Tsikas, Or Cycad: All The Nuances Of Caring For A Flower At Home + Photos And Videos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Mysterious cycad: how to grow an elegant apartment decoration

Tsikas (Cycas - lat.) Or Cycad refers to the ancient gymnosperms of the Cycadaceae family. Despite the external resemblance to a palm or fern, its closest relatives include spruce and pine. The history of the growth and evolution of the cicassa stretches from ancient times and is measured in hundreds of millions of years. It is not for nothing that he belongs to relict plants, he managed to survive several geological eras of the planet, but the originality and exotic appearance have survived to this day. The interesting shape of beautiful emerald leaves and the original trunk give it uniqueness and mystery, and home care is quite within the power of an amateur florist.

Content

• 1 General

  • 1.1 Plant features
  • 1.2 Indoor cycad
• 2 Getting to know the plant (video)

• 3 Varieties of cicas: revolution and its descendants

  3.1 Table: Cycad varieties with different leaf colors

• 4 Requirements for maintenance and care at home - table

• 5 Features of planting a cycad

  • 5.1 Preparation of the required soil
  • 5.2 Transfer (after purchase and not only)
• 6 Table: difficulties in caring for a sago palm - causes and solutions
• 7 How to reanimate a cicas: a new life - video

• 8 Cycas pests: what to do - table

  8.1 How to recognize pests of cicassa (photo)

• 9 Reproduction

  • 9.1 How to germinate cicasas from seeds
  • 9.2 How to grow a cycad from scions
• 10 Why it is worth starting a cycad - florist reviews

General information

The modern distribution area of cicassa is quite wide - Australia, Asia, India, Madagascar. Some species grow in the dry subtropics of the Crimea and the Caucasus.

Plant features

Tsikas is often referred to as the sago palm, giving credit to its appearance. A rather thick trunk with a diameter of up to 20–80 cm and a height of 2–7 m, topped with a shock of carved leaves (up to 60 and more), fully corresponds to this.

Tsikas outwardly looks like a palm tree, therefore it is sometimes called a sago palm, although it has nothing to do with these plants.

But if you look at how the leaves of the cicas are born, released and open, it seems that we are dealing with a fern.

When cicassa leaves open, they are very similar to fern leaves, although the plants have no relationship.

Indoor cycad

The plant has nothing to do with palms and ferns! When choosing a cicasa for keeping indoors, you should remember the following:

1. The cycad grows very slowly, producing one corolla of leaves per year (1-2 leaf blades, rarely up to 5 pieces).
2. It is rather difficult to reproduce (by rare shoots or purchased seeds).

Thin and symmetrical leaves of the plant are attached to the central axis. First, the central axis is thrown out and unfolded, and then the leaves themselves. This is a rather long and interesting process.

Tsikas releases new leaves that unfold from the center of the trunk in spring.

The leaves last for a long time, for years, so over time, the cicas bush becomes more and more magnificent. At home, within 10-15 years, the plant can have up to 15 green leaves in the outlet.

Tsikas grows slowly, but over time the bush becomes lush, as the leaves last for several years

The height of the bush will be 1–1.5 m, while the plant does not develop a pronounced long trunk (as in natural conditions). The trunk of the cicas is called the caudex. It is sometimes called a "bump", but this is incorrect, as bumps form in the center of the leaf rosettes when the plant propagates.

The question often arises as to whether it is worth acquiring a cicada and is it too difficult to maintain it? Basically, everyone agrees that keeping this exotic plant at home is quite simple if you follow the basic requirements for lighting, temperature and moisture.

Getting to know the plant (video)

Varieties of cicas: revolution and its descendants

There are about 90 varieties of the sago palm. However, at home, only the drooping cicasus (revolution) is usually kept, which is due to its optimal dimensions for the interior (the maximum plant height is up to 1.8 m). On the basis of this species, 4 varieties were created, which are also suitable for home keeping.

The drooping cicas (Cycas revoluta) is a popular species for keeping at home. It was he who gave rise to the popular varieties of indoor cycads.

Table: Cycad varieties with different leaf colors

Variety name	Features:
Tsikas dimplofoliolum (Diplofoliolum)	A distinctive feature is the lush appearance of the leaves. This is due to the fact that the leaf blades are bifurcated, and this creates a three-dimensional appearance of the plant.
Hybrid variety variegata (Variegata)	The peculiarity of the plant lies in the variegated color of its foliage.
Tsikas Alba (Alba)	Young foliage is light yellow or gold in color. The old one takes on a rich green hue.
Cicas corrugata	A rare variety. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the leaves have a flat color.

Requirements for maintenance and care at home - table

Season	Summer / Spring	Winter autumn
Lighting	Bright but diffused sunlight.	Additional lighting with a fluorescent lamp
Humidity	From 50 to 80%, spraying 1-2 times a day	Spraying at least 2 times a day
Temperature	+22 ° С … +26 ° С	+12 ° С … +17 ° С
Location	Outdoors, in partial shade, without drafts or on the south window in the apartment	South or southwest window
Watering	Abundant hydration 1-2 times a week	Moderate hydration every 10 days

Features of planting a cycad

Tsikas is used to adapting to less fertile soils. At the same time, it is a plant of tropical and subtropical climates, accustomed to a large amount of organic matter in the soil.

Preparation of the desired soil

When self-preparing the soil for cicas, you should take the following ingredients:

• sod land,
• humus,
• leafy land,
• peat,
• sand.

All components must be used in equal proportions.

If you use a commercially available substrate, you should take soil for palm trees. That is, the soil should be light, but rich in organic nutrients, with a minimum amount of mineral additives. At the same time, the substrate must have good moisture permeability to avoid stagnation of water. For the same purpose, good drainage is needed at the bottom of the pot. You can use large pebbles for it.

