Plant Care
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Sago Palm
Cycas revoluta
Reviewed by Kiersten Rankel M.S.
QUICK ANSWER
Pup separation is the fastest method and produces a leafy plant in 6 to 12 months because pups already have their own root buds.
Seed germination takes 6 to 12 months just to sprout but lets you grow many plants at once when pups are not available.
Seed germination takes 6 to 12 months just to sprout but lets you grow many plants at once when pups are not available.
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Pup separation
Best when your sago has visible side pups at the base or trunk
From seed
Best for growing many plants when pups are not available
Pup separation
Time
6–12 months to fully rooted
Level
Intermediate
Success rate
High
You'll need
A pruning saw or sharp sturdy knife
A 6 to 8 inch pot with drainage
Coarse, fast-draining cactus mix
Sulfur powder or cinnamon (for the cut)
Heavy-duty gloves
Bright shade to filtered sun
1
Find a pup big enough to take
Look at the base of the trunk or along the lower trunk for round bumpy pups, sometimes called offsets or kaki. Wait until a pup is at least 2 inches across. Smaller pups rarely root before they exhaust their stored energy.
2
Cut the pup off cleanly
Wear gloves because sago foliage is sharp and the entire plant is toxic. Slice the pup off at the base with a saw or sturdy knife, keeping the cut as flat to the trunk as possible. The pup will look like a brown ball with no roots, that is normal.
3
Dust the cut and let it callous
Sprinkle sulfur powder or cinnamon on both the parent wound and the pup cut to prevent rot. Set the pup in a dry shaded spot for 1 to 2 weeks until the cut surface forms a hard dry layer.
Skipping the callous is the number one cause of pup failure. The cut surface is the only entry point for rot.
Skipping the callous is the number one cause of pup failure. The cut surface is the only entry point for rot.
4
Plant the pup half-buried in cactus mix
Fill the pot with cactus mix. Set the pup on the surface with the cut side down and bury only the bottom third. Leaving most of the pup exposed prevents rot and matches how it grew naturally.
5
Water sparingly and place in warmth
Water just enough to barely dampen the soil. Place in bright indirect light at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Water again only when the soil is bone dry, which may be every 2 to 3 weeks.
6
Wait for the first leaf flush
Roots form first underground, you will not see anything for 3 to 6 months. Then a tight green spear emerges from the top of the pup and unfurls into a single fern-like frond.
Once that first frond hardens off, switch to standard sago care. The plant will produce one new flush of fronds per year.
Once that first frond hardens off, switch to standard sago care. The plant will produce one new flush of fronds per year.
WATCH FOR
The pup feels soft when squeezed. That is internal rot, usually from watering before the callous fully formed. Pull the pup, slice off the rotted layer with a sterile blade, dust with sulfur, and callous for a full 3 weeks before replanting. Firm pups that have not sprouted in 6 months are still alive, just slow.
From seed
Time
6–12 months to germinate
Level
Advanced
Success rate
Moderate
You'll need
Fresh sago seeds (the bright orange-red ones)
A 4-inch deep pot with drainage
Coarse cactus mix with extra perlite
A clear plastic bag
A seedling heat mat
Heavy-duty gloves
1
Source fresh viable seeds
Sago seeds are bright orange-red marbles found inside the cone of a female plant. They must be fresh, ideally collected within the last 3 months. Wear gloves because the seed coat is highly toxic if ingested.
2
Remove the fleshy outer coat
Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours, then scrub off the orange-red flesh with a stiff brush. Underneath is a hard tan seed about the size of a small acorn. Float-test the cleaned seeds, viable ones sink and empty ones float.
3
Sow flat half-buried
Fill the pot with cactus mix. Lay each seed flat on its side and push it halfway down so the top half is exposed. Burying sago seeds completely encourages rot before germination. Water lightly to settle the soil.
4
Cover with a bag and add bottom heat
Slip a clear plastic bag over the pot and set on a heat mat at 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Sago germination requires sustained warmth. Below 75 degrees seeds simply sit dormant for years.
5
Mist monthly and wait
Open the bag once a month for an hour to refresh air and mist the surface lightly. Germination takes 6 to 12 months and may take longer.
The first sign is a thick white root pushing down out of the seed. A leaf does not appear for another 2 to 3 months after that root forms.
The first sign is a thick white root pushing down out of the seed. A leaf does not appear for another 2 to 3 months after that root forms.
6
Pot up after the first leaf hardens
Once the first leaf has fully unfurled and turned dark green, ease the seed and root out and pot it into a 6-inch pot of cactus mix. The seed remains attached for another year, feeding the seedling. Do not pull it off.
WATCH FOR
Seeds turn dark and feel soft at any point during the wait. That is rot, usually from too much moisture or no bottom heat. There is no rescue, discard the seed. Healthy sago seeds stay tan and firm even after a year of dormancy, so do not give up too quickly on a slow batch.
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About This Article
Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Botanical Data Lead at Greg · Plant Scientist
Editorial Process
Propagation methods verified against Cycas revoluta growth data from Greg's botanical database, cross-referenced with USDA hardiness zone data and published horticultural research.
6,723+ Greg users growing this plant
USDA hardiness zones 8b–11b