I'll be honest with you, they aren't easy in the "average" home. This species is quite prone to bad mealy bug infestations over the winter. The fuzzy undersides of their leaves seems to just invite them. I don't overwinter mine in the house as the warm and dry conditions really increase the chances of infestation. I keep mine in a frostfree but very cool garage that gets A LOT of winter sun. If you can keep it relatively COOL and humid over winter, it'll increase the chances of success. Good luck!

Thank you very much. I think I'll try it. It must be the most unique plant I've ever seen. Its even unlike other cycads !! To have a living fossil in the house from 260 million years ago is an amazing thing. If it can survive the changing conditions of the earth for that long, it can survive inside my house. (I hope).

Mulch the pot liberally with coffee grounds and the Zamia should be free of mealies. And as a bonus, the fresh aroma of coffee will be around every time you water.

Read an article here

What kind of Zamia is it?

xerophyte, thanks for the link.

Zamia furfuracea is one of my the most loved plants. I have it in my house for 5 years, it was bought as a small weak plant and now it's very strong and large. The most it loves is MUCH sun, because it's place of origine are cliffs around Mexican Gulf. I shouldn't say that it is fastidious. Usual soil, some fertilizers. 2 years ago one winter evening the near door suddenly opened when nobody was at home, outdoor was about -20 C, (I came within 2 hours) all the leaves certainly burned, but Zamia survived and gave new growth. I'm agree that it is very unique and exclusive plant.

I dont know about as a house plant but,for those in marginal climates or cool summers this is the only cycad species for me to flush more than once a year here in the bay area, Northern California. Maybe three times in a year in a half period." Flush" here could be two fronds at a time as my definition.It should be planted out much more often.

Any more recent discussions?

“Any more recent discussions?”

What else do you want to know?

They are extremely susceptible to mealy bugs indoors. Try to keep as cool as possible indoors. I have two at work with huge window in a western exposure, one looks fine, another is showing some yellowing. Keep on the drier side in the Winter. But in general, not easy. P.S., Neiither is Sago (C. revoluta) but those are cold tolerant and I overwinter those in my garage.

“Try to keep as cool as possible indoors.”

You don’t know what you’re talking about. They are native to the area around Acapulco, and grow well in Palm Springs. They love heat.

I have sold them for years to many customers who have no problems with them.

All cycads are susceptible to scale and mealybugs, but not any more than common house plants.

Sorry you are not successful with them.

“Try to keep as cool as possible indoors.”

You don’t know what you’re talking about. They are native to the area around Acapulco, and grow well in Palm Springs. They love heat.

I have sold them for years to many customers who have no problems with them.

All cycads are susceptible to scale and mealybugs, but not any more than common house plants.

Sorry you are not successful with them.

Sorry, but you are the clueless one. And YES, all cycads are prone to indoor pests under indoor conditions. Which is why, I over winter my cold hardier ones in my garage, been doing this for decades. MINE ARE HUGE! But in the house, they suffer. Cardboard palms are too tropical for my garage, this year I overwintered them at my work place and they did well, I keep my house warmer over winter.

One of 6, all large and healthy, over 35 years old, so I guess I may know something.

Indoors, under warm, dry, winter conditions, they will go into a decline. Zamia furfuracea is particularly prone to meally bugs, but mine, at work, looking STELLAR!

Your experience is just that, yours. You need to travel around the world and see Zamia furfuracea growing in many different situations and settings as I have.

I have grown hundreds of cycads of 17 species over the past 55 years, and sold many more at my nursery.

Have fun in your garage.

"Your experience is just that, yours. You need to travel around the world and see Zamia furfuracea growing in many different situations and settings as I have.

I have grown hundreds of cycads of 17 species over the past 55 years, and sold many more at my nursery. Have fun in your garage."

Not exactly sure what your issues are. My only point, is that as a "HOUSEPLANT", especially for those living where all cycads need to be overwintered indoors, that these are susceptible to mealy bugs. And in general, most all cycads are not great as INDOOR plants (be it for the winter season, or year round), which is why I overwinter my six large Cycas revoluta plants in a garage for three months, I also overwinter my Dioon edule and an Encephalartos in there without any issues. Zamia furfuracae is too tender for the garage, however, I have been successful overwintering two large ones in my work place this past winter (bright light and cooler winter temps than my house.), Cycads can also be quite prickly, and skin dermatitis also an issue with close contact. I am quite proud at my cycad collection, and YES, I DO, have fun in my garage, I just don' think cycads belong INSIDE any HOME.

“I just don' think cycads belong INSIDE any HOME.”

And you are alone in that opinion. Millions of people succeed with them as houseplants.

David, even if these plants are happy inside, they will want to be HUGE, and many people will have contact dermatitis with them. Just keep them out of the house. As far as being ALONE, there are any number of postings here from the tropics and subtropics the world over, of people who refuse to grow them OUTSIDE due to issues of TOXICITY. I respect them, not nearly as phobic of them as many posters are here! P.S., Will be transplanting and feeding all my cycads tomorrow, including two Cardboard palms (Zamia furfuracae).