Enhancing Dioon growth

For cycad enthusiasts.

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Knnn
Clumping Palm
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Location: Central Kansas , USA ~ Zone 5

Enhancing Dioon growth

Post by Knnn »

Was trying a couple different things this year, just passing on the results.

Received this Dioon at the end of May,

Image


Found some deep containers and painted them black. These were placed in full sun with soil temps 2" down from the surface averaging between 100*F - 120*F. (These did get watered almost every day)

Had some nice growth over a 3-4 month period 8)

Image

Image



Steve


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patrick620
Sprout
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Location: Wichita, Ks.

Black containers

Post by patrick620 »

Hey, Steve. My two larger cycads are in black containers. One is a large commercial type pot and the other is in a 20 gal. black plastic trash can. At one time I was concerned that the blazing Kansas sun may "cook" the roots. We both know how intense the sun can be here in the summer. Anyway, they didn't seem to ever show any ill effects so I never decided to paint them white, or something to that effect. It's good to see that someone in the same area is experimenting with this issue. Your edule looks great btw.

Patrick
<img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c202/ ... w015-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
<img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c202/ ... w016-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
Happy growing.
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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

Patrick,
Thanks for the comments, your Sago looks good 8)
How is it doing now? from your previous post, wanted to mention that hail can also cause that type of spotting on the leaflets.

Steve
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Steve, nice healthy fleshy roots.
Your soil mix looks to be all topsoil...
I may have mixed too much gravel with mine, didn't get your results.

I was also worried mine would cook in its black pot; glad that's not the case.

Patrick, garbage cans are ONLY 20 gallons? :?

Barb
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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

Barb,
For these, used an off the shelf container mix, (Sta-Green from Lowes), with lots of Perlite added.

Steve
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lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
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Post by lucky1 »

Rather than continuing to make my own soil mix, think I'd better start buying it.
Will look for something comparable to yours.
I've been adding gravel for drainage (when I'm out of perlite), and it makes the pots so heavy.

Thanks.
Barb
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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

Just to show the growth rate, the circled area is the leaf base of the frond this arrived with last season. Had one flush last summer, then trimmed the old fronds before over wintering to help with space. (they were pretty beat up from shipping too)

Caudex seems to have picked up about an inch in height.


Image





Steve
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lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
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Post by lucky1 »

That picture certainly shows how a cycad caudex spreads and expands horizontally to allow new growth to emerge at top center.

I'll watch my D.spinulosum this year to see it "in person"
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

This one must be happy, put out three fronds last year, counted a total of 8 starting now 8)

Image



Steve
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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

Weather has been a bit cooler, but still moving along.

Image


This is the one from a few post ago, (that had the leaf base circled),


Image




Steve
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lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
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Post by lucky1 »

Eight fronds this year is a sign it loves its home!
Very nice.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
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ffeeddee
Seed
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Location: Italy

Post by ffeeddee »

My dioon edule's new flush is made of 10 new leaves this year !! It's 21 y.o. But it's rather small, I think it loves food, Sun and water. I cant post a picture now but you can search on flickr.com ffeeddee + dioon edule

ciao
Federico
Federico

Italy 8B
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Knnn
Clumping Palm
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Post by Knnn »

Federico, Great photos!


Steve
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