A few months ago my husband and I were visiting with some friends. This couple’s home has an assortment of houseplants scattered mainly throughout the kitchen and living room area. The green thumb belongs to the husband who is also a first-rate outdoor gardener. His houseplant skills are quite advanced and impressive; the plants he tends to are remarkably healthy. In fact, he’s so talented with indoor plants that he’s the only one I know who is successful in raising his ‘Lucky Bamboo’ (Dracaena Sanderiana) in soil. His very ‘Lucky Bamboo’ stalks are the most vibrant, most beautiful ones I’ve seen so far, and like many of you, I’ve seen several. How can’t you when they’re everywhere? When I asked him why he would opt to grow this novelty plant in soil, which is challenging to do, he answered: “Because everyone else is growing them in water”. Ah, an individual who dares to be different. And good at it too.

As I examined the collection of houseplants hanging, standing, on shelves, furniture, counters and windowsills, I happened upon a striking Cycas Revoluta - generally known as the Sago Palm – in peak condition. Obviously my enthusiasm moved up a notch because it was a plant that I desired but had not seen at any local shops for the longest time. Sitting in its clay pot amongst all the other well-maintained plants – including a large, spectacular Croton with leaves down the entire stem - I couldn’t help but notice just how exotic and unusual it looked compared to the others. Even though the Sago Palm has nothing more than plain green fronds, there is something atypical in their shape and style compared to other palm-like foliage.

And with good reason.


Millions Of Years Worth Of History

The Sago Palm (or King Sago Palm) is not a palm at all, it is a Cycad. Cycads are a group of plants primitive in their origins and unique in their features. Although they are not related to Palms, they do have a relation to conifer and Ginko trees – all cone bearing plants. In addition, they have a very long history and are known to have lived in the Permian era over 200 million years ago. They were around before the dinosaurs roamed the earth and have evolved very little since then.

Fossils of Cycads have been found on almost every continent on the planet. Although once abundant, they have been greatly reduced in numbers. There are species that have gone extinct but the ones that remain have changed little over the past few million years. Because of their limited evolution they are referred to as “living fossils”. Cycads were the dominant plant life on this earth so many years ago and one of the favoured foods of some of the oldest reptiles in the prehistoric world. The legendary reputation of these plants is well deserved. They have outlived dinosaurs and any adverse situations inflicted on them by Mother Nature and humans.

In ancient times these plants may have been dinosaur food but in present times they provide an interesting addition to outdoor landscapes and interior design with their uniqueness and texture.


A Living Fossil Inside Your Home

The wonderful news is that one of the oldest plants on earth is also one of the easiest to grow indoors and out by all levels of plant growers – from beginner to expert. In warmer climates the Sago Palm is a striking specimen in landscapes, reaching heights of ten to twelve feet, with its dark green needles and long, symmetrical fronds that can grow four to five feet long. While it won’t grow as big indoors as it will outside – thankfully – it is an exotic houseplant that will add a dramatic touch to any interior.

As young plants, the Sago resembles a fern and eventually develops a palm-like appearance as it grows, slowly developing a thick trunk as well. Cycads in general are very long-lived. There is a 228-year-old relative of the Sago Palm - a specimen of Encephalartos – on display at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, England. Collected in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa in the early 1770s and brought back to England in 1775 by Francis Masson (one of Kew’s earliest plant collectors), it is one of the oldest potted plants in the world. In wild populations, however, these plants have been estimated at 500 – 1000 years old. Cycads may be long-lived but they are extremely slow-growing. The centuries-old Cycad on display at Kew has an average growth rate of only 2.5 cm (0.98 inch) per year!

These enduring plants tolerate neglect but thrive when given attention. Place your Sago in a location with very bright light throughout the entire year; it also adapts well to full sun, which is preferable. Don’t compromise this need. Without proper light they will not grow – and they’re already so slow-growing – or leaves will become malformed. New growth usually occurs in the late spring or early summer with the plant typically putting out one whorl of new leaves per year. Repotting is something you don’t need to worry about often. A slow growth places this plant in the same container indefinitely.

