Cultivation methods and precautions of Mexican iron tree

The Mexican cycad is a perennial evergreen woody plant with pinnate leaflets arranged opposite each other. The leaflets are oblong, evergreen and lush all year round, and have high ornamental value. Here are some tips on growing and maintaining Mexican cycads.

1. Pot soil

When raising the Mexican cycad, you need to prepare loose, fertile, sandy soil with good drainage and air permeability. You can fully mix garden soil, leaf mold, peat soil, and river sand to make a suitable cultivation medium , and choose a flower pot with a pore diameter of 12-25 cm as a container.

2. Temperature

The Mexican cycad prefers a warm environment and is slightly cold-resistant. The most suitable growth temperature is 16°C-28°C. The plant needs to be shaded and cooled in the hot summer. In northern regions, it needs to be moved indoors in winter and the room temperature must be kept above 5°C to safely overwinter.

3. Lighting

The Mexican cycad prefers an environment with plenty of sunlight and avoids strong exposure to the sun. The plant needs to be placed in a cool and ventilated place in the hot summer. It can be given sufficient light in other seasons. Severe lack of light will cause the leaves to turn yellow and lose their luster, affecting its normal growth.

4. Moisture

The Mexican cycad prefers a humid growing environment, is drought-resistant and avoids waterlogging. In the peak growth season of the plant in spring and summer, the potting soil should be kept moist. In winter, watering should be controlled. Wait until the potting soil is dry before watering to avoid root rot due to waterlogging in the potting soil.

5. Fertilization

The Mexican cycad likes fertilizer, but avoids raw fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer. During the vigorous growth period of the plant, it can be applied with thin cake fertilizer water or organic granular compound fertilizer once a month. The growth stagnates in winter and fertilization should be stopped.

6. Notes

During the maintenance of the Mexican cycad, pay attention to turning the soil once a month to ensure that the roots have enough space to grow and avoid water accumulation in the pot. Repot the plant once in April every year to prevent the soil from becoming compacted. When scale insects are found, spray 1% ferrous sulfate in time for treatment.

That’s it