Hardy Tropicals UK

My favourite Cycas revoluta did not handle winter well.

Here is was in July 2010 just after a flush Unfortunately after that terrible December it looked like this even though protected with several layers of fleece and a fleece bag. It was left to see how it went until March, but was quite obvious by that time that the fronds were completely lost. Fronds removed leaving the green petioles Plastic dumbell placed over the top to bake it 6 weeks later the centre has started to move although it has a long, long way to go for a flush I'll keep this updated as we go along.

I have been wondering if the recent harsh winters have caused Cycads to flush more often...

Could it be that because the plant has taken extensive damage to its fronds or maybe lost them completely, it has to produce a full new set of fronds..?

It was chatting with a fella about Macrozamia recently, and that put this idea into my head.
He was telling me not to worry if Macrozamia defoliates, because bush fire often means that defoliation happens in habitat, and within months the Macrozamia have replaced everything they lost.

Maybe that might be a trigger for Revolutas too..

Oh dave,

I remember that unusual shaped palm you got.

lol I looked all over without success. I am so sorry to see the current Image after winter.

I hope you get a good flush.

Thanks Kata, but I'm pretty sure it will pull through now

Normally I would not start the watering until beginning of June, but as it has been so warm and the Cycas is in it's little greenhouse I have started early. I have been watering with paddling pool warmed water (about 26C) and left the cover on giving it a daily sauna , and the central spikes definately seem to have elongated. The Lily of the valley have been removed from around it to reduce competition. I have removed the old frond bases as these have died back and were now serving no useful purpose.

Pic 8th May

It looks as though its going to make it.......I am going to leave mine in a pot permanently.

I hope it makes it too,

That Cycas is rare as rocking horse poop

I have this search engine if you will. What you do ( its for ebay) you put in sentences the wrong way (mixed up). I could'nt even find one that way either. At best I hope it seeds and Dave grows some seedlings to sell on to us.

Live in hope, die in dispair

I think its how the fronds down sweep like the Butia capitsta is what attracted me to it.

Good luck, it looks like a goer.

There she Blows

It has had a dressing of potash, not that I know it does these good, but helps to produce strong growth, and a dressing of sulphate of ammonia which is high nitrogen vegetable feed. This coupled with boiling it by watering with warm water through the top of the bell at lunchtime then closing down the vents.

The result is the first signs of a flush. No idea how many fronds it will produce, but any, after the state it was in a few weeks ago, is good news

Nice going Dave! Mine has been stopped short by the recent spell of miserable weather but I'm hoping it will pick up where it left off when the weather improves here later this week.

The spikes on my caudex have all stood up on end and reaching for the sky since i have been watering for the past couple of weeks.

Well done dave, i reckon you should get a good flush with it being totally defoliated.

Flush proper is under way now and looks to have at least 6 fronds as far as I can tell now.

Oh wow. That's awesome to see it come back alive. Looked like it got
Major damage. The only damage mine gets is cycad caterpillars. Have the spray the butters with white oil to kill them or they cause a lot of leaf damage.

Cycad catapillars

The only thing I will have to watch here is slugs and snails on the new soft fronds.

Mine is now at that stage too (in a pot)....when do you sit them in water and for how long ??

The Codfather wrote:Mine is now at that stage too (in a pot)....when do you sit them in water and for how long ??

If it is at the same stage ie fronds appearing from the centre you don't sit them in water, you just treat as any other plant, watering when required by the temps, and fed every couple of weeks or so.

You only sit them in water for 3 days to encourage a flush.