Dieffenbachia is a popular houseplant with a straight trunk and large elongated leaves. Belongs to the aroid family. Some types of Dieffenbachia can grow up to 3 m. Such specimens are found in greenhouses, educational institutions, hotel lobbies, etc. In indoor conditions, they try to restrain the height of Dieffenbachia by periodically rejuvenating the plant or selecting a pot that limits the growth of the root system. You can also purchase Dieffenbachia, the variety of which is initially programmed for compact, small growth. These also happen.
In general, Dieffenbachia at home shows itself as an undemanding plant. We can recommend it for beginners.
Location and lighting
Dieffenbachia requires a large amount of light, only then will the unusual color of the leaves be preserved.
The light should be diffused, since under the influence of direct sunlight, burns may appear on the surfaces of the leaf plates. A window sill located next to a window with east or west orientation is suitable for placement. The south side is not recommended as a placement location, however, you can also place a pot of Dieffenbachia here, protecting it from direct sunlight. For shading, use small curtains, blinds or special films that adhere to the glass. Dieffenbachia does not do well near a north-facing window because it does not have enough light. If it is not possible to place the plant in another place, arrange additional lighting by installing a special phytolamp or making a backlight using ordinary fluorescent lamps.
Lack of sunlight negatively affects the condition of the leaves: they become smaller and lose their variegated color. You should not constantly move the flower from one room to another. Dieffenbachia does not tolerate drafts: due to exposure to cold air, the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off. During ventilation, the flower must be removed away from the source of the draft, and best of all, taken out of the room. The plant loves fresh air, so in the summer Dieffenbachia is placed on the veranda or balcony, protected from direct sunlight and wind.
How is Dieffenbachia dangerous for humans?
Many people wonder, or have heard somewhere, that Dieffenbachia cannot be kept at home. This is not an entirely true statement. You can keep it, but with some reservations.
The sap of many plants of this genus is quite poisonous (causes dermatitis), presumably due to the presence of needle-sharp crystals of calcium oxalate and/or enzymes, so it is not recommended to place the plant in places accessible to small children or pets.
Burn of the throat, skin - the effects of the strong poison of Dieffenbachia. The irritating effect manifests itself within tens of seconds, so poisoning may not be noticed immediately, although usually children and animals stop chewing the plant in time due to pain.
It is recommended to wear gloves when working with Dieffenbachia, and then wash your hands with soap.
Diseases and pests of Dieffenbachia
It should be noted that diseases and pests can colonize the flower if Dieffenbachia care does not meet the requirements. A strong plant itself resists diseases. Of course, you can populate insects from a neighboring flower or use soil with living fungal mycelium for replanting, but this only means that the care of the plants on the windowsill is poor.
Signs of fungal diseases are the appearance of uncharacteristic spots, stripes, and weeping and drying leaf edges on the leaves.
When the root system rots, it cannot provide the plant with nutrition, and yellowness appears on the leaves.
This makes itself felt by diseases such as:
Anthracosis attacks the upper part of the plant. The appearance of dry spots that enlarge and destroy the leaf is the most characteristic manifestation of the disease. Spores can get in with irrigation water. The disease is caused by dry indoor conditions and excessive watering. You can treat with fungicides and remove the infected parts of the plant. Normalize the regime of detention.
Fusarium spreads to the roots and the entire plant. The mushroom lives in the soil. Therefore, it is important to sterilize the substrate when replanting a plant. You can save the plant at the earliest stage of the disease by treating it with a fungicide, cutting out the affected areas and taking new dishes and soil.
The viral disease manifests itself as curled leaves and a bronze tint on the top of the plant. Carried by insects from diseased plants. The diseased plant must be destroyed. You cannot take material from him for reproduction.
Insect pests that have colonized the flower feed on the juices and spoil the appearance of the flower. If the colony becomes large, it can kill the plant. Several types of pests reproduce on the poisonous Dieffenbachia:
Measures to combat them are known - first, soapy water, later - insecticides.
Useful properties of Dieffenbachia
The acquisition of this capricious tropical seedling does not always have disastrous consequences. If you properly care for the plant, you can get quite a lot of benefits from it. The main thing is to place it in the right place and take into account all its features.
So, useful properties:
- Regulation of the microclimate in the apartment. The wide leaves of Dieffenbachia can increase humidity in a dry room. This is especially true for city apartments with central heating.
