Avoid placing them in direct sunlight.
When grown indoors, choose a bright east-, west-, or south-facing window.
Indoor plants can be moved outside in warm weather as long as the container is in dappled sunlight.
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Soil
Sago palms aren’t overly picky about their soil, but they do need good drainage.
A sandy soil that’s somewhat rich in organic matter and slightly acidic to neutralsoil pHis ideal.
For container plants, a potting mix made for cactus or palms is suitable.
The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Slightly reduce watering in the winter when the plant is not actively growing.
Temperature and Humidity
Sago palms plants love warm, humid conditions.
you might also use slow-release fertilizer two to three times during the growing season, following package instructions.
The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
If your sago is planted in clay, a less porous medium, use half the amount of fertilizer.
Adjust your sago palm’s position and consider aplant humidifierif you suspect dry air.
In rare cases, brown tips can also be a sign of pests.
The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Keep yellowing leaves intact.
They may not look pretty, but they are still absorbing nutrients for the plant.
Removingyellowing leavesmay spur further yellowing and worsen the plant’s health.
Using sterilized pruning shears or hand pruners, cut them as close to the trunk as possible.
Propagating Sago Palm
Palms can be propagated by seed, but takes longer and is often ineffective.
Propagation by division is the quicker and easier way to go.
The best time totransplantthose pups is early spring or late fall.
Sago palm seeds are bright red to orange-hued.
The seeds contain toxins, so wear gloves when handling them.
Potting and Repotting Sago Palm
Sago palms are good container plants indoors or outdoors.
Because they grow slowly, sago palms only need repotting every three years or so.
This plant grows best in a soil-based potting mix amended with sand and peat moss.
Sago palms do not like wet, soggy soil, so opt for an unglazed ceramic or terracotta pot.
The porous material will help absorb excess moisture from the soil.
Also, choose a pot with multiple drainage holes to allow the water to drain easily.
To prevent plant death, provide winter protection.
Uncover the plant when the frost melts away the next day.
Common Pests
Sago palms don’t have serious issues with pests or diseases.
But scale and spider mites can become problematic.
Look out for foliage damage or discoloration, as well as tiny bugs among the fronds.
The bottom-most, lower ring of leaves is the oldest.
Do not remove the leaves until they turn brown and die.
The yellowing will appear to affect all of the fronds.
Yellowed leaves won’t turn green, but subsequent foliage should look healthy.
The fungus gets to the roots and destroys the plant from within.
Another sign of root rot is an oozing, black sore or stain on the trunk.
Root rot results in leaf wilt, discoloration, and leaves falling out.
You might be able to save the plant.
Sooty mold is a fungus that grows on the secretions that tiny bugs leave behind.
This fungus can be washed off the sago’s leaves with a steady stream of water on each spot.
double-check to wear gloves if you oughta handle them and keep them a safe distance away from children.
The sharp leaves can also be painful, so handle with care.
Sago palms are considered low-maintenance and don’t have issues with pests.
You won’t need to regularly prune, just remove dead leaves.
Sago palms are low-maintenance plants that don’t require a lot of attention.
They are very durable and adaptable.
However, sago palms are extremely toxic to humans and pets.
They are also slow-growing plants that can take up to 15 years to reach maturity.
Male sago palms produce slender upright cones in the middle of the plant.
Sago palms are cycads, one of the oldest families of plants still alive today.
Dating back at least 300 million years, they predate Tyrannosaurus rex by more than 200 million years.
Cycas revoluta.North Carolina State University.
