How to Plant Sago Palm Seeds? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
The sago palm is an evergreen palm-like woody plant of the genus Cycas in the family Cycadaceae. It is an excellent foliage plant for green areas, courtyards and indoors. It generally blooms from late spring to early summer. The seeds mature in autumn and are collected then. Seeds sown in the same year can achieve a germination rate of over 95%, while seeds sown the following year have a germination rate of only about 20%. Now let us take a look at how to plant sago palm seeds!
Sow Seeds Immediately After Collection
1. Seed treatment: Before sowing sago palm seeds, soak them in warm water at about 50°C in a thermos for 12 hours, pour them out and spread them for 1 hour, then change to water of the same temperature with 0.1% ferrous sulfate and monopotassium phosphate added, put them back into the thermos and soak for another 12 hours, after which they are ready for sowing.
2. Sowing method: Sow sago palm seeds by dibbling in pots, covering with 2 cm of soil. At a high temperature of 30-33°C, they can germinate in two weeks. The seedlings must be cultivated for 2-4 years before they can be transplanted.
Sowing Seeds the Following Year
1. Seed treatment: Select plump seeds no more than two years old, soak them in warm water at about 50°C for 24 hours, then soak them in dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid for 10-15 minutes, then rinse them clean with water. During soaking, change the water once every other day. After the seed coat has fully absorbed water, expanded and softened, manually peel off the outer seed coat, wash off the fruit pulp, dry the seeds, and then store them properly.
2. Sowing method: Around December, carry out sand storage treatment of the seeds. First sow the prepared seeds into the bed at a depth of about 3 cm, then immediately cover with river sand 3 cm thick. Sand storage generally takes 4-6 months. During this period, maintain a suitable temperature of 18-25°C and a relative humidity of 80-90%, and do a good job of keeping them warm in winter, not below 12°C. In May-June of the following year, the seeds germinate and break through the shell, and in July-August they sprout and grow one true leaf, at which point they can be transplanted.
Sago Palm Cultivation Methods
1. Growing environment: The sago palm should be planted in a place with ample sunlight, that is moist and warm, and with good ventilation. If encountered with colder winter weather, the plant should be wrapped with plastic bags and straw bundles; for potted plants, most of the branches and leaves can be cut off, and the pot placed in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot.
2. Timely watering: The sago palm likes moist soil, so loose, fertile, slightly acidic sandy soil is most beneficial to its growth. When watering, follow the principle of “water after the soil dries, keep it dry then wet”, that is, water after the soil dries and do not let water accumulate in the surrounding soil, otherwise it can easily cause root rot in the sago palm.
3. Reasonable fertilizing: During the vigorous stage of growth and reproduction, the sago palm needs regular fertilizing to ensure its nutritional needs. Fertilizing is mainly with nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, and it is best to apply thin fertilizer frequently. To make the sago palm leaves dark green and glossy, an appropriate amount of ferrous sulfate solution can be added during fertilizing.
4. Shaping and pruning: To keep the sago palm's shape beautiful and symmetrical, the old yellowed leaves from the previous year can be pruned off each year when new leaves grow.
5. Pest and disease control: The sago palm's trunk and branches are relatively hard, so pest damage rarely occurs. If scale insect disease is found, in mild cases wash and kill the insects manually; in severe cases spray the leaf surface with 1% concentration ferrous sulfate.