I bought a small sago palm from IKEA about 4 months ago. It was beautiful and lush and deep green until about a few weeks ago, when the leaves suddenly began to yellow. I've been taking care of it per the directions of many different online sources, watering when the soil is almost dry, fertilizing only very occasionally with standard Miracle Gro. It is in a very bright room with north, northeast, and east facing windows, although no direct sunlight hits the plant. I see no sign of infestation. Is my sago sick, or is this normal? I notice that the leaves that are yellowing seem to be the bottom ones only. Is this the older leaves shriveling up and dying? I don't see any new growth from the center, though, so I'm not sure. If it is sick, how can I rescue it? Much thanks!
HELP! The sago is getting worse. I'm posting a reply in hopes that this will be seen again and someone will give me advice.
Really wish I could help but sago palms are not members of the family Araceae (aroids) They are cycads. If you move this thread to the right forum you may very well get some good answers.
I am almost sure that your Sago is not sick, I think it is normal for the old leaves to die, and you don´t see new leaves because sagos take for ever to develope new leaves. Maybe you should put it under direct sun light, mine are all in direct sun light.
Thank you Sigtris, I'll try direct sun. Am I right in assuming new growth will come from the (top) center of the plant? Will there be a point when all of my green leaves will be yellow before new ones take their place? Seems like I'll have a pathetic looking sago if that's the case...but perhaps this is normal.
Yes you are right, eventually and very slow new leaves will come from the top-center of your plant. When I have old leaves (yellow means they are old) I cut them off so the plants look green and pretty.
Cycads don't like to be moved to often once they are settled and they can be a real pain sometimes because you can do everything right and they still lose in some cases all of their fronds, I have a big one that has done that right now although the cordax is very healthy. They don't like to be pot bound but can be very unhappy for a year or more when transplanted to a bigger pot. The tree should flush eventually though and the new fronds come through from the middle of the crown and lower fronds will yellow and die back thats when you need to cut them as close to the cordax as possible and paint the cut with a fungicide to stop it rotting or fungus growing. Instead of Miracle grow it would be better to give it half a teaspoon of epsom salts disolved in warm water as all palms thrive on that. Don't give up a Cycad can lose all its fronds and still flush long after you think its given up the ghost. Nath
In my experience, sagos have new leaves about once per year, so if those leaves that are dying are fairly new, you'll have a wait before you see new leaves. I concur that full sun is better for them.
