Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens – Plant Care Tips

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Introduction

Lush and air purifying, the Golden Cane Palm is one of the most popular and attractive palms with golden stems and yellow-green fronds. Also known as the Butterfly Palm, it is hardy, very adaptable and in Tropical climates it can be grown in full sun to part shade or in a bright spots indoors. It will help to bring any corner to life with a touch of natural and tropical vibes. With their dense multiple trunk form, they also offer a thick screen from base to their top, making them ideal to separate spaces.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Soil & Drainage

Growing Golden cane palms as a houseplant, although not particularly fussy and it will do ok in a general or premium potting mix, it will fully thrive in a peat-based and slightly acidic soil with pH levels between 6.2-7.0. Make sure the soil is well-drained since the roots of the tree are prone to root rot in wet or waterlogged soil.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Lighting & Position

Place your golden cane palm in a well-lit position where it will get plenty of bright natural light. It looks great beside your entertainment unit or next to a sofa or in front of a window. These are versatile décor pieces, just avoid placing in very dark spots, where their growth will be slow or the plant can suffer. To make it happy and lush make sure it’s getting enough bright, bright, bright light! It can easily handle some direct morning sun making them ideal as a balcony plant or in a window with an Easterly orientation.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Water the soil thoroughly and wait for the water drain through. Let the top of the soil slightly dry between watering is ideal. Allow the top 2 inches of the soil to dry out completely between watering and cut back on watering during fall and winter. Bottom watering can also be a good option, especially when starting out to see the rate at which it drinks. Water more heavily and frequently during the hotter months to encourage good growth.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Humidity

Like any tropical tree, Golden cane palm prefers average to warm environments with high humidity. It should be given regular misting, especially during the winter if the humidity is exceptionally dry. Keep away from drafts of hot and cold air that can harm the plant.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Fertiliser

Golden cane palm is a heavy feeder. Feed it with a slow-release fertilizer during the growing season. To encourage faster growth rate use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

We recommend using our Plant Food available here. 

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Pruning

Golden cane palm is a low-maintenance plant that can grow to about 10 feet. It can be a slow grower, so you won’t need to be extra vigilant for any wayward fronds or worry about the palm growing out of control. Occasionally, you’ll need to remove dead leaves or a damaged one. Other than that, the palm maintains its natural shape without much help from your pruning shear.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Toxicity

Golden cane palm, like most palms is not known to have any toxic properties making it safe around children and pets.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Vulnerability to Pests & Disease

The most common issue is leaf tip burn, it’s a sign that the plant is stressed due to overwatering, a drop in temperature or dry soil. Adjusting your watering patterns and ensuring the temperature doesn’t drop to 12 C will fix the problem. Overwatering can also cause a fungal infection called pink rot. The crown of the palm gets covered in pink growths that contain the spores of the fungus. You’ll need to remove any infected fronds and repot the palm. Mealybugs is another common pest that enjoys the dozens of Golden Cane trunks and fronds which offer an abundant number of hiding places. 

For more information on how to manage common plant pests, head to our blog here.

Golden Cane Palm – Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Extra Tip

The golden cane palm root system doesn’t mind being enclosed in tight containers, so being root bound is not a huge problem for the Golden Cane Palm, so regular repotting is not a requirement.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Design Tips

With their iconic yellow trunks, Golden Cane Palms can look great in darker pots like charcoal or metal grey, but can also look striking in black or a complimentary colour like dark blue. Terracotta Pots can work well complimenting their green foliage and white is a safe option that looks great with most plants. Plants like Persian Shield with their metallic purple can be a good accompanying plant that pops off the yellow background. Golden Canes are also great for growing in a trough formation to create a dense tropical screen to separate spaces such as in offices or restaurant waiting areas.

Golden Cane Palm – Dypsis lutescens Propagation

The Golden cane palm keeps forming clumps as it grows, so the best way to propagate is undoubtedly by gently dividing the plant when repotting.

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