How to properly care for a cycad
Today's introduction to how to properly care for a cycad and precautions for planting cycads, the specific details are as follows:
It's not difficult to care for a cycad, just remember 4 "little common knowledge points", the leaves won't turn yellow or fall off, and the branches and leaves will be lush and green all year round.
Cycads should be familiar to everyone, many people have them at home, but many people experience yellowing leaves or even dried and fallen leaves when caring for cycads at home. The main reason is improper maintenance. So, how should we care for cycads at home?
Point 1: Choose the right pot and soil mixture. Cycads are not suitable for large pots; you must remember to use a smaller pot. You can choose a pot based on the root nodules, about 5 to 10 centimeters larger than the root nodules. It is generally recommended to choose a pot with a diameter edge to the distance of the root nodules being 5 centimeters, which means the entire diameter is about 10 centimeters larger. For soil mixture, it's not necessary to use very fertile soil. We only need to ensure that the soil is breathable and water-permeable. The simplest method at home is to mix river sand and garden soil in a 1:1 ratio. This will not cause any problems. If you're worried about a lack of nutrients later on, you can add more sheep manure, with a soil to sheep manure ratio of 10:1, which can ensure it gets enough nutrients.
Point 2: Watering should be reasonable. When watering cycads, you must master the method because they don't require a lot of water. Their trunks can store a lot of water and nutrients. Generally, we water them based on the principle of watering thoroughly when the soil is dry, and this won't cause any problems during the growing season. If it's winter and the temperature is low, they will enter a dormant state, and you can water them once every one and a half to two months, which won't cause any problems.
Point 3: Ensure sufficient sunlight. Cycads are typical light-loving plants. Whether in the south or the north, you must place them in a place with plenty of sunlight. The more sunlight, the darker the color of the leaves, and the stiffer they will be. Only with sufficient sunlight and good photosynthesis can the roots grow more robust and absorb nutrients more effectively.
How to properly care for a cycad
Point 4: Supplement fertilizer appropriately. Cycads are relatively tolerant to poor soil, so if the soil we use is poor, fertilizers should also be used regularly and in the right amounts. How to fertilize? You can add it when watering. Generally, if the potting soil is dry and you water it once a month, you can add fertilizer once. Try not to use high-concentration fertilizers; low-concentration fertilizers once or twice a month during the growing season won't lack nutrients and can grow rapidly. Don't use single-nutrient fertilizers; try to choose balanced multi-element fertilizers, such as nutrient solutions or compound fertilizers. Compound fertilizers must be diluted in water to avoid problems. If the leaves turn yellow, you can occasionally spray the leaves with a fast-acting nitrogen fertilizer at a 1:1000 concentration to make the leaves greener. If you're in the north, you can supplement with iron sulfate every two to three months to make the soil acidic, which will make the leaves grow better.
Cycads are actually very easy to care for. As long as the ambient temperature does not drop below 5 degrees, they won't have any problems. Ensure plenty of sunlight, use the right soil, don't use too large a pot, and water and fertilize regularly. These are the keys to caring for it properly.
The above-mentioned small experience of how to properly care for a cycad and precautions for planting cycads, hope it can bring help to you in life!