rscotth

While I was feeding the plants today I noticed this growing beside the Cycad in my front yard. It kinda looks like a pup- I didn't know they did this?

The yellow areas are from the freezes we had this winter.

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Bananaman88

They do produce pups or offsets similar to what a banana produces. You can let it grow for a while and then dig it out and replant it. I recently removed two huge sagos from my landscape and they probably had at least 10 pups per plant.

rscotth

That's excellent! I've been giving it some "extra" feedings lately because of the yellow and it must be liking it.

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Randy4ut

Like Brent said, they do indeed produce offsets... Gave my mom one two years ago and she has left it potted up as she lives in middle TN. Well, this spring she said it was pupping like crazy!!! I had her take it out of the pot and carefully remove the pups and see if any of her friends wanted them. Unfortunately, none of her friends wanted any so guess who got them??? You got it, I did... She removed 19 or 20 pups and now I get to baby them and then find homes for them...

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ArchAngeL01

they love to pup,and i love my variegated one a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20638&ppuser=4948>

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Brad

rscotth

So how long should I wait until I seperate it?

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ArchAngeL01

at least wait till its leaves unfurl and harden,and make sure it has roots of its own b4 u do it.

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Brad

Kim

Hi rscotth;
You found out your Cycad produces pups, my king sago's don't know when to stop. Try cutting off the palms closer to the trunk so you don't cut up your hands when you need to remove the pups. Dig completely around the pup to estimate the size. With a clean slice remove as much of the pup as possible to retain as much of the bulb with their root system. Don't slice into the mother plant but you can shave it a little when slicing off the pup. Don't dig at the pup, slice the pup off. As far as the yellowing, try washing the palm fronds a couple of times a week with a hose. When potting the pups cover at least 3/4 of the bulb and best to set pots on solid base. I hope this helps.

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

ron_mcb

the sex of the pup will be the same sex as the plant you got the pup. i have a few medium sized ones that i planted out by my fence i dont know the sex of either one yet because i never got a flower.
even if you never get a flower..propagating the cycads by pups is the fastest way to go. every sucker you remove may not survive but you will get better the more you practice. when im rooting the suckers,i remove all fronds that have unfurled i may leave spears if they are present...other people may not..

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naw mek smaddi ditate fi yuh. naw wan gwan a pawty yuh naggo.

conejov

I never knew that they pupped. Thank you I learned something new.

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ArchAngeL01

are you sure thats cold damage and not the asian scale?

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Brad

Bananaman88

It looks more like a nutrient deficiency to me. Bob, check the underside of the fronds to see if you see any whitish or yellowish "bumps" that would indicate the presence of scale insects. Otherwise you may have a nutrient deficiency causing the yellowing of your leaves. Be sure to feed with a fertilizer containing micronutrients.

southlatropical

I agree. I think magnesium and magnese are the common deficiencies for cycas in the southeast. Use a fert with microelements.

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rscotth

I was thinking it was a nutrient deficiency also so I started feeding it a bit more and even did an Ironite application. The leaves are now a really deep dark green but the yellow areas haven't changed and looks almost like a chemical burn and even feels deformed when you run your fingers over them. The leaves are getting dark green but the yellow stays the same size no matter what I do.

There is no evidence of spider mites or apparent insect presence. I do have a Madagascar Palm that is fairy close that was infested with spider mites earlier this year (thanks ebay) but I wiped them with several applications of insect soap.

Now as far as "asian scale" - I have absolutely no idea what that is so I will have to study up.

These are fairly new leaves and as soon as they came out they looked like this. My lawn control guy- "Massey Services" told me that it was freeze damage when the leaves were still inside the bulb.

This has always been a very good looking plant in the past and it kills me to see the yellow on it also. Even more so because when I am in the car with the wife and see a yellow palm I do my "drive by diagnosis".

Looks like some new leaves are on the way and I am enclosing a closeup of the yellow areas for a better look. I am always open to suggestions..........

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southlatropical

I'm not sure how a cycad can get cold damage to leaves that have not yet emerged. They grow out like a fern leaf. It does not form in the caudex and then emerge like a palm frond or a banana leaf.

The discolored leaves may not turn green from adding nutrients depending on what caused it. The new leaves on the next flush will show if the problem has been corrected. Be careful with the ironite and fertilizer. You have to be patient and wait for the next flush to see if it needs more or not. I feed my cycads with osmocote twice a year. Can't remember the NPK ratio off hand. I do put down ironite and sometimes a little epsom salt in the spring. With cycads it is far better to under fertilize than over fertilize.

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rscotth

I thought I would post an update on the staus of my cycad. First off- I sincerely appreciate your advise and comments. I think I have corrected the defeciency the plant was needing. The new leaf bundle has open and almost totaly uncurled and they look much better than before.
Thanks!

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saltydad

My cycad is a little guy who's always been indoors. I want to put him outside and see if he does any better. Outside of titrating the amount of sunshine before putting him in bright sun, any other suggestions? Thanks.

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rscotth

Of course I am no expert by any means but these are some really hardy plants and slow growers. I've read that by the ten year mark they will have about a foot of exposed trunk. Mine is coming up on 6 years next mothers day and besides this last issue it has been a maintenance free plant. I always feed them to get that deep dark green but it's almost as if it does best when left alone.
I think it will do just fine outside and full sun exposure won't be an issue after you do your transition. The only thing I will suggest is maybe covering once the temps get real low.
There is also an issue with what is known as armored scale which has recently become a problem. I know there some members here that are really in tune with these plants and hopefully they will chime in.

Here's a good thread: ATTN: Sago Palm growers

I also took Kim's advise and trimmed the branches closer to the trunk. Those things are like darts and hurt if you don't pay attention to what your doing.

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Bananaman88

I'd do like suggested above, Salty; transition it slowly into the sun and be prepared to protect it in the winter. I think at this point in the year, I'd wait until spring if I were you.

saltydad

I wasn't planning on keeping it out over the winter. This will be a patio plant. Thanks all.

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
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