Cycads in pots or the ground?

[Palmdude]

I have a bunch of 1-2 leaf cycads. I'm somewhat new to cycads and was wondering what the best way to grow them was. I know they do well in pots, do they do better if you just pop them into the ground? Also how far down do you bury their little caudexs?

[Kailua_Krish]

All of mine seem to grow faster in pots for reasons Im not really sure of. Maybe the in ground ones are establishing roots but for small cycads pots seem to work better for me.

The exception would be fast growing Cycas (such as debaoensis, revoluta, and hybrids) which have done well in ground for me.

[Palmdude]

Thanks and good to know about the Debaoensis, I have two that are getting pretty big and the roots are like big dreadlocks that easily break through the plastic pots. One of them is flushing at the moment which is always exciting

[Geoff]

I agree at that size I have much better luck in pots… but once they get to the 2 gal or more size, in the ground is better for most (exception for me are smaller Macrozamias always do better in pots for some reason).

[Palmdude]

Thanks Geoff

[cycadjungle]

If you had perfect conditions where the seedlings were not stressed, or had any possibility of damage, the seedlings could root in deeply from the start and make bigger plants faster. That is, just the species that have the deeper tap root type of root system. Ceratozamias don't normally have that kind of root, but big Encephalartos would do better. Debaoensis are the fastest growing cycad I have seen when given all the root room in the world.

If you don't have perfect conditions, then the smaller the cycad, the more of a chance of root rot, or damage making a huge impact. The more starch mass a cycad has, the better it can handle difficulties. I'd keep most cycads in containers full they have 1-2 inch stems, and a good deep root. The 6 inch square citrus pots can grow out good sized cycads ready for the ground, and they are 19 inches deep, so you get a great depth of roots.

[tjwalters]

I have no choice but to grow them in pots, but they seem to do well. Grew this one from seed.