Tsikas - care and reproduction at home, photo species of plants

Tsikas (Cycas) - a perennial, tree-like, decorative and deciduous plant from the Sagovnikov family, relative of fern. The birthplace of cicas is tropical and subtropical regions of China, Japan and the Pacific islands. Tsikas has been growing under natural conditions since the ancient times of the Mesozoic era.

This cycad is similar in structure to a palm tree with its stiff, needle-like, cirrus leaves, located in the shape of a rosette at the top of a wide, massive trunk, covered with a dense rough bark. For this similarity, the plant is often called the sago palm.

The height of cicas in nature is up to 10 m, in offices and residential premises 50-70 cm, in greenhouses - up to 2 m. For a year it grows by 2-3 cm and one or two leaves, each of which can live 2-3 of the year. The root system has the shape of a bulb.

Be sure to pay attention to such a palm tree as Washington.

Toxicity of Cycas

All autonomic organs of the cycad contain neurotoxins that have a strong toxic effect. They can cause burns, serious illness, and even death. This fact must be taken into account when growing cicada in residential premises.

Caution should be exercised when working with a plant, exclude contact with children and pets. In regions where the cygnus grows in large numbers, a special type of starch (sago) is produced from its trunks and seeds, which is used after detoxification.

Tsikas: home care. Briefly

In order for home to enjoy cicicas for many years with its magnificent decorative look, it is necessary to ensure constant care and maintain an optimal microclimate:

Care for cicas at home. In detail

Bloom

There is no flowering in the usual form of cicas, it has special organs for reproduction. There are male and female plants. At the top of the trunk of female plants, fairly large cones (megasporophylls), similar to a nest, are formed. Fertilize their males (microstrobiles), in the form of elongated cones.

After fertilization, large seeds are formed from 3 to 5 cm long, oblong in shape. Numerous loose scales serve as their shelter. Even the best quality care for cicas at home rarely leads to flowering, this can happen in a plant no younger than 15 years old. To obtain full seeds, artificial pollination is required.

Temperature mode

The optimum temperature for active growth in the summer is from +22 to + 28 ° C. Cycas also tolerates hotter weather, adapts well to growing in the summer in the fresh air. Withstands short-term frosts, but may lose part of the leaves. A prolonged lack of heat can lead to rot and loss of plants.

Spraying

At home, the cicas plant is regularly sprayed with warm, settled water. Spend it in the morning in the warm time. Periodically, the leaves are wiped with a soft, damp cloth. Do not spray cicas during flowering and in cold weather. In order to maintain humidity, the trunk is wrapped with wet moss - sphagnum, spray water near the plant.

Lighting

In order for the plant to have an attractive, healthy appearance, it is necessary to provide the most bright, uniform lighting. Direct sunlight shades slightly. Daylight hours should last 12-14 hours. In the garden, the flowerpot is placed in partial shade.

Homemade cicadas are periodically turned to the light in different directions, so that the crown has a symmetrical appearance. With a lack of lighting, the condition of the plant worsens, the leaves are pulled out, take on an underdeveloped appearance.

Low illumination for a long time leads to yellowing of the leaves, their death and complete halt of plant growth.

Watering

Tsikas is a fairly drought tolerant plant, but it should not be allowed to completely dry out. It is best to keep the soil slightly moist. Water for irrigation should settle well and have room temperature. During the period of active growth, plentiful watering is carried out as necessary, but at least once a week.

The loose soil is watered in two stages, the interval between which is several minutes. In this way, the soil is evenly moistened. Residual water is removed from the sump. It is not allowed to hit the cone when watering, in order to prevent its decay. In autumn and winter, the intervals between watering are increased, and the amount of moisture is reduced.

Pot of cicas

For cultivation, ceramic pots or wooden tubs are used, which provide good air exchange and moderate soil moisture. The capacity should be deep, stable, but not too loose. A prerequisite is the presence of drainage holes to drain excess water.

Priming

Specialized stores offer ready-made soil for palm trees, completely balanced in terms of basic nutrients and having an optimal slightly acidic or neutral reaction. From the alkaline environment, the cygnus practically does not absorb nutrients.

Home-made soil should be well-drained over the entire volume of the tank, loose to prevent alkalization. For cicas, a mixture is well suited, in which in equal parts there is turf, leafy earth, peat, humus.

Coarse sand or small pebbles are mixed in to improve drainage properties.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

The cicas plant is fed at home from late March to October. During the winter dormancy, he does not need additional doses of fertilizers. Do not feed plants after transplantation, in low light and lack of heat. Excess fertilizer can do more harm to the plant than their lack.

