Description
How To Grow And Care For King Palm UK
King Sago Palm is an easy Cycad to grow and barely requires maintenance. It is commonly propagated by seeds or suckers.
Growing conditions needed for Cycas Revoluta – King Palm
Soil: They thrive in moist but well-draining soil like loamy soil. They can’t survive wet, soggy, or arid soil.
Light: Partial shade or full sun is ideal. Since they are tropical plants, the best light condition is full sun for fully established palm trees.
Water: It has moderate water requirements. The topsoil should be kept consistently moist but should be allowed to almost dry out between watering periods.
Pruning: Pruning is not required but you can cut off dead or damaged fronds.
Fertiliser: It needs a fertiliser with a high ratio of Nitrogen. You can get Cycad specific fertiliser here
Temperature: Temperature of 21 to 22 degrees Celsius is ideal for growth and it can survive temperatures as low as -6 degrees Celsius for short periods.
Pests and Diseases: King sago palms are not prone to pests and diseases. Root rot may occur if the soil is overwatered or has poor drainage.
Growing King Palm Cycas Revoluta In The UK
Cycas revoluta is easy to grow in the UK once the growing conditions discussed earlier are met. Since the plant is relatively tolerant to cold weather, it can grow successfully in the UK.
Since it is a popular houseplant, you can grow it in containers that can be moved outdoors in summer and indoors in extreme winter conditions. Alternatively, you can cover the plant with a lightweight blanket or a burlap bag to provide some warmth and protect it from freezing.
Toxicity of Cycas Revoluta
The King Sago palm contains a toxin known as cycasin in all its parts with the highest concentration present in the seeds. This makes it poisonous to human beings and common pets like dogs and cats. Ingestion of the plant or its parts may cause seizures, diarrhea, weakness, liver failure, cirrhosis, and vomiting. Ingesting this plant in any portion may cause permanent damage to internal organs.
Cycas revoluta is one of the most primitive living plants they are very unusual and popular ornamentals.
The rugged trunk topped with whorled feathery leaves has lead to the common name ”Sago Palm” – our customers often refer to them as looking like Pineapples! They are of course not edible!! Cycads are also often called ”living fossils” and they have changed very little in the last 200 million years. While various species of Cycads can be found throughout the world the subtropical Cycas revoluta is native to the Far East and has been used as a choice container and landscape plant for centuries. The growth habit of Cycas revoluta displays an upright trunk topped with stiff feather-like leaves growing in a circular pattern.
Rather than continuously adding foliage Sagos produce a periodic flush of new leaves. Eventually offsets begin to grow at the base of the specimen and occasionally in the crown. The addition of offsets provides a source of new plants and many possibilities for developing an unique specimen. Regardless of age or size Cycas revoluta is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors or out by beginner or expert. This subtropical adapts to a wide range of temperatures from -11 to 42 degrees C accepts full sun or bright interior light thrives with attention and tolerates neglect although it is best kept indoors throughout winter in the UK. In addition Cycads are extremely long-lived.
