Plant Know-How: Cycas revoluta
Part of a group of plants (known as Cycads) with ancestors dating back hundreds of millions of years, Cycas revoluta is a slow-growing, but striking plant. Commonly called a ‘Sago Palm’, Cyas revoluta is actually more closely related to conifers than to palms. A dioecious plant, Cycas revoluta reproduces through pollen and seed cones- male plants produce pollen, while female plants bear the seed cones. Cycas revoluta isn’t difficult to grow indoors, but as always, you’ll need to provide the right conditions for this plant to thrive- read on to learn how to meet those needs!
HOW TO CARE FOR CYCAS REVOLUTA:
Light Requirements for Cycas revoluta: Indoors, Cycas revoluta needs very bright indirect light, ideally with some direct sun. We'd recommend keeping this one within 2 feet of a window that gets bright, filtered light most of the day, with a few hours of direct sun in the morning being perfect.
Watering Tips for Cycas revoluta: Allow the top 1/2 of the soil to go dry before watering. Avoid watering the crown of the plant (the center where the leaves come out from the soil) to prevent rot. Be sure to plant in a pot with ample drainage. If you need some help knowing when to water your plant a moisture meter is a helpful tool that can take out some of the guesswork!
The Best Soil for Cycas revoluta: Cycads grow best in a chunky, well-draining soil. Our Desert Potting Mix is a great choice!
Is Cycas revoluta pet-safe? Cycas revoluta is not pet-safe and can be toxic when consumed by pets. This plant is also toxic to humans so use caution around children. If you're looking for pet-safe plants, be sure to check out the Pet Safe category of the Plant Care Compendium!
Did you know? Brown leaf tips usually indicate the plant needs more humidity. Because this plant is so slow-growing, you shouldn’t need to repot more than once every few years.
Looking to add a Cycas revoluta to your space? We’ve got some beautiful 6” specimens in stock at the shop!
