Sagos damaged by cold snap!

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:45 am

Here are a few of my Sagos that were damaged when it dipped down in the teens.

I'm going to trim them up.

Regards,
Dean

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:46 am

Please excuse the shakiness of the photos I'm getting used to this new camera.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:54 am

....and a new brand of coffee?

I would leave them until they flush.

Curious if they were on different sides of the house and if so,if you could add it to the pics?
Might be a good indication of micro-climates around your house based on damage.
Do you know what exact temp did the damage?
Mine has seen about 23(F) on the covered porch-no damage.
Did any of yours have a roof over them or close by?
This could provide a good marker for the threshold of these Cycads as they look to be right
at there limit.

Thanks-
Looks like they will come back nicely in spring!

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:48 am

..Yes, a new brand of coffee.

These were on the South side of the house under a porch. I'm afraid I may not have watered them enough before it got as low as 17 F. I do have some on the East side that are uncovered. Those too experienced frost damage.

Yes, I was debating leaving them alone until they flush. The only problem with that is they present an eye sore in front of the house. LOL! Perhaps I'll just do as you recommend and see what happens in spring.

There also some various Cycads out by the garden area that got damage as well. I'm not sure of all the different names at the moment.

virtualpalm · Post by **virtualpalm** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:14 pm

Dean, cutting the leaves off would definitely make them appear more aesthetic, but I would be afraid that it would also stimulate them to flush again before it warms up, or possibly even during another cold spell later in the winter -- which could severely damage the plant. I would recommend leaving the burned leaves on until late March or early April so that it will be warming up nicely when the new flushes come out (which could happen withinin 2-4 weeks after complete leaf removal). Good luck.

Jody

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:43 pm

For those of you that are like me and bring your cycads inside for the Winter, I wait to bring them in until the first cold snap browns the leaves. Then I bring them in, let them set inside for 3-4 weeks, then I cut the leaves off. IMO this allows the plant to save some energy and get ready for the Spring. So far doing this has only resulted in the Taitungensis flushing inside, but no effects have been seen as it is one of the fastest growers in my collection.

Then in March, I move out to the greenhouse, throw some cow manure on, water lightly. By April, I see flushes starting in the greenhouse.

Been doing this for about 5 years now and this is the best that I have found. Seems the cold allows it to go dormant for awhile, cutting the leaves allows it to store energy, then shock it into flushing with the manure. Doing this has resulted the biggest and fullest flushes ever on mine.

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:55 pm

Thanks, Jody, I think your right. I just hated loosing the luscious growth.

Kansas, these guys are in some bigger pots (like 25-gallon) than I care to move really. Plus I don't have a greenhouse unfortunately and luckily we usually don't get as cold as you all do further North. Thanks for the info I have briefly looked at some greenhouses they have through Lowes that I would like to purchase. Unfortunately the wife may not approve. LOL!!!

I'll certainly use the cow manure come spring.

Regards,
Dean

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:54 pm

How long have you had them, and is this the first time they have burnt?

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:31 pm

I always remove all the fronds of my sagos in early spring, burnt or not. It forces a new flush with nice new fronds. Also do the Tait's as well.

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:46 am

Hey Aaron, I've probably had them 7 or 8 years now. This is the first time they have been damaged. It hasn't gotten that cold in awhile.

Thanks Laaz, hopefully I can get a few flushes out of them.

Dean

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:28 pm

I finally removed most all foliage. Spring appears to have sprung here.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:06 pm

Yea-
you guys are in good shape down there,unfortunately we may see mid 20s here by Monday morning
probably not enough to bother my Sago.It's seen worse but not by much!

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:02 am

Dean W. wrote:I finally removed most all foliage. Spring appears to have sprung here.

Dean, do me a favor.
Go to a local Dairy or Beef farm and kindly tell the owner what you have going, and ask him for a little 5 gallon bucket full of 2-3 year old manure.
Take that and put about 3/4lbs of it around your Sago. Water in well. Wait about 3 weeks and see if you got a good flush going.

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:59 pm

Okay, I put some manure around them. Thanks for the advice.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:10 pm

Dean

Could you also do me a favor and pick me up some Nutty bars?

Thanks

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:12 pm

We'll do Jim. How many would you like?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:35 pm

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:57 pm

there coming back

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:25 pm

Cool

I just had mine produce the largest flush I've ever seen!

Mark