The Internet's Finest Tropical Fruit Discussion Forum!"All discussion content within the forum reflects the views of the individual participants and does not necessarily represent the views held by the Tropical Fruit Forum as an organization."
What did you plant, a rooted plant or stem cuttings (seed cane)? And what has your daily temperature been lately? Here in Florida my cane sits there without growing much at this time of year. A picture would help.
Quote from: LycheeLust on December 17, 2020, 03:15:02 PMAfter seeing your picture, I wonder if that is top rot/red rot. I did some reading about cane diseases, and top rot is supposed to be more common in rainy weather (this is the rainy season for you in Cali isn't it?). It kills the top on young cane or causes rot in the center of the stalk on older cane. I am guessing that the colder damp weather weakened the plant and made it susceptible to the disease. Since the papaya is doing well with the same care, I have a hard time thinking that the issue was due solely to a water or cold problem because sugarcane can survive drought and cold better than papaya in my experience. If it is rot, they reccomend burning the infected plant (or at least disposing of it off of your property) because the disease can be soil borne (don't compost or burry). You can give the plant some time to recover, but if it dies I would dig it up and throw it in the garbage to be on the safe side and then start fresh when the weather is more conducive.
I see other people in Cali posting about gophers. Is it possible that the roots on your cane were damaged by a gopher? We don't have them in Florida, but I have seen trees decline due to mole damage. Actually, I think the moles go after root weevils that caused the primary damage and then the mole tunnels create air pockets that dry the plant out and damage it further.