Comments on: know anything about bonsai plants: sago palm?

By: Bill Choat

Bill Choat — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:59:59 +0000

Yes, you probably have a sago palm, however, there's not enough room here to give you good care instructions. Send me an email directly to:
wchoat@american-bonsai.com and I'll send you care instructions.
You may also want to check the Bonsai Care page of my website:
http://www.american-bonsai.com
References :

By: briggs451

briggs451 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:26:59 +0000

Whoops. Don't trim that plant. The growth you are seeing is a new set of fronds unfolding. This is called a flush. It will happed once (or twice in good conditions) a year. This is how the plant grows.

This plant can't be trained by pruning. You can keep it small by letting it get and stay pot bound, but eventually it will get big and burst the pot. In their natural state these are trees which can achieve 15 or more feet in height.

While popularly called a Sago Palm, it is neither a palm nor does it produce Sago. It is a Cycad, one of the earth's most ancient plants. You probably have a Cycas revoluta or Cycas circinalis.

Sago, an important food starch, comes from a tree called Metroxlyn sagus. In its native countries, the natives infect the trees with maggots which eat the Sago and then the natives eat the maggots. Tasty, no? Have a bite.

Cycads don't like a lot of water so be sparing. They do like lots of light. Fertilize once or twice a year. Follow label instructions. Mostly leave it alone.
References :
Grower

By: dexodrine0

dexodrine0 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:44:59 +0000

You need to trim your bonsai tree. Trim the other growths off. Trimming keeps it at its small size. Use sharp scissors.
References :