Anyone who gets involved with a cycad should have thought this decision through carefully. These plants are considered to be high maintenance and sensitive. Especially towards Frost they like to show their delicate side…

Some varieties of cycad tolerate frost

Very few cycad species are hardy

Most cycad species originally come from the tropical, warm regions of the world. Since they don't know frost there, they don't tolerate sub-zero temperatures in this country either. Already 0 °C can mean the imminent end for some cycads. But there are also extremely sensitive specialists who get frostbite at temperatures of around 5 °C. Other cycad species are a bit more robust…

Nurseries offer frost hardy cycads

Some nurseries and online retailers sell cycad species that are less sensitive to frost. Neither their roots nor their trunk nor their fronds freeze at 0 °C.

These cycads include, for example, the following specimens:

  • Cycas media (-3 °C)
  • Cycas panzhihuaensis (-16 °C) (most frost hardy species)
  • Cycas revoluta (-8 °C)
  • Dioon argenteum (-4 °C)
  • Macrozamia stenomera (-10 °C)
  • Macrozamia diplomera (-8 °C)
  • Macrozamia platyrhachis (-8 °C)
  • Macrozamia macdonnellii (-6 °C)
  • Macrozamia reducta (-6 °C)
  • Macrozamia longispina (-4 °C)

How to deal with cycads that are not hardy

Have you bought a cycad that is not hardy in this country? Or do you live in a region where severe frost in winter is not uncommon? Then you should definitely protect your cycad. Since wintering outdoors is not worthwhile, the cycad should be quartered at home.

This should be noted:

  • quartered from the end of September/October
  • Cycad in a cool room z. B. conservatory, bedroom, stairwell
  • ideal room temperatures for winter: 5 to 10 °C
  • high humidity is ideal
  • the colder, the less light is necessary
  • growth is stimulated from 15 °C
  • shady location is suitable
  • Water moderately during the winter period, do not fertilize

tips and tricks

Cycads grow extremely slowly. Therefore, you should not risk frostbite and rather not put the plant to the test in terms of its minimum temperature.

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Trees