1. Cycad Cultivation
1. Light Requirements
Red Cycad is shade-tolerant and can be grown outdoors in spring and autumn. However, it requires adequate shading when exposed to strong sunlight or high temperatures. Avoid strong sunlight in the summer and keep it in a bright indoor location in the winter.
2. Temperature Requirements
Red Cycad’s optimum growth temperature is 20-25°C. In the summer, it is important to keep the temperature low, with a minimum tolerance of 5°C. In the winter, it should be kept indoors in temperatures above 10°C.
3. Soil Requirements
Red Cycad has low soil fertility requirements. Cultivate it in loose, airy, slightly acidic, fertile sandy soil. Avoid alkaline soil, as this will cause poor plant growth and yellowing of the leaves. A mixture of peat, garden soil, and coarse river sand can be used.
2. How to Plant and Care for Cycads
1. Cultivation Soil
Cycads are suitable for planting in loose, well-ventilated, slightly acidic soil. You can use a mixture of leaf mold, sandy loam, peat soil, and perlite to make nutrient soil. The potting soil for the cycads needs to be changed regularly, generally every 1-2 years. The best time to repot is between late April and early May.
2. Adequate Light
Cycads love light and need sufficient light during their growth. When cultivating, they should be placed in a well-lit location so that the cycads can receive sufficient light and receive at least 8 hours of light a day. The flowerpot needs to be rotated regularly to change its direction. When the temperature is high and the sun is strong in summer, shade and sun protection should be provided to avoid direct sunlight.
3. Watering method
The cyclopean tree has a long growth period, and its root system cannot tolerate waterlogging. The watering cycle and watering method are different in different seasons. In spring and autumn, water once every 7 days to keep the soil moist. The high temperature in summer increases the demand for water, so water it every 3 days. In winter, the temperature is low and it enters a dormant period. Generally, water it once every 15 days to prevent the cyclopean tree from waterlogging and root rot.
4. Precautions
During the planting period, the cyclopean tree needs to be properly pruned and the ventilation should be maintained. During the growth period, the plant is easily eroded by pests and diseases, and the leaves are easily damaged by scale insects. You can apply or spray the surface with 50% oxydemeton-methyl emulsion. If the cyclopean tree is infected with white spot disease or sooty mold disease, you can use 50% wettable powder of carbendazim and spray it on the diseased plants in the early morning.
3. Cycad Planting Temperature
Summary: Cycads have excellent cold resistance and can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. This means that if the temperature drops below this, the plant may freeze to death. During the winter, as long as the temperature is above -20 degrees Celsius, it can survive. Ground-planted cyclops should be watered with anti-freezing water before wintering, and the leaves should be tied up. The easiest way to overwinter a potted cyclops is to move it indoors for maintenance.
4. Cycad Cultivation
1. Generally, in March each year, the excess leaves on the cyclops should be trimmed off. Then, keep the soil at the roots of the cyclops at a diameter of more than 30 cm and maintain sufficient moisture in the soil. Wrap the soil at the roots with a rope and place it in the dug pit to allow it to take root naturally for 1-2 days.
2. Pour an appropriate amount of water and compound fertilizer into the soil pit, then cover it with fine soil and press the soil firmly. Then use a film to wrap the trunk. Water it every three days or so. With patient care, new buds will soon grow.
5. Cycad Planting Technique
The potting soil should be fertile, slightly acidic, sandy soil. Cycads are iron-loving plants. When preparing the culture soil, you can add a small amount of iron filings, or sprinkle iron filings on the potting soil or bury them in the pot in early spring. This is the first step in how to care for cycads. Cycads should be placed in a sunny, warm, humid, and well-ventilated environment. In winter, they should be placed indoors. If it snows, they should be moved indoors or covered with plastic film. Otherwise, the old leaves will turn yellow in the spring of the following year, losing their ornamental value.
6. How to Care for Cycads
Fertilization: Fertilization is essential during the growing season, but avoid using too concentrated fertilizer; apply sparingly and frequently.
Pruning: Prune any particularly long or dense branches.
Light: Cultivate in an environment with ample sunlight, ensuring it receives sunlight throughout the growing season.
Watering: Remember to water regularly during the growing season.
7. How to Care for Cycads
Cycad Care – Soil
Potted Cycads are best suited to well-drained, loose, fertile, slightly acidic sandy soil.
Cycad Care – Temperature
Cycads prefer warmth. During high summer temperatures, spray water to cool them down. In winter, the room temperature should be maintained at around 10°C. Cycads are quite cold-resistant, but should be moved indoors or to a warm location to overwinter when temperatures reach 0°C.
Cyclone cultivation – light
Cyclones cannot be placed indoors for too long. Because cyclones love light, lack of light will make their leaves sparse, thin, and withered. Therefore, cyclones need to be placed in a sunny place in all seasons, especially when new leaves grow in spring and autumn, they should be kept in direct sunlight, and then moved indoors for viewing after the new leaves grow mature. However, it should be avoided from being exposed to the sun in the summer, otherwise it will easily cause the cyclones leaves to burn and turn yellow.
