Yellowing sago leaves

Did the Sago go from shade to full sun? They love full sun but when I move them from shade to sun they typically blanch out (at least partially). I know y'all have had some wicked heat!

Erik, Looks like it has been having trouble re establishing itself in the ground this year, the root system may not have expanded enough to support the size of the plant.
Did it go through any trauma last winter? I would trim the leaves, dig it up and and containerize it till it recovers.
Check the roots out, hopefully no rot, and nothing has been chewing on them.

Steve

Thanks, both of you.
Penny, it went from indoors to partial sun to the ground in full sun. tough, but it did that every other year + the other sago did too this year. Still, this is a hard summer for lots of plants.
Steve,
it seemed to have a fine winter in the "ballroom" but when I planted it the root mass seemed unusually small. So, my guess is you are right: too little root mass for too much sun/heat.
I think I'll dig it up, pot it, and give it 18 months to recover. How does that sound? --Erik

Oh dear...

Probably hates the soil? when you repot it, use good potting soil (none from the garden).
I'd keep it in only morning sun when in the new pot.

My two sagos are temperamental, nearly lost them both at various times.
Yours should come back with some TLC.

Barb

Thanks. No, I won't reuse soil from that part of the garden. It has the worst of my generally good soil. I'm actually a bit surprised by how much the Phoenix roebellini has liked it. --Erik

I cut off all of the leaves on my potted sago in spring/early summer if they leaves are looking ugly. I then fertilize it and in 1-2 months it puts out a new set of leaves. I have done this for Cycas revoluta and Zamia furfuracea with good results.

Do you see any scale on the plant? On the in ground plants older leaves will yellow especially if they have scale damage on them.

Good question. I had not thought of that.
I didn't see any scale, but may not have looked closely enough--remember, these aren't "my" plants.
I cannot imagine scale surviving the weather we have now, but they may have infected it at the beginning of summer when we were cooler and very wet. That is when it started its decline. --Erik

Erik
Barb mentioned that sagos are tempermental and heres a good example. I have about 10 "pups" that I recently pooted up in 1 g containers recently. They all had great root systems and were doing great in a fairly shaded location. I decided to move them to a partially-shaded spot to slowly get them used to more sun. Within two days of moving them, almost all starting getting discoloration in some of the leaves! I quickly moved them back into more shade and they seem to be fine. I guess I will have to move them about 1 inch farther into the sun every day! (NOT!!!). Crazy plants but I love them.

Erik, To me, it seems the larger Sago's take about a year in ground to properly establish themselves.
It might be worthwhile to find a couple larger containers to leave them in year round, or maybe pot plant them each year so a basic rootball is left intact.
Wes, (Kansas), does that each year. Haven't seen him around lately, but the last I knew it was working out well.

As warm as it is, if you trim & pot it up now, will probably trigger a flush, good luck with them!

Steve

I think I recall Barrie saying some time ago he piled cow manure around the sides of the bulb to trigger a flush. I never tried it though.

Sorry about the sago Erik! It will come back though.

Bill

Erik, if it is scale, Tom Broome recommends coffee grounds (dried, cold).
Liberal application on the soil and even up the caudex.

Swears by it, especially for field planted sagos.

Somewhere here, there's even a photo montage of his excellent work with coffee grounds.

And yes, cutting fronds off will generate a flush but lots of water is needed.

Barb

Erik,
if yours needs some company in the Ugly Sago category, I'll offer this:

The next one is fine...go figure!

The above proves I'm no expert, but:
Lots of sun = lots of water
Half sun = half the water

Good luck with yours.
Barb

Barb,
very reassuring.
I have been busy with work, and it is too darn hot to do anything more strenuous than water when I get home.
We should cool down to merely the mid-90soF Sunday so maybe then. I have a bag of miracle grow cactus/palm soil handy. Don't have any real pretty pots but I have dozens of old pots tossed in a back barn to choose from.
--Erik

Erik-if it is scale-

you can also make a "tea" of the coffee grounds
and spray it on the plant directly- make sure you strain it well-(coffee filter)because
it will destroy/clog a sprayer.