HOUSEPLANTS > DIEFFENBACHIA

IN THIS GUIDE

DIEFFENBACHIA GUIDES

oval green and cream variegated leaves from a dieffenbachia plant growing inside

Dieffenbachia is a big genus of tropical plants , a smattering of which are commonly turn as houseplants in temperate mood zones .

If you are looking for a in particular down in the mouth - care houseplant , then there are easier options to grow .

However , if you are look to exposit your collection of leaf plant to grow indoors , then dieffenbachia could tender some good options to reckon .

dumb cane plant with green and cream variegation on the leaves growing inside

These houseplants are esteem for their large glossy leaves which furnish plenty of ocular interest even though the plants do not tend to flower in temperate climate cultivation .

Overview

PreferredBright , Indirect Sunlight

ExposureSheltered

Height1 – 1.5 M

birds eye view of a potted dieffenbachia amoena plant on a table seat

Spread0.5 – 1 M

PreferredMost fertile land

MoistureMoist but well - drained

green and white speckled leaves of D. maculata

pHAny

Dieffenbachia species George Ellery Hale from the tropics of Central and South America , where they exist in tropical rainwater forests.1Dumb cane . ( 2023 , February 10 ) . Encyclopedia Britannica . Retrieved March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.britannica.com/plant/dumb-cane

Since they naturally live in the dappled , sub - canopy shadiness , they can cope well with the somewhat low clear levels found inside our homes .

dumb cane ‘camile’ variety growing from a large ceramic planter

Common Varieties

There are many different species within this genus , but only a smattering are typically commercially useable for plate growers .

Some commonly grown as houseplants and available for sale in the UK are :

Dieffenbachia Plant Care

Dieffenbachias are not particularly take exception to grow indoors , but are a little fussy when it come to the specific growing necessity .

Dieffenbachia needs a smear with bright but indirect light .

The lineal hot sun can scorch the leaves and get browned maculation , but too small brightness level can leave the foliage all washed out and plants may arise poorly .

huge leaves of potted D. seguine ‘Reflector’

Dieffenbachia should be potted up into containers that drain well and freely , filled with a peat - costless loam or territory - based potting mixture which is light and aerated .

Choose container just a little larger than the rootball of the plant .

Between spring and autumn , body of water dieffenbachia whenever the top few centimetre of the potting mix feel juiceless .

dumb cane with green and yellow variegated leaves growing on a windowsill with a mister full of water next to it

ensure that any excess water can debilitate aside freely .

In wintertime , water meagerly .

Dieffenbachia are tropic rainforest plants , think that they need warm and humid conditions to thrive .

potted Dieffenbachia plant growing indoors being watered by a black watering can

Ideally , temperature should be kept between 18 - 24 ° C at all times , and any draughts and uttermost temperature fluctuations should be avoided .

Wipe the foliage with a damp material to keep them dust devoid and befog them a couple of times a week to keep humidness .

Dieffenbachia will appreciate a balanced , organic liquid plant provender once a month over the leap and summer months .

magnified view of tiny red spider mites on the surface of a green and cream coloured Dieffenbachia leaf

Other than removing the leftover leaf that has become damage or has yellowed , pruning is not generally demand .

Dieffenbachia should usually be repotted in spring every 2 - 3 years , or once the plant has become root recoil within the previous pot .

The most vulgar problems with dieffenbachias arise because the appropriate environmental conditions have not been provided or because there has been a mistake in the watering routine .

dumb cane seedling with green leaves spotted with cream growing from an outdoor plant pot

Like other houseplant , dieffenbachia can also commonly see way out with graduated table insects , spider mitesormealybugs .

These plants can be distribute by means of section of matured plants .

just split the plant cautiously , ready sure that there are roots for each surgical incision and repot each sectionalization into its own pot .

If you have a plant which has grown leggy and tall , you’re able to also cut it down to the desire height .

The remaining portion will regrow from the full point where it was trim back and if you replant the top section that you cut off into a new potful , it should root and create a fresh plant .

References