So that the water does not stagnate in the pot in which the cicassus grows, large pebbles are placed on the bottom as drainage

Transplant (after purchase and not only)

Tsikas grows very slowly, so frequent transplants are not required. An adult plant is transplanted in the spring once every 5–6 years, when the pot becomes very tight. If the capacity has become small for a young plant, then it should be transplanted.

The diameter of the new pot should be 2–3 cm larger than the caudex value. The container should preferably be low.

Since the root system of the cycad is quite fragile, it is best to transfer the plant, that is, move the entire earthen ball with roots into a new pot without destroying it.

The procedure is carried out as follows:

1. Rinse a new pot of the required size thoroughly under running water and dry.
2. Place a drainage (layer of washed coarse pebbles) 3-4 cm high on the bottom of the pot.
3. Cover the drain with new soil.
4. Before transplanting, cut off 1/3 of the leaves (mainly the lower ones, the oldest ones).
5. Sprinkle the cuts with charcoal.

6. Taking the plant by the caudex, carefully pull it out of the old pot, if possible without disturbing the earthen lump with roots.

   

   The earth ball cannot be broken

7. Place the plant in a new pot.

   

   The cicas are carefully placed in the center of the prepared new pot.

8. Pour the missing soil along the edges, slightly tamping it.
9. Drizzle with a small amount of settled water at room temperature, a day after transplanting.

When buying a plant, keep in mind that plants imported from other countries, as a rule, are in a special transport substrate. Therefore, the cicas should be immediately transplanted into a suitable soil after purchase, since it will not receive adequate nutrition in the substrate. This should be done in the same way as described above.

Table: difficulties in caring for a sago palm tree - causes and solutions

Problem	Cause	Elimination methods
Rotting cones	Stagnant water in a pot	Providing moderate watering; using a pot with drainage holes; removal of excess moisture from the pallet.
Decay of the root system	Stagnant moisture in the soil	Good drainage when planting; adding charcoal, sand or perlite to the soil; removal of rotten roots when planting.
Yellowing or drying of leaf tips	Lack of moisture and / or lack of lighting	Increased air humidity; supplementary lighting with fluorescent lamps.
Softening of the upper part of the trunk, drilling and leaf fall	Rotting	Re-rooting of healthy plant cuttings.
Darkening of leaf color	Excess fertilizer	Soil washing.
	Sunburn	Shade from direct sunlight.
Curling the leaves	Air and / or earth too dry	Frequent spraying and abundant watering
Caudex rot, the top of the trunk starts to turn yellow	Accumulation of water on the stem of a plant	Spraying only leaves, no water getting on the stem.

How to revive a cicas: a new life - video

Cycas pests: what to do - table

Pest	Signs of plant damage	Preparations for processing plants
Mealybug	White cotton-like bloom in leaf sinuses	Agravertin, Akarin, Aktar, Intavir, Iskra-bio, Karate, Fitoverm (according to instructions).
Asian scale insect	Sticky coating and light scales on the leaves
Spider mite	On the leaves, dots and cobwebs on the back of the leaf blades	Agravertin, Akarin, Vertimek, Neoron, Fitoverm (according to the instructions).

How to recognize cicada pests (photo)

Mealybug leaves a white cottony coating on the leaves

Spider mites appear when the air humidity is too low

The appearance of the scabbard noticeably affects the decorativeness of the cycad.

Reproduction

The sago palm reproduces by seeds and lateral processes.

How to germinate a cicasus from seeds

It is almost impossible to get seeds at home, since the cycad does not bloom at home. Therefore, the option of growing cicassa from seeds is possible only if they are purchased in a specialized store. Features of seed germination:

1. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water (+ 24–26 ° С) for 24 hours.

   

   It is almost impossible to get cycad seeds at home, but you can buy them in a specialized store.

2. The seeds are spread on the ground in a greenhouse with light soil, slightly pressing them into the soil.

   

   Cycas seeds are placed on light soil for germination

3. The container with plantings is placed in a warm place with a temperature of + 30–32 ° С.
4. When the first leaf appears in the seedling, it is transferred to the soil usual for cicas.

How to grow a cycad from scions

When the cicassa has comfortable growing conditions, shoots may appear on the trunk (caudex). The sequence of germination of the lateral shoots of cicas:

1. The lateral process is cut with a knife from the caudex, trying to inflict minimal injuries on him and the adult plant.

   

   The lateral process of the cicas, formed on the caudex, is cut off with a sharp knife

2. From the lateral process, all the leaves released by it are cut off.
3. The place of the cuts on the trunk (caudex) and on the lateral process is sprinkled with ground charcoal.
4. During the day, the cut on the lateral process is allowed to dry well (if necessary, add charcoal powder).
5. When the cut on the lateral process is completely dry, the seedling is placed in a light, soft soil (perlite or sand).

6. Water the plant immediately after planting.

   

   Plant the offspring so that the caudex is at ground level

7. Rooting of a seedling is carried out in a greenhouse at a temperature of + 30 ° C, with dim lighting (in partial shade), periodically moistening the soil with warm, settled water.
8. Additional ventilation of the greenhouse is not required (the moment when it is opened is enough to moisten the soil).
9. After the seedling has taken root, it is transplanted to a permanent place.

Why it is worth starting a cycad - florist reviews

Tsikas is an interesting plant that creates a special color for an indoor garden. Emerald greenery and behavioral features give it mystery and originality. Therefore, he always attracts attention. It's funny to have a plant in your collection that is hundreds of millions of years old.