Nigel,its like keeping myself in your shoes contrary to keeping my Cycas in your climate.
If I grow your Cycas here you won't even recognize that it is yours when it flushes. The 2 reasons why
your Cycas takes 2 years to flush are
1.Inevitable harsh winters
2.Rock hard sand that won't let the roots to penetrate through the sand.(Perlite is the solution)
Perlite has the ability to eliminate surface cracks of sand as shown in this link
http://www.perlitecanada.com/en/1-perli ... icole.html
Keep 2 inchs of perlite on top layer of pot and drill 4 extra holes at the bottom and see the results.
Don't worry about sand coming out of the holes as you can add it from top or burry the pot in the ground like mine
so that sand level in the pot won't decrease. If possible add 5 inchs of perlite in bottom layer and fill all the empty space
around the new pot with perlite if you are willing to transplant it in slightly 1 or 2 inchs bigger pot. When you pour water
as much as 60% of your pot's volume on every Sunday the white liquid from perlite mixes with hard sand to make it not only
fragile but moist till next Sunday if it is around 32*C. Perlite is very cheap here in acquarium shops. Its price is Rs 10/kg.
Don't buy polished perlite instead buy raw and dry perlite as it forms a white liquid. I can't remember how often I replaced
perlite. Replace it whenever you like. Pour coffee water all over/under fronds and sand.
caution: While transplanting to new pot take care not to hurt the roots otherwise most of the fronds turn yellow. It happened to me.
If you find hell lot of snow outside you can make heaven inside like this one.