Cycad From Seed

Garden World horticulturist JJ van Rensburg answers all your gardening queries

13 March 2015

Reader’s Question
My cycads have been setting seed for quite a while, but they’re dry to the touch and very loose. Can I plant the seed and, if so, how? Do I need a separate permit for the seed?

JJ’s Answer
I wouldn’t get a permit until the seedlings start to grow. Clean the seed and immerse it in a bucket of water for about three days. Allow it to dry and then place it in water again; see if it floats or sinks. If the seed sinks, it should be fertile; if it floats, it won’t germinate. Plant the seed in a warm spot in dappled shade and wait for it to germinate before acquiring a permit.

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