Cycad revoluta - There she blows! Started 12/June/2007

Post by **Dave Brown** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:09 am

My biggest Cycad revoluta was planted out in summer of 2002. It had a flush of around 40 new leaves in summer 2003, but since then has just grown in size.

Here it is in 2003 with a full flush of new leaves.

I was beginning to get worried, as it has been 4 years since it grew leaves, but I think I have found out why. on the web it says they can tolerate severe drought, and prefer to be in well drained dry soil. However, if you look at where they originate,Japan, they have a summer wet season. and having spoken to someone in Japan, it appears that they have hot, wet, humid weather from mid June. My Cycad has not been watered so suffers from summer drought every year, baking against the south facing wall with very little rain.

Cycad in March 2007

So this year I have been giving it a good soaking from the beginning of June, and HEY, it is starting to grow it's first flush in 4 years.

The first signs of movement.

Now the first signs of new fronds.

I'll post more pics as it progresses.

Post by **Dave Brown** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:01 am

Update 18th June 2007. Well and truely growing a full flush of leaves.

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:49 am

Try using Manganese Sulfate. Cycads seem to love this nutrient and grow much faster when fertilized with it.

Post by **Dave Brown** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:07 pm

Hi Turtile, not heard from you for a while. It is not easy to get individual ingredients in the UK, is there some brand name that contains this?

Libby · Post by **Libby** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:47 am

Is this a Cycas revoluta? If so I thought you could only grow these indoors?

Post by **Dave Brown** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:25 pm

Libby, Yes it is called a Cycas revoluta. But it is not a Palm. Latin name is Cyas revoluta. If you read the books they will tell you it is not hardy, but it can be in the right location, it depends on how low your temps are. Mine is tucked up under the eaves against the south facing wall of the lounge, where it can get 4 hours sun in midwinter. As our coldest nights are normally on clear nights, the sun will have warmed the wall and the Cycad during the day. I throw fleece over it if going below -3C. It has been outside since summer 2002, so has come through the last 5 winters.

Here it is on 24th Jan on the first of our two snowy snaps of the winter. Coldest night was Feb 7/8 which dropped to -4.1C

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:58 am

I'm not sure what they sell in the UK but I think Miracle-Gro for Acid loving plants has Manganese in it.
It should be 30-10-10 w/ Manganese, Iron, Boron... It only contains a small amount though.

In warmer climates they sell Chelated Palm Nutritional (I have to order through mail since no one grows palms here). Its a spray that contains the nutrients most used by palms other than NPK.

Its hard to find the chemicals around here as well. Its only available in huge truck loads (used by farmers to treat nutrient deficiencies). So the only way I can get it is through one of them.

You may want to try Lutz as well. I don't know if they ship to the UK but its worth a try.
https://www.lutzcorp.com/index.cfm

Post by **Dave Brown** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:17 am

Turtile, I looked on our nornal soluble fertilisers like Miragle-gro and they have small amounts of Trace elements. Manganese is around 0.05%.

Importing from the US is quite expensive. The EU imposes import duties, which if not paid the good get seized. The idea is to make EU people buy from the EU, but if you can't read 20 different languages fluently, you can't buy easily on-line.

Just wandered up the garden, looked at my Orange 'Rusk' which has yellowing leaves. I thought I must give it a dose of Espom Salts, and then it clicked Epsom Salts for magnesium sulphate. Did you mean Magnesuim sulphate

If so the Andrews liver salts have 17.4%. If you really did mean Maganese Sulfate, then I'm still looking.

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:06 am

Magnesium is also important for Cycads. Manganese is the most important Nutrient after NPK with Magnesium and Iron following.

Post by **Dave Brown** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 9:21 pm

I have not been able to locate high Manganese feed. Feeding with 24-8-16 with trace elements (0.02% manganese)

Still getting good growth levels

Libby · Post by **Libby** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:20 am

Oh WOW!!! You must be so thrilled, how fantastic, you patience has paid off. Can't wait to see more pics as the unfurl/open/or whatever!!!!!

Post by **Dave Brown** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:41 am

Hi Libby, Yes I'm thrilled, but would have been worried if it had still not shown any signs of growth.

The cooler weather over the last week has not slowed it down, and it seems to be revelling in the wet conditions, with highish humidity.

I'm taking pics every day, but I'll post one at about weekly intervals.

Post by **Dave Brown** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:27 pm

It is growing so fast now update after only 2 days.

Libby · Post by **Libby** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:43 am

It looks so green and healthy. What ever your doing to it, it obviously likes!!!!!

Post by **Dave Brown** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:18 pm

Pic of full plant.