With the typically slower growing ones, (edule,etc), would leaving the oldest fronds attached speed up overall growth in the long run?

It could possibly enhance growth in the long run, but it is hard to make any definitive statements. Tom has shown amazing growth by regularly removing leaves off the suckers of multi-headed plants... so leaf removal can also speed growth. The main point I was trying to make was that small plants may not always have enough stored energy to allow them to flush, but if they are "forced" to flush it could stress them out. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine!

Jody

Delicate and beautiful.
Great close-up.
Barb

Jody,
Just curious as to observations on larger plants, your point on the smaller ones is well taken!

Barb,
Thanks! I've had my fingers crossed with these, but they seem to be doing well.
( sorry for all the photos, think it's cool to watch the branching form. Don't forget your Cycas debaoensis photos 😆

Bit further along,

The new stem is about 2X the size of the previous, always a good sign 8)

Steve

Yes, Jody makes an excellent point on the smaller ones.
I won't be removing anything off these babies; here's progress to date:

Cycas debaoensis, second frond emerges:

Other c.debao....

Cycas panzhihuaensis (the only one that made it):

Second flush, two fronds on Dioon Spinulosum:

Dioon edule isn't happy this year, but finally throwing a frond:

Sorry for fuzzy zoom pics.
Barb

Barb,
Everything looks like it's doing good, nice to see everything growing!
Your last photo of the Dioon resembles one here, it kept lifting itself up and eventually sprouted fronds from 5 - 6 different points 😀

Here's a couple from today.

Newest Dioon fronds,

Ceratozamia latifolia still moving along,

These are a red emergent,

and two new fronds on a Encephalartos gratus,

Steve

Steve,
The red emergent are spectacular.
Barb

You will love your Gratus! Frond size is AMAZING!

Here is mine on my birthday, 7/13! (Flip Flop for size...see how big?!)

Taylor,
I hope mine ends up looking as nice as yours!

Steve

Yes the Gratus leaf size is VERY big. Here is mine the day I got it from Robert Chumley in on Feb. 2, 2008. As you can see by the Tennis ball, the caudex size is a bit bigger than a softball, but the leafs stand about 3 1/2' tall from the center. This tree has not flushed yet this year so I am thinking of cutting them off to force a flush. What do you think??

Looks good! But I think someone is getting impatient...do you need a new flush right now? I bet it will give you one soon if it has been that long.

Taylor and Kansas, how hardy are they? Taylor, you should be able to plant your's in the ground correct? Kansas, will you overwinter indoors?

Dean

taylor: "Looks good! But I think someone is getting impatient...do you need a new flush right now? I bet it will give you one soon if it has been that long."

Well the Sun has sun burned the two flushes and the wind also tore a lot of the leaflets off. The two Flushes look bad and would love to get some new flushes.

Dean W.: "Kansas, will you overwinter indoors? "

Yes, I over winter all my Cycads/Dioons either in the greenhouse with a heater or in the unheated garage. I actually had some pretty darn good luck with the ones I had in the unheated garage. I had 3 King's which all have flushed twice this year, 2 Merolae which one has flushed and the other is going to any day now, and a Wilailik that has flushed this year. I was really surprised they all did so good.

This is the time of year for E. gratusto flush here in south Florida. One of my big plants is flushing a sucker right now (see below), and I expect the main plant to begin soon as well. I would be hesitant to cut leaves off a plant that small for reasons already stated.

Jody

This is the time of year for E. gratusto flush here in south Florida. One of my big plants is flushing a sucker right now (see below), and I expect the main plant to begin soon as well. I would be hesitant to cut leaves off a plant that small for reasons already stated.

Jody

Will do buddy (or should I say WON'T do 🙂 )I'll leave the flush on.

No pics yet but..................guess who is getting a new flush on his big Gratus 😛 😛 😛