Hardy Tropicals UK

hi everyone
just bought a cycas revoluta in 30cm/15ltr pot and is going into a 40x40x40 square planter, need some advice on best potting mixture, would john innes no3 and perlite be ok or should i add some gravel aswell, thanks in advance

I've potted mine up using a mix of 40% perlite, 40 % John Innes No.3 and 20% Multipurpose.

I find they don't need to be too well drained as they only go outside when it's warm and I generally let the rain do the wtering. They're inside when it gets cold and I water fairly infrequently then, only when the soil dries out almost completely.

I'm sure Sean or Mat will be better advised to tell you their experience though.

GoggleboxUK wrote:I've potted mine up using a mix of 40% perlite, 40 % John Innes No.3 and 20% Multipurpose.

I find they don't need to be too well drained

GB: I would have defined "40% perlite" as very well drained, do you reckon that I could (should?!) use a lot less than you have done then?

I assume so Kristen.

The one I bought from Ikea came in a pot that looked as though it had been grown in pure MP compost, certainly no perlite, sand or grit in there whatsoever.

I always think that when people ask for advice on what mix to use they should also consider how often and how much water the plant will get, how humid the conditions and how awarm the environment is.

All these things will come into play when defining a mix. Up here in the NW we get a lot more rain than down south so a 40% Perlite mix for me will hold much more water than it will for someone like Adrian or somebody who has a Cycad in a conservatory next to a radiator simply because nature waters it more often up here.

A 90% Perlite mix will stay wet if the pot is stood in a pond.

Thanks GB, makes sense.

GoggleboxUK wrote:A 90% Perlite mix will stay wet if the pot is stood in a pond.

I'll keep that as Plan B if that's OK with you? !!

50 % Plagron bat mix ...
http://www.homehydro.co.uk/bat-mix-50l- ... re=default

30% Plagron worm humis
http://www.hg-hydroponics.co.uk/plagron ... 2846-p.asp

20% extra perlite (the plagron bat mix has perlite, but add extra)

sprinkle rootgrow on the roots and in the planting hole

water with rainwater (so as not to kill the rootgrow fungi), and after a few weeks, start using seaweed as a foliar feed

after several weeks, you will need to start fertilizing .... perhaps something like a slow release osmocote fertilizer or bat guano (there are some high in nitrogen, and some high in P).... so during spring/summer, use the one with the higher nitrogen, and later in the year, use the one with the higher P

all a bit overboard, but thats me!

suppose that John Innes #3 with some extra perlite and some oscomote will also do well .... but also use rootgrow and seaweed such as maxicorp seaweed (there is one with added iron)

thanks everyone

all a bit overboard, but thats me!

Your telling me.... I think G's mix is quite Adequate for my needs.

I also use Palm Focus, and more recent for me Bioactive Palm Fertilizer .