Care guides › Indoor garden › Golden cane palm
Golden cane palm care in Melbourne
Dypsis lutescens · Safe for cats and dogs
Feathery fronds on golden canes; likes bright rooms. Here is how much light it wants, which windows suit it, and how often to water it through a Melbourne year.

- LightMedium light to bright, out of direct sun
- WaterEvery 7 days in summerEvery 12 in winter. Water when the top 3 cm of soil are dry, until it drains out the bottom.
- FeedEvery 4 weeks, Oct to MarLiquid feed at half strength. Nothing over winter.
- AirOrdinary room airNo misting needed.
Which window suits a golden cane palm
In Melbourne the sun sits to the north, so north windows are the brightest and south the softest. Where it does well, by window and distance from the glass:
-
North-facing window
2.5 h of sun in summer · 9 h in winterOn the sillToo sunny1-2 m backGoodFar sideGood -
East-facing window
5.5 h of sun in summer · 3.5 h in winterOn the sillToo sunny1-2 m backGoodFar sideGood -
South-facing window
1.5 h of sun in summer · 0 h in winterOn the sillGood1-2 m backGoodFar sideToo dark -
West-facing window
5.5 h of sun in summer · 3.5 h in winterOn the sillToo sunny1-2 m backGoodFar sideGood
A Melbourne year with a golden cane palm
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water every | 7d | 7d | 7d | 12d | 12d | 12d | 12d | 12d | 12d | 7d | 7d | 7d |
| Feed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Repot check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
If something looks wrong
Yellow lower leaves and wet soil
Too much water. Let the top of the soil dry before the next drink; in winter that is about every 12 days.
Pale or scorched patches
Direct sun through glass. Move it 1-2 m back from the window, or behind a sheer curtain.
Leaning towards the window
It grows towards the light. A quarter turn every two weeks keeps it even.
Fine webbing or white fluff under the leaves
Spider mite or mealybug, most often as the weather warms. Wipe it off and check again in a week.
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