Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Burrawang Palm (Macrozamia spiralis)
Also called Burrawang Palm, Burrawang, Spiralling Macrozamia.
More about burrawang palm
About Burrawang Palm
Macrozamia spiralis · also called Burrawang Palm, Burrawang · tropical
Macrozamia spiralis is a slow-growing Australian cycad native to coastal NSW, producing a short trunk and arching, dark-green fronds with spirally arranged leaflets. It tolerates dry, sandy soils and partial shade, making it a striking low-maintenance specimen for frost-free gardens. All parts are severely toxic to pets and humans.
Preferred mix: Sandy, free-draining loam
Watch for — 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 burrawang palm needs this mix
Burrawang Palm is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Burrawang Palm is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons burrawang palm struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates burrawang palm's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for burrawang palm.
pH — does it matter for burrawang palm?
Burrawang Palm is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for burrawang palm as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all burrawang palm needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh burrawang palm's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for burrawang palm covers the timing and technique step by step.
Burrawang Palm soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for burrawang palm?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Burrawang Palm is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for burrawang palm?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates burrawang palm's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for burrawang palm as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does burrawang palm need a special pH?
Burrawang Palm is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for burrawang palm?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for burrawang palm as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for burrawang palm?
Refresh burrawang palm's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all burrawang palm needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Burrawang Palm care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water burrawang palm — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting burrawang palm — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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