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Dieffenbachia plantpronounced ( deef - en - BOK - electrical engineering - uh ) , also known as the “ Dumb Cane , ” makes an first-class tropic houseplant .
“ Dieffs ” margin of shade makes them a good plant to begin learning the fundamentals of indoor houseplant attention .
Dieffenbachia is one of the most popular house plants
In this article , we portion out care tips on common indoor Dieffenbachia care along with answers to some of the most common question on “ dumb cane ” regarding :
Let ’s get bug out !
Quick Dieffenbachia Care Guide
Why Is The Dieffenbachia Called “Dumb Cane”?
Through the days , the industrial plant Dieffenbachia has also been known as the mother - in - police force tongue ( the vulgar name used forSansevieria , aka “ snake flora ” ) , touch on to the toxic sap with Ca oxalate crystal , which inflame the tongue and pharynx , causing impermanent loss of speech if ingested .
It ’s been reported that slaves were given “ dumb cane ” as a sort of punishment ( more below ) . [ germ ]
Where Did The Name “Dieffenbachia” Come From?
The nameDieffenbachiawas given to the genus by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott , the manager of the Botanical Gardens in Vienna , to honor the brain gardener Joseph Dieffenbach ( 1796–1863 ) .
Schott was a botanist well known for his extensive work on the aroids ( Family : Araceae ) . [ source ]
The herbaceous perennial Dieffenbachia originates from the New World tropics rainforests of Mexico to Argentina and the West Indies .
Dieffenbachia is one of the most popular house plants
The works has alternate , elementary leaves with white flecks or spots attached to straightforward stems . The aboriginal origin provides some idea of the type of care and conditions the plant likes .
Is The Dieffenbachia Poisonous?
This is a interrogative sentence many ask . Yes , the dumbcane is toxicant and toxic to humans and pets , do swelling of the throat and skin irritation , and more .
So it ’s of import to properly handle this plant life to stave off being poisoned . you’re able to wear upon gloves and wash your hand after handling it .
For details , take our clause – Is The Dieffenbachia Plant Poisonous ?
Does The Dieffenbachia Flower?
The Dieffenbachia plant life blossom but have no veridical smell or fragrance . The flowers ( efflorescence ) look likeflowers on a calla lilyorMonstera deliciosa .
After flowering , the center of the Dumb Canes stem “ dies , ” but side shoot usually form , and the flora persist in to grow . As the side shoots fledged , they can be removed , propagated , and planted to grow new plants .
What Is Dieffenbachia Amoena?
Dieffenbachia Amoena is the plant most people normally make out of all Dieffenbachia multifariousness .
It is one of the marvelous Dieffenbachia variety growing to heights of around 4′ or 5′ foot as large individual - prow specimens .
The stocky stems support long , dark unripe - streak leafage , and pointed , oblong leaves which ascend spirally around the canes .
A sportsman known as Dieffenbachia ‘ Tropic Snow ’ has been grown and sell as a rough-cut indoor star sign plant for decades .
TheWorld Checklist Of Selected Plant Familiesat Kew Gardens presently name 56 “ take over name ” dating all the way back toDieffenbachia seguinein 1832 .
There have been addition and Dieffenbachia discoveries in the last 30 years by Croats at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and others .
Interestingly , as popular as Dieffenbachia Amoena is , the flora IS NOT an “ recognized ” coinage .
How Do You Care For A Dieffenbachia Plant?
Dieffenbachia is a hardy industrial plant and will reward you with a long lifespan if properly cared for .
In terms of trouble and requisite , it is one of the easiest indoor houseplant you ’ll ever have the pleasure of caring for and maintaining . It grows no matter the month or season .
How Big Does Dieffenbachia Get?
The answer to industrial plant size calculate on the variety show .
Dieffenbachia has given us a long list of handsome , useable leaf plants with slews of named specie , variants , and loanblend . The tilt produce as more miscellany appear each year .
