HI, I have a sago....bought it and transplanted it about a month and a half ago....green, healthy, with a grapefruit-sized base. It has been quite happy inside, with what I thought would be enough light. I have been good about giving it specific fertilizer, letting it dry well between waterings etc... About 2 weeks ago, the bottom leaves on one side started to lighten in colour and now appear to be blanched. Is this lack of light (the weather has been awful this spring/early summer here)? Lack of nutrients? Regular process of dying off and needing to be pruned? Help! I want to save it and restore it to it's former health! Need your advise! Attached pictures below. thanks,
IMHO that appears to be just a natural cycle, with perhaps a touch of transplant shock. It appears to be the oldest leaf, which will die off so that it can put more energy into the new leaves. I am assuming that both those photos were taken at the same time... Ed
Hi, Yes, both photos at the same time. I too, was thinking transplant shock. However, I transplanted it over 2 months ago.....does it show up this late after? I am worried it is not getting enough light, or lack of nutrients....I moved it (but kept it oriented North) to a sunnyier window...... I will see if it makes a difference. Should I prune them off once truly brown? thanks,
The plant looks healthy to me. I would snip it off so it can put more energy into the new leaves : ) Ed
Leave the leaf on until the caudex reabsorbs the nutrients it needs from it. In other words, care less about 'pretty,' and more about 'healthy.' ;-) Looks quite happy as it is, so I'd say if it works, don't try to fix it. Quite well done; I wouldn't have suspected that it would have done at all well in Canada!
Hi, Thanks for the advice....I will leave it, as I am not usually too fussy about the over-pruning "pretty" look either. As for Canada, the west coast is pretty temperate, with most of the province of British Columbia being part of a rain forest. So, for us on the coast, lots of rain, very little snow, and not too much change from March to November (unless inland quite a bit and hours away from the ocean). The sago is inside for now, until much bigger. There are some outdoors here, under eaves etc.. to help protect from too much rain. I will place it in the garden once it is much bigger.....maybe in several years! Here is a web site from one of our little islands off the mainland, that specializes in sagos. Thanks again! http://www.jurassicplantsnursery.com/
Lori (Jurassic Plants) is on the Sunshine Coast (not on an Island) and does specailize in Cycads. I've visited her nursery and was very impressed with all aspects of this home based operation. If memory serves me, I recall her stating that Cycads prefer a continual north / south orientation. So when moving a potted specimen, have it north marked on the rim of the pot so it can be situated in the same way in it's new location. Cheers, LPN.
Thanks Barrie, I am still not sure what the yellowing is from...the north orientation has been covered and is not a problem in this case. It seems I may have over-watered it as quite a bit has drained out in the last week... thanks though!