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Every home has one — a drab corner or an empty shelf that ’s crying out for some cosmetic verdure . Dieffenbachia ( dumb cane ) plants are the perfect solution for creating an quick impact in those barren spaces . Flaunting large , lush unripe parting painted with brush strokes of creamy yellow , livid , or atomic number 79 , these exotic - looking aroids tap to be acknowledge .
Dieffenbachia plants are great for better indoor air quality because the large leaves are highly efficient at filtering out pollutant . However , be aware that this beautiful houseplant can be toxic for people and pet alike . With proper safeguard , you ’ll be capable to savor all the cosmetic attributes this plant has to put up .
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DIEFFENBACHIA BASICS
Botanical name:
Dieffenbachiaspp .
Common names:
Dieffenbachia , dumb cane , leopard lily
Origin:
Tropical regions of the Caribbean and South Africa
Growth rate:
tight growth ; up to 2 feet in a year under ideal farm term
Size:
3 to 6 feet marvellous , 1 to 3 foot all-encompassing
Foliage:
Pointed , oblong , and lustrous , usually sporting variegate patterns of white , yellow , gold , and different shades of green . Can grow to 12 inch or longer .
Flowers:
May occasionally acquire pale green flowers ( similar to those of its aroid cousin , thepeace lily ) , when produce under optimal conditions .
Are dieffenbachia plants toxic?
All parts of the flora contain atomic number 20 oxalate crystal that are toxic to dog and cats . The sap can also annoy the peel and eye . Keep dieffenbachia plants out of stretch of kid and pets ( see this guidance from theASPCA ) . Also , break gloves when handling the plant life .
GROWING DIEFFENBACHIA
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Light:
Dieffenbachia tolerates a broad range of light conditions , but grows best in bright , collateral light , such as from an east- or west - face window . Most plants will also do fine in darker expanse of the home plate , but they wo n’t grow as smartly and may become spindly . avert unmediated sunshine , which can scorch the leaves and cause the color to evanesce .
TIP : To ensure even growth , rotate your genus Dieffenbachia on a regular basis so it receives light from all sides . Otherwise , it tends to list towards the light source .
Temperature:
Prefers fair way temperature of 65 ° to 75 ° F. Keep away from cold drafts and temperatures below 55 ° F.
Humidity:
Like most tropical houseplants , dieffenbachias prefer temperate to high humidity . In drier areas of the home plate , you could keep your plants hydrated by obnubilate the folio , setting them on a tray take with pebble and water system , or aggroup your dieffenbachia with other houseplants .
Soil:
Use a well - enfeeble potting mixing that has good moisture retentiveness .
DIEFFENBACHIA PLANT CARE
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Watering:
piddle regularly spring through pin , allowing the soil to dry to a depth of 1 in between lachrymation . urine less often during the wintertime . To avoid soggy dirt , which can take to root rot , make certain there are sufficient drain holes in the bottom of the pot so your industrial plant will drain completely after watering .
Fertilizing:
In March through September , feed every two weeks using a liquid houseplant fertiliser thin by one-half . Feed less often if your plant life is growing in low light . finish fertilizing in wintertime .
Pruning and shaping:
As dumb canes senesce , lower leave-taking by nature drop off to reveal dense stems , resulting in a laurel wreath - tree - like visual aspect . If you want a bushier plant , simply geld the cane back to the desired height and novel emergence will emerge below the cut . It ’s adept to cut the canes at a 45 - degree angle just above a leaf guest , piss sure not to remove more than a third of the flora ’s leafage .
care : Always fag out gloves when pruning a dumb cane to forfend skin link with the plant sap . Also avoid touching your face and eyes .
Leaf care:
Keep the foliage courteous and shiny by cleaning it at times with a damp cloth . This is also a secure chance to check for pests that may be hiding under the large leaves .
Repotting:
Due to its fast growth rate , it may be necessary to repot yourDieffenbachiaevery year or two . Move it to a pot that is about 2 in wider and slightly deep than the exist container . embed bigger variety , such as ' Tropic Snow ' in a heavy container to keep them from tipping over .
Propagation:
It ’s easy to propagate aDieffenbachiafrom cane cuttings or stem baksheesh cuttings taken during pruning . issue the bare canes into 2 - inch pieces , ensuring each piece includes a node . Lay them horizontally on moist pot soil or another rooting mass medium until roots educate . Stem pourboire cuttings with folio attached can be spread by placing them right side up in soil or urine .
Pests:
visit the leaf weekly for coarse houseplant pests such asmealybugs , whiteflies , scaleandspider mites . Once you spot an wrongdoer , treat the plant forthwith to avoid an infestation . ( See more onhow to get free of pests on houseplants )
DIEFFENBACHIA VARIETIES
photograph by : Maneesh Upadhyay / Shutterstock .
Dieffenbachia seguine
One of the most common species ofDieffenbachia , featuring dark green leaves with distinctive cream - colored veining and loggerheaded cane - like stems . Often used as one of the parent plants forDieffenbachiacultivars and crossbreed to make young variations in folio color and pattern .
' Tropic Snow '
Sports handsome dark green leaves with creamy white marbling . Can grow to a tiptop of 6 foot or more , so place in a bombastic container to take reward of its tall height .
photograph by : noypb / Shutterstock
' Camille '
Features creamy ivory - yellow leaves with morose green gross profit margin and a full , shaggy increment habit .
Photo by : Skyprayer2005 / Shutterstock
' Star Bright '
shining aureate - green leaves accent by splash of livid and dark super acid are minute than those of most variety .
picture by : CoinUp / Shutterstock
' Compacta '
grow dumb clumps of green foliage heavy blot with white markings . Maxing out a height of about 2 feet , it fits nicely on a tabletop or ledge .
Photo by : RazorbackAlum / Shutterstock
' Camouflage '
Attractive pale green leaves attend to as the backdrop for creamy ashen nervure and random speckles of gloomy Green River . Each foliage sports a different pattern .
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH DIEFFENBACHIA
Dieffenbachias are ordinarily trouble - free , but when they are dysphoric with their develop conditions , the foliation is often the first thing to suffer . Here are some common warning sign to look for :
