 Sago
palm or Cycas revoluta
Family - Cycadaceae
This so called "palm" is from sycads family and didn't change much since the
dinosaur's time. It grows very slow indoors and can sit without changes for a
full year if the conditions are not right. To form nice looking compact plant
Sago palm needs very bright spot with hours of direct sun light per day.
I bought one Sago at the local store and set it up beside the east facing
window. It wasn't the darkest part of the room and did receive some sun in the
morning, but it's not enough for Sago Palm. Plant didn't progress for whole
year, it didn't complain either - just stayed same as the day I brought it from
store. Then we moved to the other place, where I had large - half a wall - west
window. I put my Sago right in front of that window and plant responded in two
weeks giving me a new shoot of four leaves.
As the leaves are coming out, they tend to follow the light, which can cause
one-sided effect., so don't forget to gradually turn your plant around when new
leaves are growing. When this set of leaves opened completely, I have noticed
that they are longer then the original ones and have more space between their
needle-like parts. After reading some literature I realized that my Sago Palm
needs yet more sun. I dragged it into my son's room, and put it right in front
of it's southern window totally ruining the room design.
Now Sago could get all the sun possible in my house. I got reward right
away - another set of new leaves - second in 6 months. This time new growth was
more compact and looked nice. So, to make long story short - bright light with
periods of direct sun is a must for good growth of Sago Palm. If you cannot
provide such conditions - don't expect much from your plant.
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