Representatives are evergreens, with a thick and short trunk (about three meters, but sometimes reaches up to ten), it happens that it is bifurcated. The trunk is bulbous and in the subterranean and terrestrial part; Also, the trunk has a thick core with a wide core, which contains a lot of starch, it is covered with scales and remains of petioles of leaves. The leaves of the plant are up to three meters in length, pinnate (sometimes bicameral), which appear annually on the top. Young leaves after the appearance of bent and pubescent, but later straightened and become "bare"; leaflets or linear or linearly lanceolate, leathery and entire; Also, the leaves have a sharp top, and the lower leaves turn into spines. The sheet has an average streak, but no lateral.
These plants are dioecious. Cones containing male and female spores (megasporaphylls and microstrobils) are at or near the top. Cones grow in one or in groups.
As already mentioned, in the core (and in seeds too) a large percentage of the starch content (about 45%), sago is prepared from it, which is an important product for the inhabitants. That is why these plants are sometimes called "sago palms". The plant is poisonous, but local people prepare it in a special way, and it becomes harmless.
The cycad most resembles its appearance as a palm tree. That is why, at one time, a Swedish botanist was misled and therefore called him a word, which in Latin means "palm" and placed it among his palm trees.
If the florist only begins to get acquainted with the world of plants, it is better not to start it with a cicada, as caring for the room colors is difficult and requires strict compliance with the conditions of detention.
Care of flowers
The cyclist prefers a bright, but diffused light, with a small amount of direct sunlight. Preferably for him the western or eastern side, but also the northern side. If the plant still stands on the south side, then it should be shaded in the summer from the sun. In summer, the plant can be kept outdoors, but it must be protected from the hot sun, and to the "new place" the plant should be accustomed, gradually increasing the amount of time that it spends in the hot summer sun.
The temperature regime is an important condition for maintenance. In spring and summer, warmer temperatures are preferable, at 20-26 ° C, and in autumn and winter for different types of cycads its temperature. For a bent cycad it is 10-12 ° C, for a curled 16-18 ° C. If the winter does not provide a cool, then the plant can discard part of the leaves.
Watering from spring to autumn is moderate, it is necessary to let the top layer dry to a depth of two to four centimeters, while avoiding drying. In winter, watering is required even more rarely. Water for irrigation should be room temperature and well-kept.
Preference for the cyclist gives moist air, so it is desirable to regularly spray it with water at room temperature. It would be nice to put the plant on a pallet with wet claydite (or peat). When taking care of the room colors, the cyclist can be bathed in the shower, avoiding water entering the pot.
Fertilizing is carried out from spring to autumn every two weeks, suitable fertilizers for palm trees. In the rest of the period, feeding should be no more than once a month. And it should be remembered that it is also worthwhile to reduce the concentration of fertilizer by half. It is also desirable that the fertilizer does not contain potassium and magnesium salts.
Transplant a young cyclist should be annually, and in adults it is enough to replace the top layer of the earth. Although the plant can be transplanted in the event that it has little space in the pot. Mixture for the cycad "palm": sod, leafy earth, peat, humus and sand. The mixture ratio is as follows: two parts of the cereal land, leaf land, peat, humus and sand - one part. The best time for transplant is the spring period, when the plant starts a new growth. During the transplant, good drainage must be ensured. In this case, the pot is best not to choose a deep and wide, it should be slightly cramped so that the cycad does not get sick from souring the nutrient layer.
Cicadas can be propagated by seeds or shoots. The shoots of the cycad are bulbous and they develop on the trunk of an adult plant. First, an air bulb develops, in fact, which is an axillary bud. After this, the crown appears on the run, and sometimes even gives the subordinate roots.
The branching of the flower growers is caused artificially, causing mechanical damage. Thus, they try to get a dwarf form with several crowns, or they want to get a large amount of planting material.
After separating the shoot, place the cut must be sprinkled with charcoal and dried for one to two days. Shoots are planted in a mixture of peat and leaf land with the addition of sand and granite chips. Until roots appear, the plant should be watered moderately.
The germination capacity of the seeds persists long enough, about two to three years, and germinate within a month and a half or two months after they were planted.
Difficulties in growing
Direct sunlight the cycad loves, but with a long stay can get burned, so they need to accustom it gradually.
If the plant is excessively watered, it quickly decays. This is a characteristic feature of the cycad.
The high temperature in winter and dry air colors the cycadist is not well tolerated, so often in such conditions it can start to discard the leaves.
Damage can get from shchitovok, thrips and spider mites.