Root rot is seen in Majesty Palm whose roots are exposed to waterlogged conditions for a long time. Root rot is caused by a fungal pathogen. Infected roots turn brown and mushy.
Majesty palm is grown popularly indoors. The plant can grow super tall if you grow it in your garden (up to 98 feet).
Majesty Palm can take a lot of water but that doesn’t mean it’ll drink any amount of water. Overwatering leads to a lot of problems.
What does an Overwatered Majesty Palm look like?
Your Majesty Palm’s fronds develop brown tips if it has been overwatered for a long time. The fronds might turn brown completely over time.
The fronds become droopy if they get more water than needed. These are the primary signs of overwatering in Majesty Palm.
If Majesty Palm sits in waterlogged conditions for a long time, fungal pathogens infect the plant.
Should I cut the brown tips off my majesty palm?
Yes, one can cut off the brown fronds using a pair of pruning shears. Do this as soon as you see such fronds.
By doing this the plant looks a lot better. You’ll also be promoting new frond growth by cutting off the unhealthy ones.
Sterilize the pair of pruning shears after using them on an infected plant to prevent spreading it to the other plants.
Can you overwater a Majesty Palm?
No, don’t overwater your Majesty Palm. Overwatering leads to a variety of diseases like root rot, trunk rot, etc.
Overwatering creates waterlogged conditions. One needs to water their Majesty Palm consciously to avoid running into fungal infections.
Majesty Palm does allow some room for error but this doesn’t mean you can overdo it.
Be mindful when watering your Majesty Palm and if possible, get a watering schedule/calendar to monitor the watering frequency/amount.
How often should a Majesty Palm be watered?
Water your Majesty Palm once or twice a week for the best results. I’ve been following this schedule for years now and it works for me.
You may want to change the frequency/amount of water according to the external conditions/season.
Water your Majesty Palm if the soil is dry up to an inch. Overall, the soil should be slightly moist not soggy or bone dry even.
One needs to find the sweet spot if you want your Majesty Palm to thrive.
You can check the soil moisture with bare fingers if needed. Water only when the soil goes dry up to an inch. You may use a soil moisture meter to see if your plant needs to be watered.
Majesty Palm Root Rot
Root rot is seen in Majesty Palm when the plant gets more water than it needs. Waterlogged conditions suffocate the roots and pave way for fungal infections.
Phytophthora is the most common fungal pathogen that causes root rot in plants.
How do you know if your Majesty Palm has Root Rot?
Fronds turn brown in the initial stages of root rot. The tips turn brown first, eventually, the whole fronds turn brown.
The fronds become wilted/droopy. Dark spots are seen on the Majesty Palm’s fronds. The affected plant gets stunted.
Infected Majesty Palm’s roots become brown and mushy. Healthy roots should be white. So, you can confirm root rot by taking a look at the roots.
If you remove the topsoil carefully you can see the mushy, brown roots if the infection is severe.
Can you save a Majesty Palm with root rot?
Yes, you can save your Majesty Palm if you identify overwatering symptoms early on. You just need to act before the fungi take over.
You need to respond as soon as you see brown fronds on your Majesty Palm. This is the first sign of overwatering.
As soon as you see brown fronds, check the rootball. Are the roots brown and mushy? If yes, stop watering right away!
How to treat root rot in Majesty Palm?
Below are some instructions to control root rot in Majesty Palm. Follow these and you might save your Majesty Palm yet.
- Stop watering your Majesty Palm if you diagnose the problem as root rot/overwatering.
- Mix one part 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution in two parts of water and take it into a sprayer/container.
- Take off the plant from the pot/ground. Spray this gently on the infected roots of your Majesty Palm to eliminate the disease-causing fungi.
- Cut off the brown, mushy roots using a sterilized pair of pruning shears.
- Re-plant your Majesty Palm in a new pot with fresh soil.
- Make sure the potting mix/soil drains excess water efficiently. If not, add some Perlite to it. Ensure the pot has drain holes.
- Sterilize the new pot too. Apply appropriate fungicide on the roots of your Majesty palm.
- Treat your Majesty palm with fungicide fortnightly to avoid future fungal infections. I advise doing it for two or three months.
Tip: If your Majesty palm got infected severely, dig it out and dispose of the plant and the soil around it.
What soil should I use for my Majesty Palm?
Majesty Palm thrives in a soil/potting mix that drains excess water efficiently. Heavy, clay soil holds too much water.
You may want to use a potting mix that’s labeled for use cacti plant use. Amend cacti potting mix by adding peat moss to it.
Don’t ever plant your Majestic palm in plain garden soil. You don’t know what is in the soil, it might be too heavy for the plant.
You can check the draining ability of the soil/potting mix by measuring the rate at which it absorbs the water. Make a pit and pour a certain amount of water.
Take the regular potting mix and add Perlite to it. Add some peat moss to it. Adjust the proportions based on your needs.
Alternatively, you can buy the Palm & Citrus potting mix from Miracle-Gro. I’ve heard it does the job well.
Happy Gardening 🙂