Thursday, 8 December 2016

How Growing Cycads Improves Soil Fertility

By Nancy Phillips


Gardens provide a sanctuary for people to relax and spend quality time. However, it is not easy to have a good garden unless one puts in a lot of effort, and that is why many would not bother to have one. Studies have shown that there are some plants that can be planted in the garden that require low maintenance, and Growing Cycads would be the way to go.

The fact that maintaining a garden is not an easy task makes people miss out on the benefits. That is why more and more people are including cycads in their gardens and homes, as they are very low maintenance. One just has to make sure that the cycads are planted in the right soil type as loose soils would not be able to hold them up, and soil with too much water will decay the roots of the plants.

As these plants grow slowly, it is important to make sure that their roots are not disturbed once they mature. This means that if they are being grown for the landscape, they should be transplanted when they are young. If they are being planted in the house, one should make sure that the plant never dries up, and watering should be done at least two times a week.

An important factor to keep in mind when growing the cycads is that there are several species of them, and each of them require different conditions in order to grow efficiently. People who have dealt with them before have understood the different species and how they behave to different conditions, and it is important to have this information so that plants are grown and cared for in the appropriate ways.

These plants can sometimes be used for food. However, there are specific species that can be used for food and these should be carefully researched. They may be used to feed poultry so chicken farmers are encouraged to grow some of the species. As much as they may be eaten, they should be consumed in reasonable amounts to eliminate developing side effects.

Other species are well known for their medicinal properties. Parts like stems and leaves may be gathered and used to make medical products. Young seeds can be collected and processed to produce oils which help in keeping the skin healthy. It is although important to know which types can make the medicines and it is also important to have a professional when making the medicines.

Sometimes, there are fibers on the leaves of some species which can be harvested and used to make pillow stuffing, make mattresses and in some instances clothes. The leaves themselves can be weaved to form hats and baskets that also fetch a reasonable price when sold, as well as being tough and durable.

This species of plants has also been known to have nitrogen-fixing properties in the soil that makes the soil more fertile and suitable for growing other plants. When matured, the big species can be cut down and their stems can be used as a building material. They are almost extinct so to save them from completely running put, more people should consider having them.




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