How do you kill scales on a sago palm?
Robert Young
Updated on April 25, 2026
Consequently, how do you get rid of scale on a sago palm?
Homeowner - 1) Wash the plant with a vigorous spray of water to clean off dead and live scales. 2) Apply a horticultural oil (Organocide, SunSpray oil, or Ultra-Fine oil) over the entire plant once a week for one month. 3) If plants are heavily infested, remove the leaves before treatment.
Likewise, how do you treat white fungus on sago palms? Controlling them takes persistence and thoroughness. You can spray with a horticultural oil (be careful to check the temperature restrictions) or Organicide, a chemical that is 95 percent fish oil. The oils are effective because they are able to coat the exterior of the scale insects and suffocate them.
One may also ask, how do you get rid of scales on your palms?
Typical treatment for palm scale is to repeatedly spray the palm tree leaves with horticultural oil or a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water mixed with some bleach-free dish soap. If you have the patience, you can paint straight rubbing alcohol onto each scale individually. Neem oil sprays may also help.
What is the white powder on sago palms?
Cycad scale – This sago palm problem isn't a disease, but the powdery white substance on the leaves may lead you to believe your palm has a fungal disease. Scale is actually a tiny white pest that can destroy a sago palm very quickly.