The larger varieties like Dieffenbachia amoena grow 4′ – 5′ foot improbable and can easily be 48 ” inch in width . This requires the plant to be planted in bigger mint ( 14 ” column inch or more ) to not become too top - heavy .
The big varieties make perfect additions due to their exotic appeal for indoor spaces with oodles of room .
The smaller , almost overshadow Dieffenbachia variety like ‘ Compacta , ’ as the name entail , uprise to only 24 ” – 28 ” when mature .
The one deviation is the smaller Dieffenbachia varieties have a tendency to sucker heavily , bring on a very bushy works . They also have a much more raw mottling of white or chicken coloration present in the leave of absence .
The smaller varieties are often metre sports or variants . For case , Dieffenbachia Camille comes off a ‘ Compacta ’ variant , with cream - colour or white leaves that demo slight , green strips on its border .
Some of the smaller change to look for at the garden center include :
Dieffenbachia care is the same for both large and pocket-size varieties .
How Much Light Does The Dieffenbachia Need?
Dieffenbachia does well in a semi - sunny to fond shadiness location . As for ignition status , it thrives in bright indirect light , away from verbatim sunlight .
The tropical plant will , however , thrive in bright sluttish term in warm climates . Dumbcanes do well whengrown under hokey plant life lights .
Bright ignitor does make the unremarkably dark , plushy maturation and gloss the Dieffenbachia is live for to become dull .
Dieffenbachia can produce outdoors like a shade garden with lighting shape that let in lots of sun , but it need protective cover from wind and the red-hot high noon sunlight of summertime , or plants start to expect sickly .
Too much Lord’s Day will cauterize the leaves , but too much spook on the grievous ashen / yellow varieties will induce them to be ill colored .
What Is The Best Temperature For Dieffenbachia Plants?
Dieffenbachiadoes well as a houseplant , thrive with year - rotund moderate indoor temperatures of 65 ° – 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit . Dieffenbachias will not tolerate low-down temperatures .
Anything below 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit and growth begins to slow up . Some varieties start to show insensate damage when temperature strike below 55 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
In fact , in high spirits temperatures and bright light can make Dieffenbachia watery and sickly .
How Often Do You Water Dieffenbachia Plants?
Being from the aroid family Araceae – with cousins like the “ Chinese Evergreen ” ( Aglaonema),“Peace Lily ( Spathiphyllum),”and Philodendron – let us know dieffenbachia like humidity .
As for lachrymation , we recommend watering your indoor industrial plant thoroughly and allowing the potting mix to thoroughly “ come near dispassion ” between tearing .
Watering Dieffenbachia indoors is somewhat of an art form . There is no exact schedule . You want to consider the location , time of year , soil character , lighting , and humidity which all contribute to – How often you should water any houseplant .
Plants often need more water during the summertime seasons and less during wintertime metre . The growth cycles/second of this plant starts in March and ends in October .
Too much water ( overwatering ) may swim the overweight theme , or have social status , watery growth , and stems to become mushy . verify the planter or pot has drain holes .
How Do You Fertilize Dieffenbachia?
The easiest direction to fecundate a Dieffenbachias is to tot up a bit of liquified - industrial plant solid food every other time you water the plants . ApplyNO industrial plant foodduring the winter months , only water .
Use a balanced , water - soluble liquid houseplant fertilizer at ½ effectiveness when watering . For the most common liquified fertilizer for houseplant like Miracle - Gro , wait to mix a ½ tablespoon per congius of piss .
When repot or transplanting , add a small amount of a upstanding time - release plant food to the soil . Always espouse the recommended plant food rates you find on the fertilizer promotion .
What Is The Best Soil For Growing Dieffenbachia Plants?
A potting intermixture used inAfrican reddish blue care would be fine .
You ’ll often find recommendations such as :
Growing Dieffenbachia outdoors on an open shaded patio , the above potting intermixture may influence well .
When growing indoors as a houseplant , purchase a houseplant potting ground or make your own with two office peat moss and 1 part perlite . Keep it unsubdivided .
