Fan-shaped leaves gathered in a plume set on a thick trunk - it must be a palm tree! Well, not necessarily. It is a cycas, or sago palm. The plant, although sometimes called a sago palm, only resembles it. The genus Cycas is derived from tree ferns that lived on earth many millions of years ago. It is one of the most striking potted plants. Cycas will bring a breath of exoticism to any interior. If you have a larger piece of space to manage, be sure to look out for this exotic plant!

Chicas - an exotic accent for any interio

Chicas, also called sag palm or fern palm, impresses with its exotic habit. The plant originates from the tropical regions of Asia and resembles a palm tree in appearance. In our climatic conditions, the only pot-grown sago species is the Cycas revoluta.

This pot plant has a striking regular habit and looks very exotic. It forms a dense green rosette on top of a cracked cluster formed by woody leaf bases. The dark green hemlock leaves with a strong succulent colour are stiff and arching.

Spreading leaves, the chicas looks extremely striking and will decorate any interior. It will perfectly emphasise the atmosphere of a colonial or oriental decor. Sagacanth looks great in tall, large pots with simple shapes. A good idea is to place it in a tall pot and plant it around with overhanging climbers, such as epipremnum or philodendron. Chicas will work well not only as a houseplant, but also as a plant for a hotel and office. Please note that sago is highly toxic to humans and animals.

Ideal place for cicas

The sagittarius grows to a considerable size at home - the leaves can be up to 60 cm long. The plume of the hemlock is spreading, so a windowsill will not be a good place for it. In addition, the sagacanth does not like to be touched and may react to frequent rubbing by turning its leaves brown, so it feels best as a solitary. It is worth placing it away from the busiest areas where its leaves would be exposed to touch.

Chicas - growing conditions

For an exotic plant, cycas does not have particularly high requirements. Just keep a few things in mind and the plant will repay you with a phenomenal appearance.

✔️ location

Chicas grows best in a very bright but not directly sunny location.

✔️ temperature and air humidity

The optimum temperature for cycas is 20-25oC. During the winter period, the sago can be moved to a cooler room with a temperature of 10-15oC. Watering should then be reduced. The state of dormancy will have a positive effect on the condition of the plant and will stimulate it to produce new leaves. The plant likes moist air, so it should be sprinkled frequently.

✔️ substrate

The substrate for the sago should be light and porous. You can use a ready-made substrate for yucca dracaenas and palms or make it yourself by mixing leaf soil, peat and coarse sand in a ratio of 3:2:1. Do not forget drainage at the bottom of the pot.

✔️ watering and fertilising

Watering should be moderate. The sagegrouse tolerates periods of dryness quite well, but does not tolerate stagnant water. Overwatering causes root rot. It is best if the top layer of the substrate dries slightly before the next watering. Chicas grows slowly and does not need large doses of fertiliser. During the growing season, however, you can feed the plant occasionally with a small dose of universal fertiliser or green plant fertiliser.

How fast does cicas grow?

Chicas grows very slowly and is a long-lived plant. It is worth bearing this in mind so that once you have purchased it, you are not worried about its slow growth rate. Most people wonder when the sago plant will put out new leaves. This does not happen all the time - the plant usually only puts out one to a few leaves once a year.