Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gardening

Sago palms date back to the age of dinosaurs. How to grow them at home

By

It’s hard to think of an ornamental house plant with a richer history than the sago palm. Dating back an estimated 200 million years — making it older than most dinosaurs — the sago palm is not technically a palm tree but rather part of a group of plants called cycads, a close cousin of the conifer.

And it’s far more than an attractive addition to your home garden. Originating in East and South Asia, sago palms have long been cultivated for a variety of uses. Although extremely toxic in its natural state, a properly processed sago palm remains a food staple in many Pacific nations and is frequently used in the production of goods ranging from textiles to soft drinks.

Recommended Videos

In Western cultures, the sago palm has garnered plenty of fans who treasure it for its bright green, featherlike fronds. It’s also easy enough for even novices to grow. If you’re in the market for a perfect ornamental, the sago palm may be just what you’re looking for. Here’s a closer look at this popular tree and how to grow and care for it at home.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Should I grow sago palms indoors or outdoors?

The short answer is — both are great options! How’s that for a versatile plant? It’s a snap to grow a sago palm indoors as a houseplant, regardless of where you live.

They also work well as an outdoor plant, but only in places with warmer winters. And during the summer, they need partial shade to help prevent those delicate leaves from burning in direct sunlight.

Bottom line: It’s safer to keep your sago palm indoors, but they can thrive in either environment.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to plant and care for sago palms

The sago palm is popular in part because of how easy it is to maintain. Still, there are a few things to be mindful of in caring for your palm, including their acute toxicity.

These straightforward steps will help ensure both the safety of your household and a healthy sago palm.

  • Look for a spot with bright but indirect sunlight.
  • Sandy, well-draining soil is ideal.
  • Sago palms tolerate drought well, so infrequent watering is best, roughly every one to two weeks.
  • On the flip side, overwatering can make the plant more vulnerable to disease.
  • Use caution if growing a sago palm in a household with children or pets.
  • Avoid contact with skin and wear gloves while handling.
  • Keep away from air vents.
  • Sago palms prefer a humid environment. Regular misting can help increase air moisture in drier locations.

As you can see, it doesn’t take a master gardener to keep a sago palm satisfied. Insects and other pests are not a major problem. The biggest potential issue is white scale, which is treatable with natural oils and other readily available white scale-specific treatments.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to propagate a sago palm

Sago palms mature slowly, taking five years or longer to reach their natural height, which is about two feet indoors. They also require the presence of both a mature male and a female in order to produce a viable seed. Because of this, many gardeners grow new sago palms using “pups,” the gardening term for the small clones that grow up around the base of its trunk.

Here’s how to split off those sago pups to propagate new palms.

  • Don’t forget to put your gloves on before you get to work.
  • Using a sharp, sterilized cutting implement, remove the pups from as close to the base of the parent plant as possible.
  • Remove the pup’s roots and cut off leaves, leaving just two or three.
  • Store the pup in a cool, dry place away from the sun.
  • Wait until the cut end heals and hardens, usually a few days.
  • Plant the pup, cut end down, in a small pot.
  • Use a potting mix that is half soil and half sand.
  • Place the pot in bright but indirect sunlight and keep the soil slightly moist.
  • Be patient! New leaves and roots can take a few months to form.

Sago palms could be an ideal gift for a budding gardener. They’re easy to maintain and they add a distinct note of casual elegance to any living room or sunroom.

Just remember that these palms grow slowly — being around for 200 million years must foster a lot of long-term thinking — so don’t expect a lot of dramatic development from your plant, regardless of whether it’s growing indoors or outdoors. But if you’re patient, your sago palm won’t ask much from you in return. Set it up, water it every so often, and you’ll have a steady plant companion for many years to come.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Scott Harris
Scott Harris
Contributor
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
How to care for desert rose, a gorgeous succulent
Your desert rose care guide
Light pink desert rose flowers

Does your houseplant collection need a stunning new addition? Why not try growing a desert rose? Adenium obesum is a beautiful drought-tolerant flower from the dogbane family. Native to parts of Africa and Asia, this plant’s vibrant flowers and relatively small size when grown in containers make it a wonderful and uncommon houseplant. Curious about growing your own? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about keeping your desert rose happy and healthy.
Planting desert rose

Desert roses can grow in traditional gardens or in containers, but they are better suited to containers in most parts of the U.S. They prefer warm weather and are sensitive to the cold. Growing your desert rose in a container allows you to bring it indoors during winter to keep it safe and warm.

Read more
Zoysia grass is tough and versatile – here’s how to care for it
Planting and caring for a zoysia grass lawn
Green grass lawn

The basics of lawn care may not change much from one lawn to the next, but many of the finer details do change based on the type of grass you’re growing. If you want the lushest, greenest lawn possible, you’ll need to tailor your care routine to your lawn. Zoysia grass is a popular grass species for lawns, with thick, vibrant blades that require shockingly little care. How do you know if zoysia is right for your lawn, and how do you keep your zoysia lawn looking its best? This guide will answer all your questions.
Planting zoysia grass

Zoysia grass can grow from seeds, sod, or plugs, and all options have different benefits and drawbacks. Seeds are excellent if you have a large area to cover, and they’re generally more affordable. However, zoysia grass grows slowly. Sod and plugs, which are already partially grown, are much faster to establish and begin spreading than seeds. However, they’re more expensive and more time consuming to plant. Some people choose to use a combination of seeds and plugs to get the best of both options.

Read more
This is how to deadhead petunias and encourage new growth
Deadhead your petunias the right way
A basket of colorful petunias

Petunias are beautiful, colorful, and easy to care for. They make excellent additions to most gardens, whether they are traditional gardens, container gardens, or even hanging baskets. If you want to get the most out of your petunia plants, you might be wondering how to deadhead petunias. Deadheading, or the process of removing dead or wilted flowers, can seem intimidating if you’re new to gardening, but the process is actually quite simple. Here’s how to get started deadheading your petunias.
How to deadhead petunias

Begin by finding flowers that are wilted, dead, or dying. When petunias wilt, they begin to close back up, so looking for partially or fully closed petunia blooms is a good way to start. Be careful not to target fresh petunia flowers that haven’t bloomed yet, though! Next, you’ll want to remove the petunia flower using your fingers, a knife, scissors, or garden shears. Make sure your hands or tools are clean to avoid spreading any diseases to your petunia plant.

Read more