Will cactus soil be ok for cycads?

Question

I saw some cactus soil in B&Q and I wonder if it would be ok to use this for potting my cycad revoluta. I have little experience in gardening, not really sure how to find out what nutrients is contained soil and how to put it in. Please help.

Answer 1

I use cactus soil for most my house plants, as Cycads vary greatly in shape and size and grow in various climatic zones from rainforest to semi-desert....This seems to be a good enough reason.  Also your cycad revoluta, link here: http://www.pacsoa.org.au/cycads/Cycas/re...  can grow massive, may be talk to people at Kew Garden as well.

Cycads:  One of the oldest pot-plants in the world

Cycads are known as ‘living fossils’ because they have remained unchanged for millions of years. Study of the fossil record reveals that these plants flourished some 280-135 million years ago. They are scientifically important because they may represent a link in the evolution from ferns to flowering plants. They have been in decline perhaps ever since the flowering plants became dominant, some 100 million years ago. Most species are now rare.

Cycads vary greatly in shape and size and grow in various climatic zones from rainforest to semi-desert. They are all rather slow-growing and, like conifers, bear their reproductive organs in cones. Male and female cones are borne on separate plants. Half of the cycad species in the Palm House are threatened in the wild.

Although all parts of cycads are toxic, they can provide a food source for some communities, particularly in times of famine. The toxins are removed by careful boiling and washing before use.

See link:  http://www.kew.org/plants/cycads/index.h...

Answer 2

Cycads grow in the wild in very sandy soil so my guess is that cactus soil is probably okay. Or maybe just some sand....