Solutions of organic fertilizers: mullein or horse manure are more suitable for feeding. As a mineral top dressing, a special complex for palm trees is used. In order not to burn the roots with fertilizers, moisten the soil before dressing.

Transplant of cicas

Cycas grows slowly and does not need a frequent transplant. Young shoots are transplanted into larger containers as they grow, adults - not more often than after 3-4 years.

Transplantation of cicasus is carried out by the method of transshipment while maintaining the integrity of the root coma. Fresh soil fill the free zones around the roots and update the top layer.

Rest period

From November to early March, the plant suspends growth. In this dormant period, certain conditions are created for the plant:

• air temperature is reduced to 16-18 ° C, and for certain species - up to 12 ° C;
• reduce watering;
• stop feeding.

Extra care

As necessary, trim the damaged leaves and old ones that have fallen below the horizontal plane. At the same time, it is better to cut off completely dried leaves. In the warm season, the cicada is taken out onto a balcony or garden, placed in places protected from the scorching sun, gradually adapting to new conditions.

For hygienic purposes, the leaves of the plant are periodically washed under a warm shower, protecting the trunk and the core of the outlet from moisture.

Growing Cycas from Seeds

It is almost impossible to get full-fledged cicas seeds at home, so it’s better to buy them for sowing. Fresh seeds have good germination if favorable conditions are created for their germination:

• Seeds are soaked in warm (up to 35 ° C) water for 10-12 hours.
• The soil mixture is prepared from a mixture of peat and sand or perlite.
• Sow the seeds, slightly pressing to the soil, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil.
• Germination container covered with a film
• Maintain a temperature of 20-25 ° C, soil moisture and daily air.
• After 1-1.5 months, seedlings will appear. Shelter is removed, the container is transferred to a well-lit place.
• In the phase of 1-2 real leaves, seedlings are transplanted into separate pots.

Propagation of cicas by side shoots

For vegetative propagation, lateral processes similar to bulbs, which sometimes appear in the lower part of the trunk, are used. The shoots are cut with a sharp knife in late winter or early spring, without damaging the mother plant. Sections are treated with fungicide and sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

The bulbous young shoot is dried during the day and placed for rooting in moist perlite or peat-sandy soil. Before the formation of roots and the appearance of new leaves (from 3 to 6 months) maintain a temperature of +25 to + 30 ° C and moderate humidity. As soon as the stalk starts growing, it is carefully transplanted into the ground.

Diseases and Pests

Tsikas has certain requirements for growing conditions and responds to adverse factors with its appearance:

• Brown spots on the leaves cicasa are a sign of regular water overflows.
• Leaves turn yellow in summer with a lack of moisture.
• Yellow leaves of cicas in winter with increased dampness, low light and low temperature.
• Cicas leaves dry in excessively dry rooms.
• The root rot cause there is a lack of heat with excess moisture.
• Light spots on the leaves signal about a lesion with a scab.
• Yellow leaf tips tsikasa appear with insufficient humidity of air and soil.
• Cicas is slowly growing - a consequence of soil depletion and lack of nutrition.
• Gradual drying of the lower leaves occurs naturally as they age.
• Softening the trunk of a cicas happens with root rot or caudex rot.
• Leaves turn brown with a lack of trace elements.

The main pests that occasionally damage the cicada are scale insects, spider mites and thrips.

Types of homemade cicas with photos and names

Cicas drooping

The species is quite compact and it is it that is cultivated at home. Numerous leaves are collected in a thick outlet in the upper part of a short (no more than 3m), thick trunk (with a diameter of 30cm to 1m). Depending on the growing conditions, the leaf length can vary from 50cm to 2m. The shape of the leaf is narrowly linear, with one central vein, sharp on top, tapering to the base.

An upright leaf plate is gradually bent outward, for which the variety also has the name "Cycas bent." Young leaves are abundantly pubescent, have a light green color. With age, the leaves become leathery, glossy, lose pubescence and darken.

Cicas curly, or cochlear

The trunk of the plant is columnar, on its top are collected in bunches (up to 30 pieces each) cirrus, flat, with a well-developed middle vein leaves. Bundles of leaves are initially directed upwards, and with age they occupy a semi-horizontal position.

Tsikas Rumfa

The largest species native to nature in Sri Lanka and the coastal islands. The height of the barrel can reach 15m. Leaf blades have a linear lanceolate shape, up to 2 cm wide, up to 30 cm long.

Tsikas Siamese

Low-growing species with narrow, feathery leaves of bluish-white color on short prickly petioles. The trunk is thick only at the bottom, and above is thin.

Tsikas average

A palm-shaped bush, at the top of which all the leaves are collected in a bunch. Seeds of this species after special processing are used as food.

Watch the video: How to grow a date palm tree from seed - DIY Video (November 2024).