What kind of plant is the cycad? Let us introduce you to the characteristics of cycads
Cycads are generally called iron trees, and some also call them phoenix-tail bananas. The reason they are called cycads is said to be because they need a large amount of trace elements during growth. Cycads are famous ornamental plants, and are now commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes in southern regions. They have relatively good ornamental value. What kind of plant is the cycad? Friends who want to learn about this can also find an introduction here.
1. Plant category
In detailed botanical classification, the cycad is a plant of the phylum Spermatophyta, subphylum Gymnospermae, class Cycadopsida, order Cycadales. In fact, the cycad is an ancient seed plant in the world, growing in the same era as dinosaurs, and is a living fossil in the plant kingdom. There are currently about 10 genera and 110 species of cycads, and these cycad plants have continued to survive. The specific detailed genus and species categories are very complex, so no further introduction will be given. However, these are currently mainly distributed in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan area and the tropical regions of Taiwan, China, Hainan, Guangdong, and Fujian.
2. Ornamental value
The cycad has a graceful tree shape and a relatively attractive appearance, and it is green all year round, avoiding the monotony of the landscape caused by winter yellowing. Because its growth rate is slow, it can be cultivated for many years, and its ornamental period is very long. Cycads are now often used in garden landscaping. Cycad branches can be cut off for flower arrangements. Cycads will bloom after being planted for many years, but the flowers are not colorful,
3. Cultivation environment
Cycads like a warm climate environment and are not cold-tolerant, but in fact they can pass through winter safely in Hunan and the southwestern regions. There is no impact. They are generally suitable for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Cycads like a humid environment, so they cannot grow in overly dry areas, and they like places with sufficient sunlight all year round. Places with some shade from large trees are also not a big problem. They have strong adaptability and can grow in somewhat dry soil. They are most suitable for growing in slightly acidic soil.
4. Cultivation methods
The most commonly used methods for planting cycads are propagation by tillers and propagation by seeds. Seeds are relatively difficult; generally, they must be cultivated for more than ten years before they produce seeds. However, tillering often occurs. For planting tillers, you only need to cut the tillers off from the base of the trunk and plant them in sandy loam soil, with a plant-to-row spacing of 10 cm, covering with 6 cm of soil, covering with a shade net, and frequently spraying water to maintain moisture. For sowing seeds in furrows, the furrow depth is 8 cm, the width is 10 cm, and the spacing is 20 cm, with 4 to 5 cm of soil covering them. After compacting, cover with rice straw, and after watering, the soil is moist. Once seedlings emerge, it can be removed.
The cycad is a valuable ornamental plant with a long history, commonly seen in garden landscaping. Small plants can also be cultivated as bonsai for ornamental purposes. They can also be used as flower arrangement material. They are used relatively widely.