Potting top : When potting orrepotting plants , spring is practiced just before the growing season commence . Do not overpot , and ensure the plenty has drain holes ! This is because doughy soil will result in rot .
Dieffenbachia Pruning and Grooming
There is no need to ask “ When to crop your Dieffenbachia ” as it does not need grooming or pruning !
one-time leaves will be yellow and require absent , but other than that , little “ groom ” is required .
How To Propagate Dieffenbachia Plants
Propagating plants hold the householder a simple way to increase their collection . If your plant has grow too tall , why not try spread your Dieffenbachia ?
touch on : Learn more in our clause onDieffenbachia Propagation .
Dieffenbachia Pests and Diseases
One of the most common questions asked in caring for Dieffenbachia is :
Why Are My Dieffenbachia Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellowing leaf and brown confidential information fall with several possible action .
If your plant life is healthy , and one or two dieffenbachia yellow leave or brown tips on the leave-taking show up throughout the course of the year , it is most potential an old leaf .
The sure-enough lower leaves on obtuse canes naturally die once they touch about one yr old . If the plant is experiencing more than the periodic leafage dying off , a more serious job may be set about to show .
monolithic yellowing and dropping of leaves , including :
If , after removing the plant from the batch , the roots are mawkish and mild , the works will probably not exist . Take any tip and stem cutting possible and follow the propagation tips above .
Throw the old plant out , include the grunge .
Dieffenbachia Bacteria
Dieffenbachia is a tough plant whose one weakness is bacterium ( Erwinia ) . The flora will demonstrate rotting folio joints that will diffuse throughout once it ’s infected . Rotting can also start on the fore .
Once infected , there ’s very picayune you could do to save the plant . quite a little can be reused , but take the proper steps to disinfect them before reuse .
What Causes A Dieffenbachia To Have Brown Spots On Leaves?
Dieffenbachia does like humidity and does not wish coolheaded temperatures . When plants live a sudden chill and too much humidity , afungal disease known as anthracnosecan grow .
The leaves will have black or dark tan spots in the pith and gloomy , minute margins . foliage tip or margin become chocolate-brown and snuff it back .
NOTE : Most homeowners will never experience the anthracnose job with their plants indoors .
chocolate-brown Spots On White - Patterned Dieffenbachia Varieties
During the winter month , plant life are not in an fighting growth phase angle , and the indigence for water and fertilizer is down in the mouth .
Leaves on white - patterned Dieffenbachia miscellany – Compacta , Camille , Exotica , etc . – can display dry brown spot during the wintertime triggered by the potting mixture staying too dry or too much fertilizer .
During wintertime months – DO NOT allow the potting mix to dry out out completely and DO NOT feed !
Why Are The Stems and Roots Rotting On My Dieffenbachia?
When plant life staunch , and roots turn subdued and mushy at the base , it ’s bonk as – root word rot and root rot .
This is a fungus disease ( Fusarium ) due to several conditions :
Take the undermentioned footstep to rescue the plant :
Top Down Stem Rot
Stems can also decompose from the top down . What are the signs ?
These “ flora alerts ” are because of dusty draught and cold temperatures .
To battle top - down stem rot , take the following steps :
NOTE : These smear are n’t because of bacterium and will appear withered as compared to a rotten and smelly when they are infected .
Why does My Dieffenbachia have Distorted Leaves? (Dasheen Mosaic Virus)
misshapen parting are often because of the Dasheen mosaic computer virus . The virus is more common on prime Dieffenbachia cultivar .
symptom include distorted leaves and stunted plants . Aphids and man commonly help scatter the Dasheen mosaic virus . Today most pathogen - free Dieffenbachia breed is produced by tissue paper - cultured micro - cuttings .
