Golden Cane Problems...

[TomDunreedy]

Hi all,

We planted 3 Golden Canes in our garden bed about 1 year ago. All three were around 50-60 cm in height.
1 year later and 2 of them have only grown about 5-10cm and the other hardly any at all !
In the same garden bed (all up about 4 metres in width) we have a triangle palm planted at the same time in among the Golden Canes and this is booming !!
Can someone please give me some advice as to how I can get these Golden Canes up and running ?
It might be a soil issue but the Triangle Palm is flourishing right next to the palms....

The garden bed and plants gets sun about 75% of the day.

I give all the plants plenty of water.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[rod1949]

Tom, I'm no expert but I have a few Golden Canes along with several other varieties. Palms can be slow to start

I assume your's are in Perth sand?

When I plant a palm I dig a hole deep enough to intially place about 30ltrs of chicken poo in then cover with about 50mm of sand so the roots don't get burnt and then place the palm. I've never lost any palms.

Do you use a soil wetting agent? I use the granulated stuff... it works, and it has to be applied two or three times a year.

Do you mulch. All I've ever used are my lawn clippings. I've never brought any mulch type material, I think the course woody stuff is usless as it absorbs the water and the soil doesn't get any.

Do you fertilise. Every six months or so I give em a good dose of either NPK Blue and/or a good quality blood and bone.

You may find this link helpful http://www.pacsoa.org.au/index.html

[TomDunreedy]

thanks Rod.

Yes I guess it's pretty sandy soil....live in Northern suburbs of Perth. But it just baffles me as how one plant can grow well and the others don't.
I have the bark chips as mulch, have used a liquid soil wetter once....do you think the granulated ones are better ?
I must say I haven't fertilised the plant area - only the thirsty lawn !

I'll give fertilising a go.....but it's just a little frustrating wasting so much water on plants which seem to be dwarfs !

thanks

[Dirty Doogie]

Golden cane palms like a moisture holding soil and nutrients. 2 years ago I moved some golden canes out of a bed of very rich soil and planted them in slightly worked up silver dune sand but they just wont grow.

The triangle palm loves sandy soil.

[rod1949]

Tom,
I use the granuals cause they're a lot easier to apply... just sprinkle em around whereas the liquids in most cases need to be diluted and applied via a watering can etc.

Applying a wetting agent is not a once off. It needs to be applied on a regular basis. You can tell when to re-apply as the water will just bead around on the sandy surface.

[chromis]

thanks Rod.

But it just baffles me as how one plant can grow well and the others don't.

thanks

I cant back this up with further info but one day I'll find out or someone will know. There seems to be two growth patterns of golden canes.

1. Multi stemmed plant at various sizes with large frond

2. One large main steam with growth just at the top and a few other smaller stems that dont grow as large.

First one seems to grow quite fast. Second is very slow.

They can be side by side and still be very different in their growth habit..

Is this like yours?

[TomDunreedy]

my golden canes are 1. Multi stemmed plant at various sizes with large frond

Went to a Palm nursery on the weekend and the woman suggested I buy their Palm fertiliser (of course - sucked in), and to force my hose into the ground and pump it with water ! Apparently Golden Canes are very hungry plants that need constant fertilising (in perth at least). She then rambled on about the limestone in the soil etc...causing stunted growth....
She believes the fertiliser has an agent in it that breaks down this...

Will eventually post before and after photos of how they are today versus what they are in 6 months....

Thanks to everyone for their tips.

[rod1949]

Hey TomDunreedy,

If you want some instant Golden Cane palms then I have two of them about 2.5 metres high in 400 litre bags. You can have them for $1,000 ea.
Now this may seem hexxy but they are about 17 years old and up until 2 years ago they were in the ground but I had to dig them out due to house building work.

[TomDunreedy]

thanks Rod but I'm not in any rush for mature Golden Canes, simply wanted them to start growing and be healthy....and to work out why !

Thanks

[chromis]

Hey TomDunreedy,

If you want some instant Golden Cane palms then I have two of them about 2.5 metres high in 400 litre bags. You can have them for $1,000 ea.
Now this may seem hexxy but they are about 17 years old and up until 2 years ago they were in the ground but I had to dig them out due to house building work.

WOW !! You would think after 17 years they would be taller...Maybe they grow faster in Perth because canes of that size you can pick up for 200 or 300 each..