What can be used to save the dying SAGO PALMS in Florida?
Question:I heard that Spectracide has something that cna help, but Home Depot can't get an answer either.
Answers:
It's hard to diagnose your sago problem without more details. If it's yellowing fronds it's a nutrient deficiency that could be caused from two things:
1. You need to fertilize your sago. Unlike true palm trees sagos are a cycad and therefore need other nutrients not found in your typical palm fertilizer. Sagos tend to like a higher nitrogen content than palms. It could also be a minor nutrient deficiency, but again hard to say with so little info.
2. It could be nutrient deficiency due to a pest infection. Most common is Asian Cycad Scale. If the underside of the fronds looks like snow then you definiitely have a infestation. The best way to treat it would to cut off all old growth, leaving just the current flush. Don't worry, cycads are very hardy and have been around millions of years...this won't hurt it. Then buy a product called Bayer Tree and Shrub pest control. It's in a blue bottle and will cost you about $20 at Lowes or Home Depot. This is a systemic pesticide meaning the sago's roots soak it up and the bugs drink it when they suck the sago for food. This must be done at least once per year followed by a few applications of horticultural oil.
Tom Broome is a professional cycad conservationist in Central Florida and has tons of other info that you may find useful.
http://cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/ar...
Move them, maybe they don't like where you put them, I am in Southern California and mine does not like the direct sun, also they need to be in well drained soil, they will rot if the soil is not well drained. Be careful if you have pets I heard these are poisonous to pets.
Prune any yellowing palms two inches from the nut. If all are being affected you can prune the entire plant. Home Depot, Lowes etc carry "palm plant/tree" fertilizer, follow the directions.
More Related Questions & Answers...