- Good news for allergy sufferers - the extensive foliage of this flower can attract dust, purifying the air in the room and significantly reducing the concentration of allergens in the air. For this to work, you need to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every couple of days.
- This tropical guest also neutralizes the effects of formaldehyde contained in new furniture, varnishes, paints, etc. Therefore, after renovation, this flower can significantly improve and improve the atmosphere in the house.
Caring for You: Simple Tips
Dieffenbachia at home can not only grow, but also bloom, bear fruit and reproduce in various ways.
How to water Dieffenbachia? The main thing is not to over-moisten the soil. Dieffenbachia should be grown in flowerpots with good drainage and in soil of a special composition containing 1 part sand, two parts peat, two parts turf soil and 1 part humus. Carefully check the turf for the presence of insect larvae and worms, so that later you don’t have to look for the reason why the leaves are drying or whether the plant has a mysterious disease. For drainage, it is better to use expanded clay or broken brick.
One of the secrets of how to care for Dieffenbachia is the correct placement of the plant relative to the light source. When growing different varieties, we try to orient rich green plants closer to the window, variegated ones and with large white splashes - to shade them or place them in the far corner. Variegated varieties grown in bright light can easily lose their decorative properties.
Periodically, the leaves on the plants need to be wiped. It is recommended to use a damp cloth, and since the plant is poisonous, this procedure is best carried out with gloves. Dieffenbachia can be easily washed at home using a terry sock placed on your hand. We settle the water in a bucket (ideally, we take boiled or even distilled water, so as not to leave white stains on the leaf), rinse our hands in the bucket and evenly wipe the entire area of the leaf, without fear of getting the plant juice on the skin.
By the way, the benefits and harms of Dieffenbachia are the subject of debate among amateur florists: is it possible to keep a planted flower with a dubious reputation at home?
All tropical plants are poisonous to a greater or lesser extent. If Dieffenbachia juice fails to get on the skin, irritation in the form of redness may develop, and contact with the eyes can cause temporary blindness. Of course, Dieffenbachia should be kept away from small children. But it brings much more benefits than expected. It turns out that Dieffenbachia at home has a unique ability to purify the air from benzene and fromaldehyde, turning the atmosphere of a city apartment into the cleanest air of the Amazon.
With reasonable care, we can enjoy this majestic plant that turns our home into a green kingdom.
Bloom
Dieffenbachia domestica rarely blooms. It is valued not for its flowers, but for its beautiful leaves. The flower develops in spring in April-May. It develops in about 2 weeks and blooms for 3 days. It has the shape of a cob.
Flower growers advise removing emerging flowers. They are not beautiful, and they take a lot of energy from the plant.
It smells like plastic with a sweetish note. If you leave it, it is better to take it out of the living space
If you want to see your Dieffenbachia bloom, you need to create a stressful environment for it. To do this, place it in a well-lit place, but deprive it of fertilizer and watering. You need to torture the plant until the leaves droop.
Then he needs to be revived. Place in a container with water until the leaves come to their senses and a bud appears. After this procedure it should start.
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Rules for caring for Dieffenbachia at home
The tropical guest tolerates and forgives many mistakes of beginners. Dying specimens quickly take root and easily succumb to “reanimation” conditions. But you shouldn’t test the strength of such a beautiful culture. Full care for it consists of creating a moist environment, timely feeding and pruning the stems.
How to properly water and spray Dieffenbachia
Caring for Dieffenbachia flowers at home requires special attention to water procedures. The plant reacts painfully to lime, so the water for watering and spraying must be well settled. You can filter or boil it, or use rainwater.
Abundant watering in summer and moderate in winter is required. The culture does not tolerate excess moisture. In order not to provoke rotting of the rhizomes and stems, make sure that the soil in the pot does not resemble liquid mud and does not dry out. It is advisable to alternate watering (from the top and through the pan). At low temperatures, it is better to replace spraying by washing the leaves.
When and how to feed Dieffenbachia
The flower grows quickly, using the entire reserve of substances necessary for its formation.
Fertilize it in the spring-summer period up to three times a month. Fertilizers are applied to choose from: liquid mineral or organic
.
By the way, some types of Dieffenbachia with white leaves lose this varietal feature, turning into rich green ones, due to the nitrogen content in complex fertilizers.
