Bonsai Beginnings: Sagos are breaking

7 headed sago
6 " pot

Cycas revoluta

Sago Palm

King Sago

The periodic "flush" of new leaves Sagos produce is called a "break". They can be grown as a houseplant, anywhere with adequate bright light. C. revoluta are one of the simplest and most forgiving of all plants to bonsai. Drought tolerant. Chronic over watering can kill the plant; do let the soil dry out. (colder = drier) Avoid overhead watering; this may cause rot. Re-pot in spring or summer. Cycads prefer to be root bound and should be re-potted into a container only slightly larger than the root system. If roots are trimmed for bonsai use, remove a comparable amount of lower leaves. Fertilize at one-third strength during the growing season. King Sago is a easy care "living fossil", from the Far East that resembles a palm tree but is a cycad.

MULTI-HEAD SAGOS are an unusual creation of Mother Nature. While large Sagos often produce new offshoots at the base or sides of the trunk and eventually grow into huge multi-branched clumps, this species occasionally produces a cluster of heads in the crown. Small multi-head and multi-trunk sagos in 6" to 10" (15 to 25 cm) pots are extremely rare and provide unique additions to indoor plant collections. Small multi-head or multi-trunk sago palms are often used as a subject for bonsai. Cycads are one of the simplest and most forgiving of all plant genera to bonsai.

Small multi-trunk sago
6 " pot

Cycas revoluta is one of the easiest plants to grow, indoors or out. It is not unusual for potted specimens to be hundreds of years old. The sago palm is native to Japan’s southernmost islands—a subtropical area of high rainfall and warm temperatures. RE-POTTING is best done in spring or summer. Cycads prefer to be root bound and should be re-potted into a container only slightly larger than the root system. Never over-pot a Sago. King Sago will actually grow well in almost any medium provided that it is well-drained. If roots are trimmed for bonsai use, remove a comparable amount of lower leaves.