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There are a variety of cultivars available, most with variegated white and green, cream and green, or all-green leaves that can be speckled, splotched, or loosely striped. Primarily grown for foliage, dieffenbachia rarely flowers, but when it does, the bloom looks a bit like a peace lily.
How much sunlight does a dieffenbachia need?
Planting and Care Dieffenbachia prefers diffused sunlight or partial shade, but will tolerate full shade, which is why it is well-suited as a houseplant. It thrives in temperatures between 60 and 75°F. Your dieffenbachia should be watered regularly, with soil being allowed to dry between waterings.
How often should you water a dieffenbachia plant?
Common Problem: If the leaves of your Dumb Cane plant are turning brown or the stem is discolored and soft, this means you are overwatering your plant. Solution: To avoid this problem, we recommend that you water your Dumb Cane plant once or twice a week, depending on its size.
How do you care for a dieffenbachia plant?
Dieffenbachia prefer soil that is consistently and lightly moist, but not soggy. Generally, aim to water when the top 1”- 2” of the soil is dry, but if the plant is in a lower light condition, it can comfortably dry out a little further.
How do you identify dieffenbachia?
Dieffenbachia is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with thick stems that reach four to six feet in height. The simple, ovate, evergreen leaves are alternate and eight to twelve inches long. There are many cultivars available ranging from green leaves to yellow leaves with splotches of creamy white or yellow.
Can dieffenbachia be planted outside?
Dieffenbachia is a tropical plant that grows well indoors in lots of indirect light. It can tolerate low light, but its growth will slow dramatically. Gardeners living in zones 11 and 12 can grow dieffenbachia outdoors in partial shade, where it makes a great landscape plant.
When should I repot my dieffenbachia?
Upon purchasing, if the pot is too small, proceed to repot so that the plant may grow adequately. After that, every 2 or 3 years and preferably in spring, repot your dieffenbachia in a pot of a slightly larger size.
What kind of soil does dieffenbachia need?
Dieffenbachia is best grown as an indoor plant in bright, indirect sunlight. Plant it in fertile, well-drained potting soil with a high peat content. As a tropical plant, it will do best in high humidity. One way to provide this is to place the pot on a tray of pebbles that is kept wet.
How big will a dieffenbachia plant get?
Height/Spread. Most dieffenbachias will grow from 3 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide. Individual leaves can be 18 inches long by 12 inches wide.
Why are dieffenbachia leaves turning yellow?
Insufficient Sunlight Exposure to too much sun can cause a plant leaf to turn yellow and droop. Before you know it, all the leaves will turn yellow. If your plant is placed in the middle of the room away from a light source, it’s best to move it to the window sill, where it can get direct sunlight during the day.
Do dieffenbachia plants bloom?
Dieffenbachia has a unique type of flower; a spathe and spadix make up the inflorescence (imperfect bloom). The spathe is green and often resembles an unfolding leaf. The male flowers are near the tip of the spadix and the female flowers occur at the base. The flowers are insect pollinated.
Is dieffenbachia an air purifier?
Dieffenbachia. Ideal for creating a tropical look, dieffenbachia (sometimes called dumb cane because its poisonous leaves contain a substance that can temporarily numb the vocal cords if consumed) offers lush foliage that takes toxins out of the air, so your family can breathe easier.
Are dieffenbachia poisonous to dogs?
Dieffenbachia is generally known as Dumb Cane, Exotica or Tropic Snow and it’s poisonous to both dogs and cats. This plant’s harmful toxins can result in burning/swelling of the mouth and tongue as well as difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and increased salivation.
Is Elephant ear a dieffenbachia?
The Dieffenbachia plant or “dumb cane” or “elephant’s ear” is a plant native to Latin American countries and popularly used as an ornamental plant in homes. There have been cases of accidental ingestion of the stem, leaves or resin exuding from the cut stem due to its resemblance to sugarcane.
How can you tell the difference between aglaonema and dieffenbachia?
Dieffenbachia mostly have a leave pattern where the inside of the leaf is a lighter shade or color than the outer edges where as aglaonemas tend to have a variety of bold patterns to their leaves. Aglaonema only grow to be a few feet high and tend to look like bushy plants.
Is dieffenbachia poisonous?
Dieffenbachia plants are known by several common names, such as “dumb cane” and “mother-in-law’s tongue,” which describe their toxicity when this plant is ingested. Both Dieffenbachia and Philodendron contain calcium oxalate, which can cause toxicity when the plant is handled improperly or eaten.
Why is my dieffenbachia falling over?
If you have a leggy dumb cane plant, or dieffenbachia, the plant is likely stressed — growing tall and stretched rather than developing healthy, robust stalks. The dieffenbachia may fall over. Try repotting it, fertilizing, and placing it in a sunny location.
How do you keep dieffenbachia from getting leggy?
To keep dieffenbachia from growing leggy, pinch or prune out the new growth at the top regularly. Pruning out new top growth like this will encourage your plant to grow bushier, and stay more compact. What is this? If your dumb cane has grown tall and leggy, you can top the plant, or cut it back anywhere on the stem.
