Sago palms, with their long, feathery fronds, add a touch of tropical beauty to your home or garden. Sago palms are not true palms; they belong to the cycad genus of plants. When planted in the ground, sago palms grow up to 108 feet tall. If kept indoors as a bonsai, though, your sago palm will grow only a few feet tall. Sago palms grow slowly, with most plants putting out just three sets of leaves per year. A sago palm needs proper light, water and container space to grow as a healthy bonsai.
Place the sago palm bonsai on a windowsill or in a spot outdoors that receives three hours of sunlight or more per day. Avoid placing the bonsai beneath a vent or next to a fan, as the sago palm requires humidity, and these things can dry it out.
Move the sago palm indoors -- if you choose to keep it outdoors -- before your area's first frost. Move the bonsai outdoors in the spring when temperatures consistently reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Mist the sago palm bonsai's leaves several times per day to increase humidity. Alternatively, fill a shallow tray with water and pebbles and set the bonsai's container on top of the pebbles. The evaporating water provides humidity for the plant.
Water the bonsai when the first half-inch of the soil in its container feels dry. Provide water until it drips through the drainage holes and the soil feels moist. You may also place the bonsai's container in a sink filled with cool water and then allow the palm to absorb the water through the drainage holes. In warm weather, you may need to water once a week or more.
Fertilize the sago palm three to four times per year with a liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Water the bonsai before fertilizing and don't fertilize a bonsai that you just repotted. Wait three to four weeks after repotting to fertilize.
Watch for new leaf growth in the spring. Many sago palms put out a few leaf sets per year, but others put out leaves only every two years. New growth comes in around the bonsai's trunk. Rotate the palm one-quarter turn each day so each of the leaves receives adequate sun. When the leaves harden, you can stop turning the plant.
Look for pests on the sago palm several times per week. Scale and spider mites often attack bonsai. Inspect the plant for tiny insects or signs of infestation, such as a sticky coating on the leaves or black bumps on the branches. Spray the palm with a strong blast of water to knock off pests. Soapy water and insecticides also help kill pests.
Prune your sago palm throughout the year by cutting off brown, yellow or dead leaves as they appear. Remove unwanted leaf stalks by making smooth or concave cuts near the trunk base. To remove individual parts of a leaf, make cuts near the leaf's midrib.
Repot the bonsai when you see its roots growing outside the container. Use a pot that is slightly larger than the current container. Fill the container with clean, sandy soil.
Things You Will Need
- Spray bottle
- Pruning shears
- The sago palm doesn't need wire training like many other bonsai.
- The sago palm contains a toxic chemical called cycasin. This chemical is toxic to dogs, cats, horses and other domestic animals. It is found in the highest concentrations in the palm's seeds. Signs of animal poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, seizures and poor coordination. Take your pet to the vet immediately if you suspect poisoning. To avoid poisoning, keep the sago palm out of reach of animals.
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