Sago palms

[Bozwel]

I am repotting my house plant Sago palm that I put out in the summer. I read that cactus soil is good and add some sand. My question is the size of the path how small or big should it be? The plant is quite large. Also, can you advise me on fertilizing? 

[PalmatierMeg]

we need photos

The so-called "sago palm" is not a palm but a cycad

[Tracy]

  On 6/30/2024 at 3:12 PM, Bozwel said:

I am repotting my house plant Sago palm that I put out in the summer. I read that cactus soil is good and add some sand. My question is the size of the path how small or big should it be? The plant is quite large. Also, can you advise me on fertilizing? 

Expand  

Generally speaking they appreciate a well draining soil.  I would suggest pumice or perlite if either are available to amend the cactus mix.   As Meg mentioned,  Sago Palms are actually Cycads which cone as opposed to palms which form flowers for reproduction.   Specifically, it is Cycas revoluta.

On fertilizer, I use slow time release fertilizer with micros on my cycads, same that I use with palms. 

Reiterating what Meg said,  photos would be helpful to understand the size and condition of your cycad.  How long have you been growing it? 

[Merlyn]

@Bozwel I'll just agree with Tracy, add a big amount of perlite or pumice or Turface MVP to your locally available cactus mix.  Turface is heavier than the others, which would be good if you want more weight at the bottom. 

I use "palm" fertilizer on my cycads, including my ~10 sagos.  Sometimes they get Magnesium deficiencies (yellow tips on the oldest leaves) or Manganese deficiencies ("frizzle top" or brown spots on the new leaves).  A small amount of Manganese or Magnesium sulfate usually fixes it.  The "palm" fertilizers usually have both ingredients in reasonable amounts.

[SeanK]

http://cycadjungle.mysite.com/

This guy is an expert and member of CFPACS, a local IPS affiliate.

[Scott W]

What you're really wanting is similar to what @Merlyn said above, or maybe a mixture for what would be used for a bonsai plant.  Needs to be fast draining while having a little water retention, but too much will cause root rot (so it can't stay wet and mucky).  

As for the ingredients,  you may have a hard time finding these in small quantities.   I buy turface and pumice in large quantities, and the sand I use is pool filter sand.  If you can find a seller that provides a bonsai soil premixed it might be better than buying more than what you would need.

[PalmsInBaltimore]

Not sure if you already repotted or not, but as for pot size, I usually go with a pot that is 2-4 inches wider than the previous one. For purposes of adequate watering, you don't want the plant swimming in an ocean of soil. At the same time, you want to give the roots plenty of room to grow. 

When you repot it, if the roots are seriously bound up in the old pot and growing in circles around the bottom, you can go for a larger pot, but if the roots aren't crowding out everything in the old pot, then going one size up is adequate. 

Also, cycads want deep pots because their roots can get very big, continuing to grow in length as long as the plant lives. They also tend to grow downward so prioritize depth over width when choosing a good pot. As for soil, if they sell it in Long Island, I would go with Organic Mechanics Cactus & Succulent Mix. It's a good PEAT FREE mix of expanded shale, rice hulls, worm casings, and other stuff that has excellent drainage and will never get compacted.

Best of luck!