Features of plant transplantation
The optimal period for transplanting Dieffenbachia at home is February - May. The procedure should be carried out as the root system grows, sometimes even a couple of times a year.
To do this, choose a container with a diameter several centimeters larger than the previous one. An impressive layer of coal is placed on the bottom for fertilizer and drainage, the earthen tuber with the plant is carefully transferred, damaged roots and adhering drainage residues are removed. Sprinkle fresh slightly acidic soil on top and water.
How to prune Dieffenbachia
When you already know how to water and what to feed Dieffenbachia at home, you need to find out the rules for regular pruning of the plant. Under favorable conditions, the plant produces a new leaf every week, exposing the lower part of the stem. As a result, the indoor beauty loses its decorative effect.
Important! To select a sprout for planting, any part of the Dieffenbachia stem is suitable. It can be carried out at any time of the year, remembering that:. the plant is poisonous (to avoid contact of toxic juice with the skin, all work must be carried out with gloves); pruning is carried out only with a sharp knife, which is pre-treated with alcohol; when working with Dieffenbachia, you need to protect your eyes so that poison does not splash; the juice that appears is removed by wiping it with a soft cloth, and for disinfection, the sections are treated with crushed charcoal; After work, hands should be washed with soap.
the plant is poisonous (to avoid contact of toxic juice with the skin, all work must be carried out with gloves); pruning is carried out only with a sharp knife, which is pre-treated with alcohol; when working with Dieffenbachia, you need to protect your eyes so that poison does not splash; the juice that appears is removed by wiping it with a soft cloth, and for disinfection, the sections are treated with crushed charcoal; After work, hands should be washed with soap.
Important! In stem species of Dieffenbachia, the stem is radically cut off once every 3-4 years, leaving a stump of no more than 10 cm. And in bush species, only damaged and dried leaves are removed.
2.Description - what Dieffenbachia looks like
The plant received its name in honor of the head gardener of the botanical garden in Vienna, Joseph Dieffenbach. The genus Dieffenbachia consists of approximately 30 species of perennial evergreen herbaceous plants with a powerful root system. The plants are grown for their beautiful foliage.
The stems are erect, unbranched, soft, wide, succulent; in adult plants they bear traces of fallen lower leaves.
Leaves are up to 25 cm long, slightly hanging on the petioles.
The leaf blades are green, in some species with a variety of yellow, cream and white markings, sometimes even almost completely white with a thin green border around the edge. As the plant ages, it may lose its lower leaves, exposing the lower part of the stems. Bushes bloom in cultivation quite rarely and only with proper care.
The flowers are greenish and white, odorless, inconspicuous, and therefore not of particular value. The inflorescence - spike (ear) is surrounded by a small light green blanket. After flowering, the plant forms round red berries.
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Dieffenbachia at home - height . The plant can reach 1.8 m . height when kept in containers. The growth rate and final size of the plant depend on the species.
New hybrids can remain compact throughout their lives and not exceed 30 - 60 cm.
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Where is the best place to place Dieffenbachia?
Due to its ability to purify the air from formaldehyde, trichloroethane, xylene and benzene, the flower is recommended to be placed in areas with unfavorable ecology - that is, areas heavily polluted by industrial and automobile exhausts. At home, there is no better place than the kitchen for a flowerpot, especially if its windows overlook a busy road.
If you follow the rules of Feng Shui, a corner near a desk is perfect. This evergreen inhabitant of the tropics humidifies the air well, neutralizes microbes, and has a beneficial effect on the nerves. But in addition to its positive qualities, superstitions say that the plant takes away male power. That's why he's feared in bedrooms.
What kind of lighting does Dieffenbachia need?
When wondering how to grow Dieffenbachia, you should not forget about the peculiarities of the climate of its homeland. A lot of heat, light and moisture is all that a flower needs for full growth in indoor conditions. Moreover, the more spots on the leaves, the more light you give them.
Did you know? The indoor Dieffenbachia from the genus Araceae received its name from an Austrian botanist in honor of the senior gardener of the Vienna Botanical Garden, Joseph Dieffenbach.
It is important to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, which takes away the plant’s brightness and wilts it. At the same time, the light must be diffused
The ideal distance would be a meter or two from the window on the sunny side. If you have the opportunity to additionally organize artificial lighting, the pot can be moved further away.
