Help With Two Old Sago Palms

Question

We have two sago palms about 40 years old – one is an offshoot of the parent. These are not the smaller Japanese types. For the last 4 years, both palms have not produced any new fronds. I was hoping for new fronds to cut all the old ones off and clean up the old flowers/seeds. They are both females and have produced about 3 flowers each during this time. This year I thought one was finally going to produce a full (50?) set of fronds. Instead, there are only about 8 new fronds but in middle is another flower. UGH! Is there anything I can do to push the sago into producing new fronds? I haven’t trimmed the old flowering material or the old fronds since they would look like two dead trunks sticking up. Maybe this is what I have to do I don’t know. Your advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

It would help to do some light pruning and clean things up. If you haven't been fertilizing, that may help, too. Here is more:

https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8039.pdf

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sago-palm/sago-palm-flower-removal.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sago-palm/prune-sago-palm.htm