Tsikas is a tree-like relative of the fern that existed in the Mesozoic era. The plant belongs to the family Sagovnikovye. It is common in southern Japan, Madagascar, Fiji and other islands of the Pacific basin. In our country, it is grown at home or in winter gardens. Outwardly, the cicada with its leaves resembles a palm tree, for which it received the name "saga palm". He is also known by the names "cicada revolution" or "cycas". Its popularity has recently increased significantly. Due to the slow growth and spreading greens, the plant looks great in the house and office.
Botanical Description
Tsikas is a sprawling, slowly growing perennial. Its root system is a kind of large bulb. Above the surface of the soil is a wide and massive trunk. It has a large core and a dense rough bark. The height of the plant in nature reaches 10 m, and the trunk width is 1-1.5 m. At home, the cicada flower is 50-200 cm in height. The annual growth of the stem is only 2-3 cm. Each tier of leaves is added.
Leaf rosettes are grouped on top of the trunk. Cirrus and double-pinnate foliage resembles the fern fronds. Young leaves are painted in yellowish-green or light green tint. At first they have a softer surface, but gradually become dark and hard. Glossy adult leaves reach a length of 2-3 m. Each lives about 2-3 years.
Tsikas is a dioecious plant, that is, there are male and female individuals. On female plants, large brown cones form at the top of the trunk. Under numerous loose scales oblong seeds with smooth skin are hidden. Their length is 3-5 cm. Flowering of cicas at home almost never occurs. If the cicada has bloomed, it is possible to obtain seeds suitable for propagation only by artificial pollination and greenhouse maintenance.
Types of Cycas
More than two hundred species are registered in the genus of cicas. Some of them died out in the process of evolution and is known only from the research of archaeologists. In culture, you can find no more than a dozen species. The following copies are most popular.
Cicas or Cycas. The plant has a columnar trunk up to 3 m high. The non-pinnate foliage up to two meters long consists of narrow linear bright green lobes. Upright leaves gradually bend outward, so the variety is sometimes called "bent cicada." Young leaflets are painted lighter and covered with short pubescence. Adult leaf plates have a glossy hard surface. Cones form at the top of the stem. On male inflorescences, the flakes fit denser. Its length is 70-80 cm with a diameter of up to 15 cm. Female cones are covered with orange pubescence and have a more loose surface.
Tsikas Rumfa. The largest view. Its trunk can grow by 8-15 m. The crown consists of symmetrical leaf sockets. Each petiole 1.8-2 m long has narrow leathery leaves 30 cm long and 2 cm wide.
Cicas curled. The plant is characterized by darker and thicker foliage. On each petiole up to two meters long, there are about sixty dark green lobes. Each of them is 20-25 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
Tsikas Siamese - low form with grassy shoots. The height of an adult plant does not exceed 180 cm. The trunk has a thickening only in the lower part, and at the top it resembles a thin stem. Narrow leaflets are located on the petiole with a length of not more than 1 m. They are grouped from the middle to the end. The leaf length is 8-10 cm. The surface of the leaf plate has a bluish-white hue.
Tsikas is average. The trunk of this tree can grow 7 meters from the ground. Its top is decorated with a lush rosette of leaves. After special treatment, the seeds of the plant can be used as food.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of cicas is possible with the help of seeds or children. Since it is almost impossible to get the seeds yourself, you can buy them in a specialized store. It is important to monitor the expiration date, since after 1-2 years, germination is reduced. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for a day in warm water. After that, they are distributed in a pot with wet perlite. It is not necessary to deepen the seeds strongly, just press them a little into the ground. The container is placed in a bright place with an air temperature not lower than + 25 ° C. The soil is moistened as necessary. Shoots appear after 1-1.5 months. When at least one real leaf appears on the seedlings, they are carefully transplanted into medium-sized pots, into the soil for adult plants.
Sometimes stem shoots appear on the adult ciccas. Such a process should be cut with a sharp knife, being careful not to damage the mother plant. All leaves are removed from the stalk. The lower section and the damaged area of an adult plant is treated first with fungicide and then with crushed charcoal. Rooting is done in wet perlite. Keep the cuttings in a humid room with an air temperature of + 30 ° C. It is important to protect the plant from direct sunlight. The rooting process can take 4-9 months. When the roots grow and new leaves begin to appear, the cicada can be transplanted into a pot of earth.
Plant transplant
A transplant of cicasus is performed every 2-3 years. The procedure is planned for spring or summer. If young leaves began to appear, the transplant should be delayed. The pot for cicas is chosen a little more spacious than the previous one. It should be deep enough and stable.
The soil should be slightly acidic, light and well-drained. It is important to prevent alkalization of the soil, otherwise nutrients will no longer be absorbed by the rhizome. Drainage material should be placed not only at the bottom of the pot, but also in the ground itself. You can use fertile garden soil, which is mixed with small pebbles and sand.
Rules for home care
Caring for cicas at home requires little effort. The plant is suitable for gardeners with average experience.
Lighting. An adult plant needs intense lighting. It is not afraid of direct sunlight. For placement, the southern windowsills are suitable. In winter, additional illumination will be needed to provide the palm with daylight hours of 12-14 hours. If the lighting is insufficient, young leaflets will cease to develop. They may turn yellow or dry completely.
Temperature. Tsikas is able to endure very intense heat. In summer, the plant is recommended to take out to fresh air. It can be put on a lighted place, but gradually accustomed to new conditions. In winter, it is recommended to lower the air temperature to + 12 ... + 17 ° C. When grown in open ground, the flower can tolerate short-term frosts, but part of the foliage falls.
Watering. Tsikas is resistant to drought. Between watering, the soil should dry half or fully. After this, the plant is abundantly watered with warm, well-purified water. Since the earth quickly passes water, it is recommended to water it in two stages with an interval of several minutes. After irrigation, all excess water is poured from the sump.
Fertilizer. Top dressing is carried out from April to October. To absorb fertilizers, cicasus needs intense lighting. Only under the direct rays of the summer sun the plant is able to absorb the full dose of mineral fertilizers. With insufficient lighting, half or a quarter of the serving is used. For cicas, a lack of top dressing is better than an excess.
Diseases and pests. Tsikas is resistant to diseases and pests. Only with prolonged improper care can he suffer from rot and mold. Of the parasites, the plant is bothered by scale insects, mealybug and spider mites. Modern insecticides will help to quickly eliminate parasites.
