Sprouting and growing a sago palm seed may not be as difficult as obtaining one, unless you happen to have both a male and a female sago palm or have access to a palm with seeds. If you do not have access to fresh sago palm seeds, then it may be possible to purchase them online. If grown outdoors, sago palms grow best in hardiness zones 8 through 10. While sago palms can be grown indoors in containers for several years, eventually the tree will outgrow all containers and need to be planted outdoors.
Collect or buy ripe sago palm seeds. The seeds should be large, about the size of a walnut, with a bright orange skin. The skin should be somewhat dry in texture.
Soak the seeds for 48 hours in water. Discard any tiny seeds or seeds that float. Change the soaking water at least twice each day to keep it clean and fresh.
Remove the orange skin from the seeds with gloved fingers after the seeds have soaked for 48 hours. Wear gloves to prevent the orange seed-skin from staining your skin. Allow the seeds to dry on a paper towel for 24 to 48 hours.
Fill a deep (5 to 6 inches deep) growing tray with a combination of 50 percent perlite and 50 percent peat moss. Make sure there are drain holes in the growing tray. Dampen the growing mixture.
Plant the seeds on their side (not tip down), so the flat side of the seed just shows above the top of your planting soil. Plant seeds approximately 2 inches apart.
Water the seeds gently to prevent them from being disturbed. Keep the growing medium damp but not soggy. Keep the tray in a well-lit area and keep warm-70 to 85 degrees F-but do not place in direct sun.
Once seedlings are approximately 3 to 4 inches tall, replant into 4-inch pots filled with a mix of perlite and peat moss with approximately 10 percent sand.