Anyone who decides to buy a cycad should think through this decision carefully. These plants are considered to be high-maintenance and sensitive. They like to show their tender side, especially when faced with frost
Which cycad species are hardy?
Some hardy cycad species are Cycas media (-3°C), Cycas panzhihuaensis (-16°C), Cycas revoluta (-8°C), Dioon argenteum (-4°C), Macrozamia stenomera (-10 °C), Macrozamia diplomera (-8°C), Macrozamia platyrhachis (-8°C), Macrozamia macdonnellii (-6°C) and Macrozamia longispina (-4°C).
Very few cycad species are well hardy
Most cycad species originally come from the warm tropical regions of the world. Since they don't experience frost there, they can't tolerate sub-zero temperatures here either. Even 0 °C can mean the imminent end of some cycads. But there are also extremely sensitive specialists who get frostbite at temperatures around 5 °C. Other cycad species are a little more robust
Nurseries offer frost-hardy cycads
In some nurseries and online stores, cycad species are sold 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) (hardiest 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
Did you buy 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 overwintering outdoors is not worthwhile, the cycad should be quartered at home.
This should be taken into account:
- move in from the end of September/October
- Palm fern in a cool room e.g. E.g. winter garden, bedroom, stairwell
- ideal room temperatures for wintering: 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 wintering period, do not fertilize
Tips & Tricks
Cycads grow extremely slowly. Therefore, you should not risk frostbite and should not put the plant to the test in terms of its minimum temperature.