Temperature regime for the plant
This is the next whim of the fastidious Tropican. It does not tolerate drafts, reacting to them with intense loss of foliage and wilting. In summer, the room where Dieffenbachia grows should be between 20 and 30 °C, and in winter not lower than 15 °C, otherwise do not be surprised by the sudden yellowing of the leaves.
Also avoid sudden changes in temperature. especially if you are going to transport your green pet somewhere. In winter, do not place heating devices nearby. Dieffenbachia loves fresh and moist air.
What should the air humidity be for successful growth?
Knowing what Dieffenbachia loves, it is important to ensure that the humidity in the room does not fall below 65%. Of course, in winter it is difficult to maintain such a standard in an apartment with central heating.
To do this, experienced florists recommend spraying and washing the leaves with warm water, the more often the better. Small flowerpots can occasionally be given a shower (not cold) by covering the soil in the pot.
Dieffenbachia in your home
The first thing to remember about a plant like “light” is that the juice of the flower is poisonous. And if it does not cause much harm to an adult, it is very, very dangerous for children and animals. The solution to this situation is as follows:
- Firstly, you should not place Dieffenbachia in the nursery, in the kitchen, in the living room, in a word, where your children often visit.
- Secondly, the plant should be placed in a place inaccessible to children and animals. These can be high shelves, window sills and other places in the house.
- Thirdly, one should not forget about the “preferences” of the plant itself. Dieffenbachia is whimsical in terms of sunlight. Therefore, dark corners where not a single ray of light reaches. Due to poor lighting, the plant will begin to have problems with both growth and development.
Caring for Dieffenbachia at home: watering and lighting
The location for placing Dieffenbachia is chosen to provide bright lighting without direct sun. In winter, it can grow well in partial shade, away from the window, subject to additional lighting. It is good to place a flower near a window covered with a tulle curtain.
A distinctive feature of the culture is its heat-loving nature; the growing temperature of Dieffenbachia should not be lower than 18 °C; in summer it is 18-24 °C, with a maximum of up to 30 °C. In winter, the plant can briefly tolerate a decrease to 10-12 ° C, but this will certainly affect its appearance, causing yellowing of the lower leaves. Optimal for the winter period is 17 °C, with minimal differences between day and night. You should not place the flower near heating appliances. Dieffenbachia loves fresh air; in the summer it can be located on an open balcony or loggia, if it is possible to provide it with shade and no drafts. The crop does not tolerate the latter and immediately reacts to them by yellowing and falling leaves, so it is better to take the flower out of the room even while airing.
When watering Dieffenbachia, certain rules must also be followed. This tropical crop is moisture-loving, but does not tolerate waterlogging, which causes root rot, especially at low temperatures. The earthen ball should be moderately moist, but not wet; watering is done with warm, settled water only after the top layer of soil has dried.
Decorative Dieffenbachia in the photo
Like any fast-growing flower, the crop needs regular feeding; during the period of active growth from May to August, they are carried out every 10-14 days, in winter and autumn - once a month or less. A weak solution of complex flower fertilizer is used as a fertilizer for Dieffenbachia; fertilizing with nitrogen-containing organic matter is also useful. With a lack of nutrients, the plant sheds its lower leaves and exposes the trunk, and also loses its brightness of color.
To successfully grow Dieffenbachia, home care must necessarily include measures to increase environmental humidity. Due to the large surface of the leaf plates, the flower suffers greatly from dry air. The optimal humidity at which the plant feels good is at least 60-70%. Obviously, it is impossible to create such a microclimate in an apartment with central heating, so daily spraying is used to increase humidity; it is also useful to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or sponge once every 2 weeks. For these procedures, warm boiled water is used; hard tap water causes plaque to appear on the sheets and they lose their decorative properties.
When spraying, you must pay attention to the absence of drafts and air temperature, otherwise, instead of benefit, you can cause harm to the delicate flower. Even at +18 °C, it is better to replace spraying with wiping
The culture develops and grows all year round, requiring constant temperature in summer and winter, however, according to experts in growing indoor Dieffenbachia flowers, caring for them in winter should provide the plants with a period of rest. At this time, watering and fertilizing are limited, which makes it possible to avoid the appearance of small leaves due to insufficient lighting.
It should be noted that for stem and bush Dieffenbachia, the care is almost the same, differing mainly only in the volume and regularity of pruning, which will be discussed in detail below.