Cyclones cultivation – watering
Cyclones are relatively drought-resistant, prefer dryness and avoid wetness, and should be watered when the soil is dry and wet.
Generally, water once every 10 days in winter, once every 3-5 days in spring and autumn, and once in the morning and evening in summer. If the soil in the cyclones pot is too wet for a long time, it will cause yellow leaves and root rot. Cycad Care – Fertilization
During the cycad’s growing season, topdress regularly, primarily with nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, preferably composted cake fertilizer. Apply fertilizer sparingly and frequently, avoiding excessive concentrations. Apply plenty of vanadium fertilizer. You can also add some rust iron to the soil, or purchase cycad-specific fertilizer from the flower market. This will give the cycad’s leaves a lustrous dark green, enhancing its ornamental value.
Cycad Care – Pruning
When cultivating cycad bonsai, old leaves from the previous year and those that have withered and yellowed should be removed. Overcrowded or overly long leaves should also be pruned as appropriate to maintain the tree’s symmetrical shape.
Cycad Care – Repotting
Repotting should be done every two to three years, preferably in spring between March and April. When repotting or repotting, remove dead and damaged roots and remove 1/2 to 2/3 of the old soil, replacing it with fertile, loose new soil to promote vigorous growth. At the same time, make sure to leave the bottom of the pot hollow to facilitate air and water permeability.
Cyclone Cultivation – Pest and Disease Control
Potted cyclones should be placed in a well-ventilated, light-filled, and clean area to effectively prevent pests and diseases.
The main pest of cyclones is scale insects. When you find scale insects, you can first kill them by manually scrubbing. If the infestation is severe, water the pot with a 1% diluted ferrous sulfate solution.
8. Cyclone Cultivation Techniques
Cyclone Cultivation – Soil
Potted cyclones are suitable for well-drained, loose, fertile, slightly acidic sandy soil.
Cyclone Cultivation – Temperature
Cyclones prefer warmth. During high summer temperatures, they should be sprayed with water to cool them down. In winter, the room temperature should be maintained at around 10°C. Cyclones are quite cold-resistant, but when the temperature reaches 0°C in winter, they should be moved indoors or to a warm location to overwinter.
Cyclone cultivation – light
Cyclones cannot be placed indoors for too long. Because cyclones love light, lack of light will make their leaves sparse, thin, and withered. Therefore, cyclones need to be placed in a sunny place in all seasons, especially when new leaves grow in spring and autumn, they should be kept in direct sunlight, and then moved indoors for viewing after the new leaves grow mature. However, it should be avoided from being exposed to the sun in the summer, otherwise it will easily cause the cyclones leaves to burn and turn yellow.
Cyclones cultivation – watering
Cyclones are relatively drought-resistant, prefer dryness and avoid wetness, and should be watered when the soil is dry and wet.
Generally, water once every 10 days in winter, once every 3-5 days in spring and autumn, and once in the morning and evening in summer. If the soil in the cyclones pot is too wet for a long time, it will cause yellow leaves and root rot. Cycad Care – Fertilization
During the cycad’s growing season, topdress regularly, primarily with nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, preferably composted cake fertilizer. Apply fertilizer sparingly and frequently, avoiding excessive concentrations. Apply plenty of vanadium fertilizer. You can also add some rust iron to the soil, or purchase cycad-specific fertilizer from the flower market. This will give the cycad’s leaves a lustrous dark green, enhancing its ornamental value.
Cycad Care – Pruning
When cultivating cycad bonsai, old leaves from the previous year and those that have withered and yellowed should be removed. Overcrowded or overly long leaves should also be pruned as appropriate to maintain the tree’s symmetrical shape.
Cycad Care – Repotting
Repotting should be done every two to three years, preferably in spring between March and April. When repotting or repotting, remove dead and damaged roots and remove 1/2 to 2/3 of the old soil, replacing it with fertile, loose new soil to promote vigorous growth. At the same time, be sure to leave the bottom of the pot hollow to facilitate air circulation and water permeability.
Cyclops Cultivation – Pest and Disease Control
Place potted cyclops in a well-ventilated, light-filled, and clean area to effectively prevent pests and diseases.
Scale insects are the most common pests of cyclops. If you find scale insects, you can first kill them by manually scrubbing. If the infestation is severe, water the pot with a 1% diluted ferrous sulfate solution.
9. Cyclops Cultivation Techniques
1. Soil: When cultivating, choose soil suitable for its growth. It thrives best in acidic soil with good water permeability. Before use, clean and disinfect any dirt in the soil.
2. Watering: Cyclops is somewhat drought-tolerant and dislikes humid environments. Watering should be done after the soil is dry. Excessive watering will cause excess moisture in the soil, which can easily lead to root rot. It is best not to set a fixed watering frequency; water according to the dryness or wetness of the soil.
3. Light: Cycads prefer sunlight, so keep them in a sunny location to avoid affecting their growth. Don’t keep them indoors for too long; instead, take them outside to get some sunlight.