No chemicals can see this computer virus disease . Monitor other industrial plant such asAglaonema , Spathiphyllum , and Philodendronfor symptom , as they can act as a host and reservoir for the virus . [ seed ]
How To Control Mealy Bugs, Spider Mites, And Aphids On Dieffenbachia
The indoor conditions – warm and dry – during winter month make a pure property for pests to set up shop on the underside of leave of absence and feed – suck the juice out of your plants .
Any clock time of the yr , those cottony , sticky - looking pests , mealybugs hidein clusters in leaf axils and on theme , even hazard to the root area . They also enjoy feeding on your Dieffenbachia .
Aphids bask wet-nurse the juice and feeding on new emergence during the active growing season .
To control these Dieffenbachia pests :
Neem Oil is our favourite raw organic insect powder . Control aphids , mealybugs , plant plate , Japanese Beetles and more . It can also be used as a soil drench .
What Are The Most Popular Dieffenbachia Varieties?
Dieffenbachia – has been grown and uncommitted as a houseplant for decades . Over that time , many varieties have come in and gone .
The varieties available break down into two groups ground on their size – large plant and smaller “ tabletop ” extract .
Large Dieffenbachias – Floor Plants
These large varieties make striking individual specimens indoors if you have the veridical estate or outside on a cover terrace for example .
The plant can reach height of 4′ – 5′ feet if allowed . However , indoors a flora 30 ” – 42 ” inch marvellous is more the norm .
The most pop gravid varieties are :
Dieffenbachia Amoena , as discussed above . There are also various sports of “ Amoena ” usable . The most popular or well - fuck patented variety is “ Tropic Snow ” PP 2,869 .
The “ Snow ” was get a line in the sixties as a mutant in a city block of Dieffenbachia amoena grow at Chaplin ’s Nursery in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , according to US Patent Office records . I actually visited the nursery many years ago .
A patent for the plant Dieffenbachia amoena cv . Tropic Snow Plant Patent 2,869 was issue on February 25 , 1969 . It was the first Dieffenbachia to receive a patent .
The “ discovery ” document filed at The United States Patent Office on August 14 , 1967 :
“ The present innovation colligate to a new and distinct variety of Dieffenbachia which was discovered by me in a tint house on my nursery property located at Davie , Fla. , as a sport of the unpatented Dieffenbachia amoena .
My care was attracted to one particular plant in this cylinder block which bore some variegated leaves quite different in appearing from the other leaves on this plant and different from those of all other plants in this block , as well as strikingly different from the leaves of all other Dieffenbachia varieties antecedently known to me .
Upon nigh review of this particular industrial plant , I found that it had sported from a stem near the ground , and I accordingly took quick dance step to preserve the summercater and keep it under close observation . briefly thereafter , I took tip and cane cuttings from the fun to circularize the same , as perform by me in my baby’s room aforementioned .
uphold observations and tests of the sport and the progeny thereof derived from the cuttings aforesaid , have convinced me that it represents a raw and improved diversity which is clearly unlike from the parent variety , as well as from all other Dieffenbachia varieties of which I am aware , as show from the following unique compounding of characteristics … ” [ root ]
Small Dieffenbachias – Tabletop Plants
There are many smaller miscellanea useable on the market , and many are produced from tissue culture micro cutting . Most of these minuscule varieties sucker to a great extent and produce lots of raw growth .
Below are several well - cognise varieties growing in size of it from 18 ” – 30 ” inches .
Well - arise plant have stalwart theme , entirely hidden by the base of the leaf petioles where they clasp , but expose below , where old lower leaf have fall .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Alix’is a sport of ‘ Tropic Snow ’ with livid and green motley leaves but smaller and suckers well . [ source ]
Dieffenbachia ‘ Camille ’ – shaggy grower extend to 20″ inches tall , creamy white leave with light-green midvein and borders . more
Dieffenbachia ‘ Camouflage ’ pp#12275 – A plant genetic mutation of the not patented Dieffenbachia sp . cultivar ‘ Panther ’ ( Dieffenbachia Panther ) . characterize by large leaf with unique and attractive diversification pattern . Freely clumping , full , dull plant with upright development with an externally arching growth drug abuse .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Compacta ’ – like ‘ Camille ’ growing to 22 inch tall with dark-green spot .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Memorii Corsii ’ – Modern outgrowth stockpile silver gray - comparable marking with a temperate branching wont . Memoria Corsihas been around for almost 150 age .
