pups, at the base or along the sides of their trunk. These can be removed in early spring or late fall. Gently dig and lift them from the base or pop them from the trunk with a hand trowel or knife.

If you’d like to create additional plants using these pups, simply remove all the foliage and lay them out to dry for about a week or so. Then you can replant them in well-drained, sandy soil. Place half of the rootball just below the soil surface. Water thoroughly and keep the new pups in a shady area outside or a bright location indoors until rooting takes place – usually within a few months. Allow them to dry out some between watering and once roots appear, begin feeding them with a low dose of fertilizer.

Transplanting Sago Palm Pups

Do not repot or transplant new pups in the garden until they have formed extensive root systems. Sago palms do not like to be disturbed, so any transplanting needs to be done with great care. Newly planted sagos should only be moved during early spring, while mature palms can be transplanted during early spring or late fall.

Problems with Sago Palms

Problems with Sago Palms

While sago palms, for the most part, are problem free plants, you may on occasion encounter problems with sago palms. One of the most common complaints is sago palm yellowing. However, as is the case with most cycads, this is a normal reaction as the plant conserves nutrients – with older leaves turning yellow and then brown.

On the other hand, if sago palm yellowing occurs with new growth, this could signal a nutrient deficiency. Insects can be another factor, as these plants are well known for harboring pests like scale bugs. Newly planted sago palms that suffer from yellowing may be the result of improper planting or poor drainage.

Sago Palm : Poisonous to Cats, Dogs

Sago Palm : Poisonous to Cats, Dogs

Level of toxicity: Severe

Common signs to watch for:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Inappetance
• Abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdomen
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice
• Black-tarry stool

Sago palms are naturally found in tropical/subtropical environments; they are also used as ornamental Bonsai houseplants. These palms are members of the Order Cycadacae; genera Cycads, Macrozamia, and Zamias. Examples of the cycad family include Cycad (Cycas cirinalis), Japanese cycad (Cycad revolute), Coontie plant (Zamia pumila), and Cardbord palm (Zamia furfuracea).
All parts of sago palm are considered poisonous, with the seeds (nuts) being the most toxic part of the plant. Sago palm contains cycasin, which is the primary active toxic agent resulting in severe liver failure in dogs. Ingestion results in acute gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, inappetance, vomiting, diarrhea) within 15 minutes to several hours after ingestion.
Central nervous system signs (e.g., weakness, ataxia, seizures, tremors, etc.) and severe liver failure can be seen within 2-3 days post-ingestion. Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, inappetance, abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdomen, abdominal pain, jaundice, and black-tarry stool. Aggressive decontamination and treatment should be initiated. Even with aggressive treatment, the survival is about 50%.

If you suspect your dog or cat ate sago palm, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately for life-saving treatment recommendations.

Poison type: Plants

Alternate names: Cycads, Cycadaceae, sago, Zamias, Macrozamia, Cycas cirinalis, Japanese cycad, Cycad revolute, Coontie plant, Zamia pumila, Cardbord palm, Zamia furfuracea

Types of Palm Trees for Use as Houseplants

Types of Palm Trees for Use as Houseplants

Of the types of palm trees listed above, Phil Bergman at Junglemusic.net recommends the Lady palm trees for use as houseplants, along with Kentia palm trees and Bamboo palm trees.

Mixing Types of Palm Trees in Your Landscape Plantings

Although mention of "palm trees" conjures up an image of bright, sunny skies, not all palm trees can stand full sun (as you can see from the foregoing). If you have a sun-drenched yard but desire to grow a short variety that likes partial to full shade (for example, lady palm trees), consider planting a taller, sun-loving palm tree first (for example, Queen palm trees).

If you adopt this strategy, you’ll have to wait for the taller specimen to achieve some height before planting the shorter type of palm tree, so that the former provides a canopy for the latter. Just make sure both have sufficient cold hardiness for your area. Again, this is why success in growing palm trees is founded on one's knowledge of their cold hardiness, height and sunlight requirements. Keep these factors in mind as you continue to learn about the different types of palm trees.

Types of Palm Trees: Palms With Pinnate Leaves

Types of Palm Trees: Palms With Pinnate Leaves

Mountain cabbage palm trees (Prestoea acuminata var. Montana)
Cold hardiness: 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 20 to 25 feet.
Sunlight requirement: filtered or partial sun
Queen palm trees (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
Cold hardiness: to 20 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 50 feet
Sunlight requirement: full sun
Date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera)
Cold hardiness: to 18 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 50 feet
Sunlight requirement: full sun

Types of Palm Trees: Palms With Palmate Leaves

Types of Palm Trees: Palms With Palmate Leaves

Lady palm trees (Rhapis excelsa)
Cold hardiness: to 22 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 4 to 8 feet.
Sunlight requirement: shade or filtered light.
Puerto Rican thatch palm trees (Coccothrinax alta)
Cold hardiness: to 28-30 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 25 feet
Sunlight requirement: full sun
Silver saw palmetto palm trees (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii)
Cold hardiness: to 20 degrees Fahrenheit
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Sunlight requirement: full sun

How to Grow Sago Palms

Sago palms aren't palm trees at all—these attractive, low-growing plants are actually cycads. These plants are extremely slow-growing and will often put out only one new frond every year. It can easily take a sago palm five or six years to achieve its full pot-size of two feet. These plants are important in tropical landscapes and yield a distinctively Asian look to any houseplant collection.

Growing Conditions:

Light: Bright light, but avoid direct sunlight in summer.
Water: Keep soil continuously moist throughout spring and summer, and reduce watering in the winter.
Temperature: Prefers warm and humid conditions. Hardy to 50ºF, but avoid freezing drafts.
Soil: A well-drained potting mix.
Fertilizer: Fertilize in Spring and throughout growing season.

Propagation:

By seed. Most people do not attempt to propagate sago palms at home, and few home-grown plants will produce cones (the cycads version of flowers), and it takes both a male and female plant to produce viable seeds. In warmer areas with perfect conditions, sago palms may produce suckers that can be potted up individually.

Repotting:

Because they grow so slowly, sago palms will likely only need repotting every three years. In the Spring, however, gently remove plant from pot and refresh potting media to ensure continued healthy growth.

Varieties:

Sago palms are cycads, belonging to the Cycad family and the Cycas genus. Although there are about 40 species in the Cycas genus, the only one seen commonly in the United States is the C. revoluta, or common sago palm.

Grower's Tips:

In their native, subtropical environments, sago palms grow to much larger specimens, with arching fronds that easily measure four feet and often producing suckers that can be individually potted. In the home, replicate these conditions by misting frequently and providing plenty of summer warmth. Consider moving them outside in warmer months. Scale are also a considerable problem in some areas, so treat aggressively at the first sign.