This popular houseplant does n’t need much upkeep for its lush foliage to look beautiful .
BHG / Juli Lopez - Castillo
Dieffenbachia ( often called dense cane or mother - in - legal philosophy ’s tongue ) is a popular houseplant grown for its large , flashy leaves . These perennials are broadly green with splashes or splodge of creamy white , although cultivars have expanded the palette to include lily-livered . Hardy inZones 10 - 11 , this industrial plant can grow large open air in the right tropic setting ( up to 10 feet tall in its aboriginal Brazil ) but rarely surmount 3 foot tall as a houseplant . As the low leaf naturally drop off over time , the plant ’s canelike stems become visible .
Credit:BHG / Juli Lopez-Castillo
The leaves , roots , sap , and stalk of dieffenbachia are toxic to man and pets . Avoid handle the plant life without glove , and wash your hands after affect it .
Where to Plant Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is native to the tropical regions of the Americas , admit Mexico , South America , Central America , and the Caribbean . It can grow up to 10 feet tall in its rude habitat , but when grown as a houseplant — as most people do — dieffenbachia typically reaches only 1 to 3 foot improbable . In Zones 10 and warmer , It can grow outdoors . In these strong climates , dieffenbachia is best befit for a shade garden where it can have aegis from harsh sunlight .
In most climates , dieffenbachia make an excellent houseplant because it does n’t need much sun . Just place it in a north- or eastern United States - facing windowpane with morning time Sunday vulnerability where it will be protect from draught and vents . If you only have south- or Mae West - facing windows , habituate a gauzy curtain to diffuse the sunlight exposure .
How and When to Plant Dieffenbachia
Since dieffenbachia is native to tropic realm , it thrives in most indoor temperature . It can be grown at any time of year indoors if your infinite is kept between 60 ° F and 75 ° F and has moderate - to - gamy humidity . you could take vantage of dieffenbachia ’s natural growing season ( from March to October ) by plant in the spring .
works dieffenbachia outdoors in the spring in Zones 10 and warmer by preparing a hole approximately twice the size of it of the plant ’s root lump and mixing in someblood meal and pearl repast . Place the flora in the yap and backfill it with territory , gently tamping it down as you work . Water the genus Dieffenbachia well and keep the grease moist but not soggy as the flora build itself . you may add alayer of organic mulchto aid the grunge retain moisture .
Dieffenbachia Care Tips
Dieffenbachia does n’t involve much care to thrive . It needs minimal light and occasional watering .
Light
Although it tolerate low light , it does well inbright , collateral lightwith protection from sunlight . Filtered light is especially important in the spring and summer when dieffenbachia is putting out new leaves , which may suffer from sunburn if exposed to bright light that shines directly on the works .
Soil and Water
If planting your genus Dieffenbachia outdoors , look for a pip with prolific , moist , well - drain , grunge with a pH of 6 - 7.5 . When plant in a container , use a cosmopolitan - intention potting admixture with pot of peat moss to retain moisture .
This plant like consistentlymoist , well - drained soilthat is allow to dry out to an inch or so below the aerofoil between waterings . Soggy grime can be calamitous , so ensure your potted plant does n’t sit in body of water . The larger the genus Dieffenbachia , the more it may need watering . In wintertime , repress lacrimation frequency .
Temperature and Humidity
Whether at bottom or outdoors , high humidity is a plus for genus Dieffenbachia . If the plant life ’s leafage formulate brown edge , it ’s not getting enough humidity . You may want to move indoor potted flora to a more humid smudge , like a can . You could alsoboost the humiditylevel by keeping the smoke on a saucer filled with fuddled pebble . For outside plant life , deliberate grouping them to create a more humid microclimate and add shallow trays of water supply around the flora . As the water disappear , it lends a small more wet to the air .
This plant does best in temperature between 60ºF and 75 ° F . Below 60 ° fluorine , growth will slow . If temperatures deteriorate below 40ºF , the plant may put up damage or give way .
Fertilizer
habituate a well - balanced 20 - 20 - 20 fertilizer every calendar month or two . Dilute the plant food concord to the production ’s label .
Pruning
Cut the upper stem back to a folio node if the dieffenbachia grows too tall . Some older plant may have tough stems and want lopper to cut . The plant grows bushier after it is pruned .
Potting and Repotting Dieffenbachia
If you see dieffenbachia ’s roots starting to nose through the top of the soil or out the container ’s drainage holes , or if its leave of absence start to settle off , it ’s prison term to repot . These plants unremarkably need repotting every year . Wear gloves , rive the plant from the container , and be careful not to get any of the flora ’s sap on your skin .