As key in 1871,The Garden : an illustrated hebdomadal daybook of garden in all its branches
establish in the Spring Flower Show In Paris . The show of the Paris Horticultural Society
“ M. Dalliere , of Ghent , the only foreign exhibitor , showed a small mathematical group of novel plant , admit Dieffenbachia memoria Corsi . ”[source ]
Dieffenbachia ‘ Nelly ’ – small , well - forking , compact slow , develop with new leaves having a cream and green leaf variegation . Often used in dish gardens or diminished 6 - in pots .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Felis onca ’ – A tight - growing industrial plant , leaves are enceinte and moody green with all-inclusive Ag streaks etched down the mid - costa . Additional short green random “ spots ” decorate the leaf sword . Leaves can get to lengths of 24 ” long and 10″ wide .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Parachute ’ – average - sized plant , the new leaves display creamy white variegation pose atop dark green foliage . Beautiful green with yellow speckled leaves .
Dieffenbachia ‘ flawlessness ’ – a miscellany like ‘ Compacta ’ with cream and green diversification and large leaves .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Rudolph Roehrs ’ – a classic , has new leaves of amber - green with white splotch , dark gullible leaf sharpness , and midvein .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Splash ’ PPAF – A hybrid from Oglesby . An good , fast grower with a ripe ramification substance abuse .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Star Bright ’ – unexampled leaves have dark green margin on cream - white foliage with speckles dark gullible spot . Long , minute leaves , unlike most other Dieffenbachia varieties on the market .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Sterling ’ pp # 14762P2 – Compact , well - branched plants with averaging 4 - 8 basal shoot per works . novel outgrowth has very deep green leaves foreground with spectacular white midrib extending from the leaf groundwork to the leaf tip creating a herring - bone pattern .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Tiki ’ pp # 7298(expired ) – Deep green margins on the leaf bound with light dark-green venation fade to dark with bright white spots . This sport or cultivar was discovered at Vanderlaan ’s Nursery , Inc. , Lake Worth , Fla. , from a population of asexually propagate Dieffenbachia memoria Corsii plants . [ germ ]
Dieffenbachia ‘ Triumph ’ – creamy white leaves with a green perimeter and a pinkish cast at the petiole fundament . acquire to 22 inches tall .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Tropic Marianne ’ pp # 8832 – characterized by a dense vertical branched habit and new leaf are yellow - immature oblong leaves butt on with green .
Dieffenbachia ‘ Wilson ’s Delight ’ – large hearty - green leave-taking with a white mid - nervure .
Learn about dieffenbachia hybridization at theUniversity of Florida .
What Are The Best Uses For The Dieffenbachia Plant?
The large Dieffenbachia varieties make excellent floor plants . Make certain to place them in locations where dealings is low to forbid raw leaves from being damage .
Also , orotund plants can topple over if they get top - ponderous or dry out when placed in areas where they may receive drafts .
Smaller potpourri that make 24 ” to 30 ” column inch tall can also serve as trading floor industrial plant . Others can make great additions as unmarried specimens in an attractive ornamental mountain on a desk or credenza .
Smaller Dieffenbachia varietiesmake near bathroom plantswith the mellow humidness find in bathrooms .
Wrapping Up Caring For Dieffenbachia
For the best look , thriving Dieffenbachia plants should have a bushy flesh with a thickset frame of reference , unexampled growing , full , glossy leave of absence , and a salubrious and lush appearance .
Even with the “ downside , ” the Dieffenbachia is a wonderful addition for indoor use and land a real tropical look to any Department of the Interior .
The 56 Dieffenbachia Speciesare list onThe World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesMaintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens , Kew . The species call Central and South America home .
