tips of leaves browning, in full afternoon sun, only watered by rain, 20-30 yes old
Hi @gab666,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.
It’s a bit hard to pinpoint the exact cause without seeing the base of the plant, so a couple of questions that will help narrow it down. What does the trunk and soil around the base look like, is there any sign of rot, softness, or pests? Is it planted directly in the ground or in a raised bed and how well does that area drain after rain? Have there been any recent changes like nearby construction, soil disturbance, or changes in sunlight exposure?
Browning tips on cycads are often linked to a combination of environmental stress and nutrient availability. Being in full afternoon sun can be quite harsh, especially if it’s only relying on rainfall, so it may be experiencing some heat and moisture stress. Giving it a deep, occasional soak during dry periods can help, rather than leaving it entirely to rainfall.
It’s also worth considering feeding it with a slow-release fertiliser such as this https://www.bunnings.com.au/scotts-osmocote-500g-all-purpose-controlled-release-fertiliser-500g_p2961299 , as deficiencies, particularly in potassium or magnesium, can show up as discolouration on the leaves.
You should also make sure the soil is free draining, as cycads don’t like to sit in wet conditions, but they also won’t thrive if they’re constantly too dry. Mixing compost in with the soil at the base of the tree can help to add nutrients to the soil and promote beneficial insects, which will in turn dig through the soil, aerating it and improving drainage.
Finally, check the older fronds versus the newer growth. If it's mainly older leaves browning off, that can be part of the natural lifecycle, but if the newer growth is affected as well, it’s more likely to be stress related and worth addressing with watering, feeding, and checking overall conditions.
Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/how-to-grow-and-care-for-a-cycad for some further guidance on how to care for your cycad.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Jacob
Thanks Jacob. They’re in the ground, the bases are pretty dry and ive given them an all purpose fert recently. It’s sounding like heat stress….
If there are no other visible issues, then I'd say it's a lack of water in which case I'd suggest you give them a good drink once a week and then monitor them.
If anything changes, we can certainly look at it, but it doesn't sound like there are any other visible issues.
Let me know what you think.
