Indoor plants

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia – an erect, tree-like plant from the Araceae family, native to South America. Dieffenbachia sap is poisonous. It can reach a height of 2 m, but in that case the lower part of the stem becomes bare and will look unattractive for indoor ornamental use.

Varieties of the plant

Spotted dieffenbachia (D. maculata) – a large-stemmed plant with elongated leaf blades, the length of which reaches 10-12 cm, and the width 40-50 cm. The leaves of maculata can also have pointed, lanceolate tips. On the leaf surface you can find approximately 15 lateral veins and large white spots. The Dieffenbachia flower blooms as a spadix, producing orange-red berries. There are several cultivars of this variety that differ in leaf coloration. In encyclopedias this plant may also be found under the name Dieffenbachia picta (painted).

Dieffenbachia seguina (D. seguina) – very similar to the spotted one, but has larger leaf blades – width 15-16 cm. However, the number of lateral veins generally amounts to 9-12. This cultivar also has several varieties. Seguina is also called Dieffenbachia amoena (lovely).

Dieffenbachia bause (D. bause) – a plant with oval leaves of a yellowish-green shade about 30-35 cm long. The leaf has a marbled pattern with white dots.

Dieffenbachia oerstedii (D. oerstedii) – an evergreen plant 30-35 cm long with elongated cordate or oval-pointed leaves. The oerstedii leaf is entirely green, only occasionally showing light spots, and the central vein is prominent in the middle.

Care tips

Despite the fact that this plant can reach quite large sizes, Dieffenbachia is a delicate houseplant that requires special care. If you create favorable conditions for its growth, Dieffenbachia will reward you not only with its beauty but also become indispensable for air purification and toxin neutralization.

Creating conditions

Care should be, first of all, systematic:

Temperature: the plant develops well only in warm conditions at a temperature not lower than +18°C. The plant dies and rots at temperatures below +10°C and does not tolerate cold drafts.
Lighting: in winter it should have good lighting, and in summer – partial shade. In a too-dark corner the plant loses its decorative appeal and the leaves become smaller. The plant will be comfortable under a sheer curtain near a west or east window.
Watering: moderate in winter, abundant from spring to autumn. The soil should not be too wet. Remember that the leaf tips will brown if you water the plant with very hard water.
Fertilizing: the plant is not fed in winter and autumn. From May through August the plant should be fed twice a month with complete fertilizers. The stem becomes bare at the bottom much faster when nutrients are insufficient.
Air humidity: humid air is very beneficial for Dieffenbachia. Flowering directly depends on favorable conditions. It is necessary to regularly wash and spray the leaves. However, before these procedures you should make sure that the room is not cold and there are no drafts, otherwise you will only harm the plant. At a room temperature of +18°C spraying is not recommended; it is better to periodically wipe the leaves with a damp sponge.
Transplanting Dieffenbachia: the plant needs to be repotted once a year in spring. The most favorable period is late April. For repotting you will need: a mixture of turf soil (4 parts), peat (1 part), leaf mold (1 part) and sand (1 part). A small amount of charcoal can also be added to the soil. This plant grows quickly, but because its size sometimes becomes too large, transplanting becomes difficult. In such cases you can consult specialists and replace the top layer of soil with a more nutritious one.
Propagation: the plant is propagated at high temperatures by several methods. If during growth the plant does not begin to branch, it is necessary to cut off the top at a height of 10 cm above the soil level. After this the bush will become much bushier, and the removed top can be rooted. For propagation, apical cuttings are also taken so that they have leaves, and then the cutting is placed in water. Roots usually appear in 2-3 weeks. The vessel with water in which the cutting roots should be wrapped with film or black paper.

Problems

During cultivation some problems may arise – sometimes Dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow. This is often caused by overwatering, lack of light, dry air, as well as insufficient temperature of the root ball and the surrounding environment in cold periods of the year. The fact is that this beautiful houseplant is very delicate and reacts sensitively to any changes. To keep the plant attractive and lively in the summer period, place it in partial shade, spray and water it abundantly, and also carry out monthly feeding with a 1% solution of complete mineral fertilizer and once with a cow manure infusion (1:10, an organic fertilizer). In the autumn-winter period the plant needs warmth (+18–20°C) and bright light, as it does not tolerate dry air, cold drafts and low temperatures. The soil should not be wet, only moist. Spray with warm water and fertilize with a 0.3–0.5% solution of mineral fertilizer.