Pests and Problems
plebeian pests likemealybugsandaphidscan be a problem for dieffenbachia . If you view them betimes , use a routine of diluted rubbing alcohol and a cotton plant swob to remove them . Otherwise , pillory them with water from a hosepipe . Take indoor plant life outside and hose down them off or use an insecticidal soap that is good for houseplant .
If leaves turn yellow , you may be overwatering or underwatering your works , or it may require atomic number 7 . Whatever the reason , cut off the yellow leafage . If plant are drooping , they ’re getting too much light . Move them to a shadowy post .
How to Propagate Dieffenbachia
Propagate dieffenbachia in one of four ways — division , stump propagation , stem cut , or air layering .
Propagating Via Division
To circularise via division , separate the genus Dieffenbachia in the leap . For indoor plant , this can be done when you are repot . While fag baseball glove , divide some offsets from the parent plant without damaging the root system . wash the end of each new division and plant in a pot at least 6 inches in diam occupy with a moist , well - drain potting admixture . Water good .
Propagating Via Stump
Stump extension is done by cutting off the top of an honest-to-goodness , long-shanked plant life , dipping it in settle down internal secretion , and planting it in impertinent potting soil . After new leave look , switch off off the old I .
Propagating Via Stem Cuttings
Topropagate with stem cuttings , use acuate , sterile pruning shear to cut several 3- to 4 - inch sections of cane . Remove any leaves and let the canes dry in a sunny spot overnight . Next , dip the cane in a rooting mass medium and place them horizontally in a green goddess replete with moist , well - draining potting admixture with the leaf bud slightly above the aerofoil of the soil . put the tidy sum in a plastic bag and keep the soil fond and dampish for five to eight weeks until the slip take root . Once they are established , you’re able to transpose them to the garden or another pot .
Propagating Via Air Layering
Propagating via aura layeringis a more complicated method acting , but it can be done if the parent plant is well established . Find a cane that is at least 12 inches long and thick enough to support a little weight . Strip off the leave from the bottom two - tierce of the cane and make a recollective , diagonal cut about midway up ( about 2 inches long , but not all the way through the cane ) . practice a small wedge ( like a broken toothpick ) to concur the cut open and spit the lesion with root medium . Wrap the cold shoulder with a moist piece of sphagnum moss and plug it with floral or linesman ’s tape . enclose the moss - covered wounding with plastic wrap and secure it in office with a small firearm of telegram or a twist tie .
In a few days , you should see roots begin to come forth from the moss . Once they appear , habituate a sharp , unfertile knife to reduce the new plant from the parent plant and place it in a pot ( at least 4 column inch in diam ) make full with moist , well - draining potting mix . commit the pot in a plastic bag and put it where it can get bright , collateral sunlight as it grow . Keep it dampish but not soggy .
Types of Dieffenbachia
‘Camille’
Leaves with a broad band of ashen , butt against in light-green , makeDieffenbachia maculata‘Camille ’ unique . leaf call on more solidly green in humbled - light conditions .
‘Camouflage’
Dieffenbachia‘Camouflage ’ has eye - catching light green leaves speckled and splashed in dark green and cream . outside , it is hardy in Zones 10 or warmer .
Dieffenbachia Maculata
Dieffenbachia maculataspp . unremarkably stay on under 3 fundament tall with multiple root and shrubby growth . Medium green leave-taking are irregularly slosh with creamy white diversification .
‘Tropical Tiki’
Dieffenbachia ‘ Tropical Tiki ’ has leaves with a dance orchestra of silvery park splotched with cream splotch .
Dieffenbachia Seguine
Dieffenbachia seguinespp . have canelike stems and arching leaves up to 12 inches long . They are commonly marble with white or cream .
‘Tropic Marianne’
Dieffenbachia‘Tropic Marianne ’ is a large change lark broad creamy - livid leaves vary with special K . outside , it is fearless in Zones 10 through 12 .
‘Tropic Snow’
Dieffenbachia seguine‘Tropic Snow ’ has blanch green and pick diversification on redundant - big leaf .
Frequently Asked Questions
Some out-of-door genus Dieffenbachia plants grow 2 feet in a yr in ideal conditions , However , most indoor dieffenbachia seldom grow more than 3 feet magniloquent .
Place the potted plant on a plate with pebbles and water to meliorate humidness , and mist the leaves regularly . If it needs more , bestow a plant humidifier nearby .
As a houseplant , dieffenbachia can live up to 10 year , although it will need to be repotted yearly with impertinent potting admixture and give ideal growing conditions to live that long .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Dieffenbachia Seguine . NC State Extension
Dieffenbachia . ASPCA .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Jay Wilde
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Marty Baldwin
