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How to treat golden cane palms leaves turning brown and pest infestation?

Hi,

New to the community and very very new to caring for plants - in need of advice about our golden cane palms.

We bought these just over a month ago for our balcony for screening and decorative purposes. We repotted them and we think they’ve since established well. However, they all have some leaves that are turning brown and shriveling up (to varying extents, see photos) including on some of the new growth too. We’ve been cutting the stems of leaves that seem to be past the point of recovery. For context, our balcony gets really windy and pretty much sun almost all day. We picked golden canes in the hopes they can survive out there as I’ve read they’re very sturdy plants.

Are they just adjusting and is there a chance they’ll recover out there or is there possibly a different problem causing the browning? Is there anything we can do to help them adjust and thrive in those conditions? We’ve been regularly watering when the upper soil gets dry and keeping an eye on drainage. We’ve also had very harsh weather lately, which hasn’t helped - storms, extreme wind, extreme heat.

Also, another thing we noticed is one of the pots is infested with little black bugs. They look almost like ants, but can fly. Is this bad for the plant and what we can do? From research, it sounds like they might be fungal gnats?

Any advice is much appreciated!!

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Comments

EricL

Hello @chaz20

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your golden cane palms.

Your golden cane palms are definitely tough plants, but their current browning and shrivelling could be a mix of environmental stress and possible watering issues. Since your balcony is windy and gets full sun most of the day, the palms may be losing moisture quickly. Wind can dry out their fronds faster than usual, especially for newly transplanted plants that are still establishing their root systems.

To help them adjust, try placing them in a slightly more sheltered spot if possible or consider using a windbreak (like outdoor mesh or temporary screens) to reduce direct exposure.

Watering when the topsoil is dry is good, but in extreme heat or wind, they may need more frequent watering, ensuring the soil stays moist but not soggy. A soil wetter like Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter could help improve water retention in the potting mix.

For the browning fronds, trimming off only the fully dead parts is a good approach, but leave any partially green fronds intact, as they still contribute to the plant’s energy production. A slow-release palm fertilizer, like Osmocote Controlled Release Fertiliser for Pots & Planters, will help support strong growth.

The tiny flying black bugs in one of the pots are likely fungus gnats, which thrive in moist soil. They’re not directly harmful to the plant, but their larvae can feed on roots if they multiply too much. To reduce them, let the topsoil dry out slightly between watering, and consider using a product like Yates Gnat Barrier, a sand-based top dressing that helps stop larvae from developing.

With some adjustments, your golden cane palms should settle in and thrive. Keep an eye on their watering needs, especially during hot and windy spells, and they should become more resilient over time!

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

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