Progress on the new cycad colony

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In habitat, cycads, like these *sago palms* grow in groups, called colonies. When they are displayed in groups, they are spectacular, but they are expensive plants, and people tend to plant them all alone, or in a pot as a specimen.

But cycads don't like to be lonely! This new project, a cycad colony, started by accident. I had suspected that one of my cycads was dying and a fellow-member of the Arizona Palm and Cycad Association was kind enough to donate one of the pups from his cycas revoluta. When I planted it, I noticed that the one that was *dying* was starting to come back to life! So I planted them fairly close together. Then a few weeks ago another friend dropped off two ailing cycads that I promised him would grow better here at The Tropical Paradise than in a pot on his porch. It had one little leaf straggling - you can see the one - and seemed to be on its last legs. But the new growth is strong, and the weather is nice and wet, and still warm, so I decided to get it into its new home.

The other cycad I will keep in the *nursery* out front in the courtyard until it's developed stronger roots, probably next season. I will know when a leaf forms. Until then, it stays where it is.

In few years my cycad colony will start to criss-cross each other, and maybe send out their own pups. In 200-300 years they will outgrow this area, and I will have to trim much of them back. But luckily, they grow slowly, so I won't worry about it right now.


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