Regulating indoor air humidity
It is safe to say that Dieffenbachia does not particularly welcome dry indoor air. Central heating radiators pose a particular threat to the flower. If during the period when the heat in the apartment is turned off, the flower does not need any additional humidity regulation (from May to October), then during the rest of the year, taking care of the normal level of humidity for the “light” is not only necessary, but also very important!
This should be remembered : Dieffenbachia adapts perfectly to the air humidity level in the apartment within the range of 35-45%.
As we noted above, batteries are a real existential threat to Dieffenbachia. If the flower is located in close proximity to this heat source, then it should either:
- find a new place for the entire heating season;
- soften the effect of the battery by, for example, throwing a damp towel over the heat source or placing a saucer of water next to the flower.
Another significant issue is flower hygiene. You should wipe the leaves from dust deposits at least once a month.
You can do this in 2 ways:
- using a damp sponge, gently wiping each leaf plate;
- under the shower, smoothly directing a thin stream of water onto the leaves without moistening the plant’s soil.
Dieffenbachia: care at home
When caring at home, Dieffenbachia requires compliance with temperature and light conditions, watering, fertilizing and protection from pests.
Temperature
Comfortable conditions for a flower in summer are 22-25 degrees, in winter – 16-18 degrees. He is afraid of drafts, in the summer he needs to be put on the balcony - because of his love for clean air. Keeping a flower in direct sunlight is dangerous - its foliage will burn and unsightly defects will appear on the plates.
Lighting
The Dieffenbachia plant needs bright light - only with it it grows quickly and produces beautiful spotted leaf plates. Direct exposure to sunlight can cause burns and further illness.
Important! If there is no sunny room, there is no need to worry - the plant is a shade-tolerant species.
Watering
The shrub requires regular moistening; dust must be wiped off the foliage weekly using a damp cloth.
Leaves need to be wiped regularly
Spraying
In spring and summer, the plant is periodically sprayed and given a shower. In order not to provoke excessive moisture, the lower part is covered with plastic wrap before the procedures.
Humidity
The houseplant grows well in high humidity levels. Due to this feature, it is necessary to constantly care for it: regularly spray it, and place an aquarium next to the box.
Important! In winter, humidification is increased due to drying of the air by heating devices.
Priming
Flower shops offer a special mixture designed for Dieffenbachias. If desired, you can make a nutritious soil mixture with your own hands: take 1 part sand, humus and 3 parts earth.
Feeding
Caring for Dieffenbachia involves adding nutrients. Regardless of the variety, the shrub is characterized by rapid growth, which requires a lot of effort. Restorative feeding in the summer months is carried out every 7-10 days. The plant prefers a nitrogen-organic mixture and special additives intended for variegated species.
External characteristics
Large variegated leaves of Dieffenbachia are located on a thick, succulent stem. Each plant has one growth point, located at the tip of the shoot . Bushing species are also known.
Dormant buds can awaken at the base of the trunk and along its entire length. Depending on the hybrid , the bush can be spreading or compact (can be seen in the photo).
Botanical characteristics
Growing an indoor evergreen herbaceous plant is not too difficult. The plant has thick and straight, fairly fleshy stems and large, oblong, glossy or matte alternate leaves. Varieties with green or variegated foliage are well known. Variegated species have an attractive appearance, and the leaves are covered with a pattern represented by light green or yellow specks, stripes and spots. It is thanks to its high decorative value that the plant is in great demand in indoor culture.
Particularly popular are Dieffenbachia spotted and Dieffenbachia variegated, which became the progenitors of a large number of hybrid forms that differ in size and color of leaf plates. The indoor flower is characterized by rapid growth rates. Proper cultivation and creation of comfortable conditions allows the plant to form one new leaf every week. The upper part of the shoot has a growth point, but at home the height of an adult indoor flower varies between 0.5-2 m. Some varietal varieties have dormant buds, the awakening of which causes the plant to tiller.
Over time, the foliage on the stem part turns yellow, dries out and falls off, which causes the trunk part to become exposed, and the plant becomes like a palm tree with succulent, variegated leaves at the apical part. If the plant loses its decorative qualities, it needs to be re-rooted. Some types require mandatory updating every three years.
Dieffenbachia blooms in mid-summer, but in the conditions of indoor floriculture, the ornamental crop acquires flowers extremely rarely. Along with other representatives of the Aronia family, Dieffenbachia flowers are small in size, yellowish-white in color, and completely inconspicuous. Then small and bright, orange-red berries ripen on the plant. This process provokes inhibition of growth and shedding of the lower foliage, so experienced amateur gardeners remove the buds completely.
