Troubleshooting
Burrawang Palm problems — and how to fix them
Burrawang Palm (Macrozamia spiralis) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Root rot
Caused by overwatering or poorly drained soil. Symptoms include yellowing fronds and a soft, mushy caudex base. Remove affected roots, dust with fungicide, and repot into dry, free-draining mix. Allow the plant to dry before resuming watering.
Scale insects
Brown or white scale can colonise the undersides of leaflets and along the rachis. Treat with horticultural oil or a systemic insecticide labelled for cycads. Inspect new flushes carefully as they are most vulnerable.
Manganese deficiency
New fronds emerge yellow or with interveinal chlorosis — common in cycads grown in alkaline soils or containers. Apply a chelated manganese supplement or a cycad-specific micronutrient spray.
Prevent burrawang palm problems before they start
Most burrawang palm issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for burrawang palm in general rather than its problems? Read the full burrawang palm care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Burrawang Palm problems — FAQ
Why is my burrawang palm root rot?
Caused by overwatering or poorly drained soil. Symptoms include yellowing fronds and a soft, mushy caudex base. Remove affected roots, dust with fungicide, and repot into dry, free-draining mix. Allow the plant to dry before resuming watering.
Why is my burrawang palm scale insects?
Brown or white scale can colonise the undersides of leaflets and along the rachis. Treat with horticultural oil or a systemic insecticide labelled for cycads. Inspect new flushes carefully as they are most vulnerable.
Why is my burrawang palm manganese deficiency?
New fronds emerge yellow or with interveinal chlorosis — common in cycads grown in alkaline soils or containers. Apply a chelated manganese supplement or a cycad-specific micronutrient spray.