Tsikas (Cycas) belongs to a group of plants, which it is impossible to pass by, remaining indifferent. Its elegant appearance attracts attention, exerting a bewitching effect on anyone who gives it their eyes. Not for nothing that the indoor plant cicada is an order of magnitude higher than ordinary indoor flowers. It has an amazing pedigree, rooted in the Mesozoic era. The same age as old-timers are ferns and chlorophytums.
Origin
Among the plants, in appearance resembling a palm tree, the cicada of Revolution takes a leading place.
Due to this similarity, the Swedish botanist Karl Linnaeus was given the corresponding name, derived from the Greek kikas, which means "palm". At one time, Linnaeus, misled by the outward signs of cicasus, placed him in his system among palm trees.
At the end of numerous disputes about the "relatives" of cicas, scientists came to the conclusion that this plant has no direct relation to the palm family. But the leaves in their form are very similar to ferns, therefore, between these species there is a close relationship.
Content
The cypress palm tree in large pots and tubs looks most spectacular. In a favorable climate, where there is no harsh winter, it is allowed to grow cicada in the open ground. In well-lit hallways, large halls, protected from the cold, the cygnus will feel excellent.
Tsikas Revolyuta: appearance
The leaves of the plant reach a length of up to 3 meters, cirrus in shape. Only 3-5 new leaves appear annually, because the cicada grows very slowly. When buying, you should pay attention to the integrity of the buds located in the cone of the plant. It is best to acquire the formed cicada, in which there are already several open leaves.
Tsikas has a short thick trunk with a height of one and a half to three meters. In nature, the height of the plant can reach ten meters. The ground part of the trunk is very massive, resembles a bulb, has a thick bark.
Using
The core, which is densely covered with flakes, contains a large amount of starch. Due to this feature, the inhabitants of the islands since ancient times cultivate a plant in order to obtain this product, which is used as an ingredient in the preparation of sago. In this regard, these plants received a second name - “Cygnus palms”. In its raw form, the onion of cicas is unsuitable for consumption. Moreover, poisoning is possible due to the content of toxic substances. However, local residents use special neutralizing agents that allow them to extract and consume starch without harming their health, therefore it is a very valuable food product for them.
Care
Not only an exotic appearance, but also a capricious character has a cicada. Caring for it brings a lot of worries. Beginning gardeners should refrain from acquiring such a demanding plant. When buying a plant, it is worth considering that it needs intense lighting.
Meanwhile, direct sunlight can harm cicasa. In this regard, for the location of the plant, windows of the south and south-west direction, with shading from the midday sun, are best suited. With the onset of summer, it will need to be taken out to fresh air. When moving the cypress on a street or a veranda, it is advisable to choose a place for it where the lighting will be uniform from all sides. It is also necessary to take care of the absence of wind and draft in the place where the cicada is located. Caring for this finicky plant requires gradual accustoming in a sharp change in the intensity of lighting during rearrangement.
Air temperature
Tsikas will grow without problems both in warm and in rooms with a cool temperature. However, he needs to arrange wintering at temperatures ranging from +12 to +16 degrees. The plant is able to withstand swings of up to +8 degrees. Nevertheless, such an opportunity should be ruled out, since he does not need such a stressful state.
Watering
Tsikas at home is very demanding on proper watering. To do this, use only soft water at room temperature. It is necessary to take care that drops of water do not fall on the bump and cause rotting of the kidneys. In the warm season, watering is often carried out, leaf spraying is welcome. In winter and at low temperatures, watering is moderate, and its regularity directly depends on environmental conditions. It should be noted that cicas does not tolerate stagnation of water in a pot. The bump will begin to rot, causing the plant to die.
Transfer
The first five years of growth, cicas is in a phase of active development, so it must be replanted every spring. At the same time, they choose a cache-pot according to diameter larger than the previous one by 2-3 cm. The soil is compiled from the calculation: two parts of clay sod land, one part of peat, leaf, humus.
Part of the sand and some charcoal will be useful here. Good drainage is the key to plant health, because it prevents stagnation of excess moisture, protecting the cicada from decay. An adult plant is transplanted every five or six years. For adults, it is enough to change the topsoil annually. When transplanting, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the cone of the cycad is not deepened into the ground.
Tsikas turned yellow, what to do?
