How to Remove Pups From Sago Palms

Sago palms are survivors of some of Earth's oldest seed-producing plants and belong to the cycad plant family. They are related to pine trees rather than palms, but are called palms because of their frond-like leaves. The sago palm is tropical and makes an attractive, low maintenance and long-lived houseplant. This plant forms offshoots, or "pups," at its base and sometimes along the trunk. Separating pups from the parent plant is one way to create more sago palms and is easier than propagating the plant from seeds.

Gloves
Knife
Trowel
Clippers
Soft brush
Perlite
Peat moss
River sand
Small pots

Instructions

- 1
  Search for pups along the trunk of your sago palm and also at its base. Leave them on the plant until late winter or early spring, which is when the plant is dormant.
- 2
  Break pups from the parent plant by hand or cut them with a sharp knife if they fail to snap off easily. If any of the pups have developed leaves or roots, cut them cleanly back to the pup after you free it from the plant.
- 3
  Place your pups in a sink or tub, fill it with water and then gently scrub off all soil and other substances with a soft brush. Store pups in a warm, dark, dry area for one week to allow the cut areas to dry.
- 4
  Make a potting mixture containing equal amounts of perlite, peat moss and river sand. Then fill small pots almost to the top with your mixture. Always use pots with drainage holes.
- 5
  Pot one pup in each pot. Plant pups by burying only their bottom half and then pack more planting medium around the base, pressing down lightly to secure them. Water well, until water runs out the drainage hole. Allow the potting mix to dry before you water your pup again. Expose your pups to strong filtered light and temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 6
  Repot pups into larger pots or into the garden after they develop two or three leaves.

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