Sago Palm mutation

[Insect]

So I got this one from Lowes like 5 yrs ago. It died because of their closed pot, drowned, etc. I brought it back to life with hardly a root ball in 2018, indoor, grow lighting, proper soil drainage setup. There was a sudden growth of these two shoots, in a few days, really fast, now it is growing the 2 slowly, no others. I actually think it looks more interesting as a mutant than a typical with like 8 short shoots. Any idea as to the science behind such a change? For example coniferous plants tie each root to a branch, maybe similar? Idk, I would like to understand it better.

 

[Mike Hennigan]

My guess is that is trying to compensate for its total lack of foliage and poor health by making the largest leaves possble. I feel like I see a similar thing on some trees after I do a big trunk chop. They throw out some really large leaves as kind of an emergency response, it seems.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I agree with Mike H. Indoors light is lower than outdoors, so they grow larger, softer leaves. Also this is a young sago. As it grows and matures it will produce more fronds at a time.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

They do not like their roots disturbed. When root pruned, often they will drop all foliage after being repotted, sit dormant for as much as a year, then start growing again. Go as many years as possible without repotting.

 

[penumbra]

I have seen many sago looking like this in Lowes because of poor lighting. It's not a good thing.

 

[sorce]

I was amazed at how palms grow like elms down in SC. In every crack.

Seems they would put growth out like that to get photosynthesizing leaf area up above ground plants.

A "juvenile" foilage sent to regrow roots which will feed regular growth.

Sorce