A problem that some owners of the exotic cicada plant sometimes have to face: leaves turn yellow. What to do if the care is carried out according to all the rules, and it continues to dry? First of all, it is worth taking a closer look at which side the leaf turns yellow.
If only the lower processes die, then do not worry. This is a normal process of dying off old leaves. In the same case, when the yellowing of the tips occurs, you should increase the air humidity and pay attention to watering. The plant probably lacks moisture. Sometimes you should give him a warm shower after first covering the pot with soil with a bag.
It happens that water accumulates at the top of the stem. Subsequently, rot may form in this place and the cicada will turn yellow. In this case, it is necessary to change the pot to the plant, providing good drainage from below. You can also encounter the problem of the brown ends of the leaves: this is a clear sign that there is insufficient ventilation in the room, and the place for the plant was chosen incorrectly.
Diseases and Pests
Many indoor plants are attacked by pests: scale insects, spider mites, fungi. Cycas in this regard is no exception. Often a pest is detected when the cicada is yellowed. What should I do if the leaves dry and a barely noticeable web forms on the plant? It will be most effective to quarantine cicasa by treating Actellik with the pest. To enhance the effectiveness of the insecticide, the foliage of the plants is covered with a bag and left for 12 hours. however, it must be remembered that on the leaves, despite the death of adult individuals, pest larvae can remain on which the poison will not work. In this regard, it is recommended to repeat the treatment with Actellic in a few days.
In some cases, household soap is used to combat the spider mite. A thick soapy foam is applied to the leaves, covered with a bag and left for a day. With this method, the likelihood of larvae also remains, so the procedure must be repeated in a day. After treatment, rinse the cicada under a warm shower. Care in the future should include daily spraying. In conditions of high humidity, the likelihood of a spider mite reappearing is minimized, since this pest prefers dry air.
The appearance of scabies is promoted by a reduced room temperature, as well as excessively plentiful watering. When infected with this pest, drying of the leaves, loss of green color and the appearance of bright spots occur. The plant is quarantined, then treated with Actellica solution.
In the conditions of overflow, the occurrence of fungus on the cicassus may occur, as well as acidification of the substrate and decay of the plant. In this case, it is worth removing the cycas from the pot, checking the roots, then transplanting into new soil. After replacing the substrate, it is advisable not to water the cicas and not to disturb it for several days.
Sharp temperature fluctuations, increased air dryness provoke the appearance of spots on the leaves. It is necessary to eliminate factors unfavorable for the cycas, and also pay attention to top dressing. It is likely that the plant lacks minerals.
If during wintering, the cygnus is not provided with the necessary cool temperature in the range of 12-18 degrees, it can become sick and lose some of the leaves.
New leaves do not grow on the cicada plant
When buying a cypress, one should remember that this plant develops very slowly. A small number of new leaves forms in a year, so growth seems inconspicuous.
Due to slow growth, many prefer not to fertilize cicada at all. New leaves do not grow in this case, precisely because of a lack of nutrients. In April, the active phase of plant growth begins; regular feeding is required for this: once every two weeks. Until August, it is necessary to continue to fertilize: special fertilizing for palm trees, as well as universal for all types of indoor plants, are suitable. When choosing, you should take into account that the composition does not contain magnesium and potassium salts.
Cycas propagation
Over time, the appearance of new “children” occurs on the cygnus. Most often they are used for plant propagation: the daughter process is carefully cut from the trunk, and the place of the cut must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or sulfur. Having begun its development with an air bulb, the “baby” acquires its own crown, and sometimes even adventitious roots. This process is dried in air for several days, then it is planted in an earthen mixture, which contains peat, sand, as well as sheet earth and granite chips. Watering is carried out sparingly until the complete formation of the root system of the appendix. You can use a soil heating system or root formation stimulants, such as "Kornevin."
Less commonly practiced the propagation of cicasus seeds, because this method takes a lot of time. Seed germination lasts about three years. After sowing, they germinate in the period from one and a half to two months in conditions of soil heating.
Thus, for keeping in room conditions, not everyone will need cicadas. Caring for it involves a lot of effort. Slow leaf growth is unlikely to satisfy novice gardeners. However, if you have the desire, attention, knowledge of the intricacies of care and patience, over time you can get from a small plant a real giant who will bring an exotic touch to the interior.