Description of Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is recommended to be grown in apartments facing the highway, in houses located near large factories, factories, railways and highways.
Dieffenbachia is an energy plant and affects us in much the same way as a walk in the forest: refreshes, invigorates, gives strength. It is recommended to grow it for those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dieffenbachia has been attracting the attention of flower growers around the world for a century and a half. She is graceful, slender, magnificent - a true aristocrat among variegated plants. Its large green or yellow-green leaves, petioles and stems are covered with light spots, all kinds of lines, stripes and specks...
Even on a cloudy day, Dieffenbachia creates a feeling of light and warmth. This plant fits perfectly into both the most fashionable office interior and the interior of a modest home, giving them a certain impressiveness. Dieffenbachia is a fast-growing and fairly large plant.
It blooms in spring, in April-May, for several days, after which the flower fades and does not fall off for a long time. If it is pollinated, red or orange (poisonous!) berries will ripen on the cob.
It is advisable to remove the inflorescence after 3-5 days (unless there is a goal to collect seeds), because it takes away a lot of nutrients from the plant, which is why the growth of the stem stops and the lower leaves dry out faster.
In the collections of flower growers there are numerous species, varieties, and hybrids of Dieffenbachia. The most popular are Dieffenbachia charming, spotted and Seguina.
Transplantation and propagation of Dieffenbachia
Young plants can be replanted once a year
It is important to select the next container correctly. It is recommended to take a pot a couple of centimeters larger than the previous pot
Adult specimens should be disturbed much less frequently and replanted only every 4 years.
Dieffenbachia transplant
Replanting a plant requires care and caution. It is best to act according to a certain algorithm so as not to harm Dieffenbachia
- Take a new pot for Dieffenbachia and place a drainage layer on the bottom.
- Place a small amount of soil on top.
- Remove the plant from the pot and carefully examine its roots. If defects are found on the roots, it is best to cut them off. The cut areas will need to be treated with activated carbon.
- Without shaking off the soil, you need to move the Dieffenbachia to a new pot.
- Fill the sides with soil and water the flower.
When the plant has reached a large size, you should not send it to a new, deeper container. It will be enough to update the top layer of soil.
In order to learn how to propagate Dieffenbachia at home, you need to study 4 different methods:
Seeds. This method is used by specialist breeders to develop new varieties. Seeds are obtained by hand pollinating male and female flowers.
Top cuttings. When the plant is stretched upward and the stem has no leaves, the top is cut off. It is placed in water or a peat-sand mixture. During the growth process, it is recommended to spray the cuttings and protect them from direct rays.
Stem pieces. The pieces are cut into several cuttings up to 20 cm in length. They are dried for 2 days and then placed in a substrate of sand and peat. After this, the container is covered with film and remains at a temperature of +25 degrees for 6 months.
Propagation of Dieffenbachia by stem pieces
Layerings. A cut is made on the stem and wrapped with film. All this is fixed with tape or thread, and after that you can observe the appearance of roots, which are cut off and planted in a separate pot.
Growth and transplantation
I have already mentioned the frantic growth of Dieffenbachia. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that, unlike other plants, it grows even in winter and does not stop growing, it only slows down a little.
Thanks to this pace, my 20-centimeter appendage grew to almost 2 meters in 12 months! But this is rather my fault - I missed the moment to form the crown and trim the top. Otherwise, it would have grown into a lush bush rather than an upright palm tree.
It is better to always take a pot for Dieffenbachia with a reserve, about 2 cm larger than the previous one. She loves space very much, and her roots quickly fill the space.
If the plant has grown to 1 meter or more, we transplant it to a new place by transferring it along with a lump of soil on the roots. In a new spacious pot we pour a layer of drainage from broken bricks, shards or foam chips.
We select nutritious, loose soil, which consists of deciduous soil, compost, sand, coal or sawdust. Although, it seems to me that it is easier to buy universal primer in a store.
I also want to draw attention to the container in which we will plant Dieffenbachia. A plastic flowerpot is not the best option for her. We give preference to natural materials such as clay, bamboo, ceramics.
Plant care
Caring for Dieffenbachia at home includes basic agrotechnical measures: watering, pruning, fertilizing and replanting.