Although fairly resistant to the cold, as long as it’s not prolonged, the preferred temperature range indoors is 13 - 29°C (55 - 85°F) but normal room temperatures that are comfortable for you are the best bet for your Sago since it does not have a resting period. Humidity levels are not critical but moderate levels are good for both you and your plant. Feeding is seldom needed; slow-release granules or diluted liquid fertilizers are recommended. Fertilizing too often will damage the roots.

Choose a very well-draining potting mix for this plant, similar to what is used for cacti & succulents and treat it as such. Water well during the growing season and allow the soil to dry between each application. Decrease watering considerably during the winter season. Be extremely careful with your watering habits. Over-watering is a Sago’s death sentence.

Speaking of dodging over-watering...


Prehistoric Plant Meets Modern Methods

Two weeks after visiting with my friends, Sago Palms arrived at the local greenhouses, Wal-Mart and even the supermarkets. I was ecstatic. I chose a healthy-looking specimen and raced home with it. My friends had asked me at their home if I was going to convert this plant to hydroculture (they have seen the abundance of converted plants in my home and know that it’s my one and only growing style). I said I would definitely try. They smiled politely but I could tell they were amused by the sheer thought. I would imagine anyone would be amused by the idea of attempting to convert – of all things – a Sago Palm. I’ve no doubt that curious questions and thoughts would follow.

How in the world was I going to convert this irregular plant with its odd, bulb-like base and large, fibrous root system?
Same way as all the others.

Did I truly believe I would succeed with this one too?
Why not?

Couldn’t I see that it wasn’t a simple tropical like an Aglaonema or Dieffenbachia?
A plant is a plant.

Why would I risk a special plant that wasn’t readily available on the market?
For the challenge! For the experience!

Shouldn’t I just accept that some plants are better off in soil?
So long as both clay pellets and plants are available, conversions will happen!

Between you and me, I have to admit that I was somewhat skeptical about this particular plant. Even after so many successful conversions and a large assortment of plants growing in the hydroculture method, I still find myself periodically questioning the wisdom of certain conversions-to-be. This, no doubt, is generally due to almost two decade’s worth of soil-growing. With such an extensive period of time spent raising potted plants the conventional way, it stands to reason that I’d be conditioned to believe – like many do – that houseplants need soil to thrive and survive. I remind myself now and again that my plants have proven over and over again that they can manage just fine without it.

To say that I was worried about losing any part of this ever so slow-growing plant would be an understatement. But growing it in soil was not an option. There are absolutely no soil-grown houseplants anymore in my home. None. Zero. Not one. I pick up new plants periodically and every single one of them is repotted into a hydroculture setup within a day or two, sometimes as soon as I get them home. The Sago Palm was not going to be exempt from this custom.

So I converted the Sago palm effortlessly (almost), despite the massive roots and caked-on dirt, held my breath and waited for the consequences. And waited. And waited. Nothing. There was no immediate response whatsoever, which - from my experience with other conversions - is a good thing. No news is good news. I would have bet that a few of the needles would dry up and die. They didn’t. I would even have gambled that the whole plant would have lost its vitality and healthy glow, slowly become unsightly. It didn’t.

No complaints. No resistance. None.

Instead, three of four weeks after the Sago was introduced to hydroculture, I saw the faint beginnings of water roots. In regards to that, there are a couple of things that were particularly interesting about how this plant adapts to the system.

1. None of the roots rotted. Instead, entire (healthy) roots were discarded, literally severed from the plant – by the plant itself. When I removed the plant from its pot to inspect the progression, I threw out a considerable amount of roots that were disconnected; they were firm and healthy.

2. The newly-formed water roots grew on top of the old soil roots. Truly amazing.

My Sago Palm is small – five fronds – and I know that it will take years to grow into a significantly-sized specimen. In the meantime, I can enjoy my own ‘living fossil’ right inside my home.

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