Sago Palms Outside My Stable

June 4, 2025

With many upcoming events here at my farm, there is always so much work to do to get everything ready.

My outdoor grounds crew is busy moving large potted tropical plants to their designated warm weather locations. Seven months out of the year, these specimens are kept inside temperature and humidity controlled greenhouses where they can be properly maintained, but it's so nice to see them outside in beautiful ornamental urns. Yesterday, the team potted up and arranged a collection of sago palms, or cycads, in the large courtyard outside my stable.

Enjoy these photos.

: I have many, many cycads. The sago palm, Cycas revoluta, is a popular houseplant known for its feathery foliage and ease of care. Native to the southern islands of Japan, the sago palm goes by several common names, including Japanese palm, funeral palm, king sago or just plain sago palm.

: Although sago palms are slow growing, mine have grown quite a bit in the last five to six years. These two will be repotted into larger, more accommodating vessels.

: Sago palm fronds resemble those of palm trees. The glossy, pinnate leaves are typically about four to five feet long at maturity, and up to nine-inches wide.

: Notice the sago palm’s trunk. It is a rough, symmetrical trunk which becomes leafless as it ages and gives way to its evergreen crown of upward pointing fronds. When pruning, only cut off the old and dying leaves, especially towards the base of the tree where they are oldest. And cut them off as close to the trunk as possible.

: Mature sago palms, both the male and female varieties, produce pups around their trunks. The pups can be used to grow new sago palm plants. These pups were carefully chiseled off the mother tree and will be repotted.

: Here’s Fernando holding one of the 40 sago palm pups. Fernando has worked with me for more than 35 years. He’s learned quite a lot over that time, right Fernando?

: Sago palms outgrew these two pots – one is a heavy lead vessel and the other is a much more manageable and lightweight resin container. Do you know which is which?

: To start, Pete and Fernando cover the drainage hole of the new pot with shards. This will help with drainage and prevent soil from coming out of the pot’s drainage hole.

: Then Pete fills about a third of the pot with composted soil. This nutrient-rich compost is made right here at the farm.

: Fernando mixes a generous amount of Miracle Gro fertilizer into the bottom soil. More will be sprinkled on top after the sago palm is potted up.

: The sago palm trunk is wrapped carefully and securely with moving blankets and rope and carefully lifted out of the old pot and above the new. Fernando controls the forklift of the Hi-Lo while Pete maneuvers the sago over the pot.

: Pete then gives the sago a fresh cut at the bottom, so it can be planted properly in its new container.

: Next, Pete uses the edge of a shovel to make intentional cuts in the root ball. This is called scarifying. This stimulates root growth and allows for good circulation.

: The sago is then lowered into its new pot at place at the proper height.

: Pete and Fernando fill the rest of the pot with soil until it is secure – just under the top rim of the container, so when watered, soil does not flow out. Pete also tamps down on the soil to ensure good contact with the plant.

: Pete looks from all sides to make sure the sago palm is straight, making adjustments if needed. Once everything is in place, the moving blankets are removed carefully. Everything is intact.

: The frond tips are quite pointy and sharp, so it’s best to plant it away from heavy foot traffic.

: Two other large sago palms are placed in the center flanking a large sugar pot. Sugar kettles were used on 19th century Louisiana plantations for the production of sugar. Sugar cane was placed in the large, spherical vessels and cooked down to make syrup. Because they could withstand such high heat, they were also used for cooking. I have started to collect them whenever I see one. They make instant and effective fire pits, and can be moved to different locations on the farm.

: Although they’re tropicals that can take full sun, sago palms need part shade to prevent their leaves from burning. This courtyard is shady in the afternoon.

: When watering, water so the top inch of soil is moist (check it with your fingertip if you need to) and let it dry out between waterings about once a week.