As a test I overwintered one of mine... kept cool and dry... but mostly between 35 and 45 f.
This is whatit looks like now:
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7207189460/" title="IMG-20120329-00587 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="477" height="640" alt="IMG-20120329-00587"></a>

or at least a month ago. really has shown no change but really looks like hell. It IS green on its petioles and is firm all round. It has a bit of growth at its center and will (I am telling you!) push new leaves probably within the next 30 days.

Is it worth keeping outside if it looks like that from January to June? I might take it out this winter if I don't get at least two sets of leaves to push out. There are perhaps much nicer, all year palms I could put in its place.
Cheers!
Adam

That is like a 3 foot high sago, looked much like yours before I did that to it!

Adam,

I was going to say how well it seemed to do through the winter. With some sarcasm of course. Did you put any protection on the plant or left out to the elements. I know Beamsville is warmer in the winter then we are here in Ajax.

yeah, had it protected all round in glass and a thermocube actuated bulb for heat.

So it's safe to say it is a long shot to winter them outside.

Jeff- Sure looks that way. FYI a fellow in Niagara Falls I know had a sago overwinter with just mulch protection for something like ~3 years (I don't know if it is still there). Wasn't much to look at, but interesting that it was able to survive with defoliation for that many years...

Of course, some of those Niagara guys have been growing Needle palms unprotected for 15+ years now, and I don't know that you could do that in the GTA...

survive with defoliation for that many years...

Tom Broome says "never throw away a cycad".
3 years ... wow, proof.

Barb

If I was downtown Toronto I could probably swing it no problem. Ajax, probably not.

My little baby cycad survived with a string of lights and a large container filled with leaves.

Jeff, welcome to the forum. I actually just returned from visiting some friends in Whitby. It's likely that unless you are planning on piling a huge amount of mulch and leaves, you will need some kind of heat source (xmas lights, etc).

So, what temperatures are you experiencing? What are your lows, what are the durations of below freezing temperatures? If I know what you are dealing with, I could give you a fairly accurate answer on what you would have to do to keep them alive.

So, what temperatures are you experiencing? What are your lows, what are the durations of below freezing temperatures? If I know what you are dealing with, I could give you a fairly accurate answer on what you would have to do to keep them alive.

Our average temperature this past winter was 2.4 C, our usual average temperature is -2.4. We can see temperatures as low as my -25 although becoming less and less. -13, - 8, usually in that range with 4-5 days straight. This past winter though we had very few very cold nights. The plants are on the north side of the house but receive sun almost the entire day (winter with no leaves on the tree's all day).

-8C for short periods of time will totally defoliate a revoluta but it normally takes about -10 to outright kill them. If you have these temperatures for a solid 4 or 5 days, then that temperature can very much totally kill the plant. Covering does a pretty good job, but for prolonged lengths of time, you would need to cover the plant, AND provide a heat source to keep them warm enough.

Okay so here was my protection of my Cycas revoluta..

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7409174002/" title="Lincoln-20111217-00365 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="Lincoln-20111217-00365"></a>

This is the first growth on it since winter, two days ago, June 18 2012

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7409140846/" title="Lincoln-20120618-00853 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="477" height="640" alt="Lincoln-20120618-00853"></a>

Then again today.. we are zone 7a Beamsville, ON Canada

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7409135112/" title="Lincoln-20120620-00856 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="Lincoln-20120620-00856"></a>

New growth coincided with some substantial heat! Although mine only receives 8 hours of morning sun..

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7409205658/" title="Lincoln-20120620-00855 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="474" height="640" alt="Lincoln-20120620-00855"></a>

Cheers!