Watering and fertilizing
You need to start with water quality. Boiled or settled water should be used not only for watering, but also for spraying and wiping the flower. Hard water can cause leaf tips to drill and fall off. Oxalic acid will help soften the water. You can use non-cold rainwater. If you want to wash the plant in the shower, the water should be slightly warm and not get into the soil. Dieffenbachia needs to be watered regularly, and in summer also abundantly. The soil should not dry out, but a swamp is not welcome either. Winter watering should be more modest; the quality of the soil can be taken as a guide. In summer, the flowerpot is watered several times a week; in winter, as a rule, once is enough. Since the flower does not have a clearly defined dormant period, it can be fed all year round, taking into account the fact that in spring and summer, fertilizing needs to be done more often and it should be more varied.
During the active phase of the growing season, the plant is fertilized twice a month, in winter - once every month and a half. Of course, special complex fertilizers are best, but you can use others, the main thing is that they do not contain lime. The best option would be a liquid fertilizer with mineral and organic nitrogen-containing elements. Nitrogen is not suitable only for white leaf varieties.
Trimming and shaping
Dieffenbachia, like any other actively growing plant, needs formative pruning, otherwise soon instead of a neat bush flowerpot (size does not matter), you will end up with a neglected riot of leaves.
Even the smallest and neatest bush needs to be updated. And there’s no need to remind you that you need to cut off a dried or damaged leaf. Before you start pruning or just want to shorten a little, take care of safety
Trimming Dieffenbachia is not difficult, but it is important to know how to do it correctly and safely. Damaged sheets must first be blotted to prevent toxic juice from getting into the eyes or skin (it is recommended to use medical gloves for work)
The pruning knife must be sharp and disinfected. Then the leaf is cut off completely, if necessary with part of the trunk. The sections are also blotted and sprinkled with crushed coal.
The plant is replanted almost annually, the need depends on the growth rate. The signal for the need for the procedure is that the pot becomes too tight for the roots. The bush is replanted at the end of winter or early spring; a plant transplanted in summer may not take root. Since the roots of the flower are fragile and brittle, it is better to replant using the transshipment method, together with a lump of earth. In a new container, slightly larger (slightly), you need to place a new drainage.
Only old bare plants need pruning. You can buy the substrate ready-made or prepare it yourself. To do this, you will need leaf soil, peat, humus, sand and birch charcoal, which will cleanse the soil of excess salt. At first, a growth stimulator is added to watering.
Reproduction
There are several ways to propagate the plant: apical cuttings, stem and air layering. Propagation by cuttings is the most popular method. To do this, the cut bare parts are blotted and placed in any nutrient medium (water, moss, peat). The temperature should be moderate, about +22 °C, and the plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight. You also need to take care of spraying. When the roots have grown a few centimeters, they can be planted.
Botanical description of the plant
Dieffenbachia spotted in all photos looks like a relatively large subshrub with spotted leaves, which gave the name to this type of plant. The length of its leaves can reach 1 m with a width of 12 cm. They grow one at a time on long stems extending from the main trunk. With good care, a new leaf appears every week. The flower quickly grows to a height of 1 m with good care. The stem usually grows only in height, but sometimes branches can also form near the base of the side shoots. The period of active growth occurs in spring and summer. From the beginning of autumn to the end of winter, the plant is dormant.
Most often, the plant blooms in the second half of spring, but in indoor conditions it blooms very rarely. The large white or beige inflorescences are shaped like corn on the cob and can reach 18 cm in length. On the outside they are covered with a long green leaf - a bract. The flowers of the plant are divided into male and female. The lower part of the female inflorescences seems to be wrapped in a bract. After flowering, Dieffenbachia produces small juicy orange-red berries containing black seeds inside.
Did you know? Dieffenbachia got its name in honor of Joseph Dieffenbach, the head gardener of the imperial gardens in Vienna, who lived in the 18th century.
| Root system | Powerful, branched |
| Stem | Thick, massive |
| Leaf Shape | Oblong, oval, pointed |
| Leaf color | Green with white spots or stripes |
| Flower shape | In the form of a cob |
| Flower color | White, beige |
| Fruit shape | Oval |
| Fruit color | Orange-red |
| Taste of fruits | The fruits are poisonous and should not be eaten |
Possible problems in cultivation and diseases
Violation of the requirements for caring for ornamental trees often leads to the development of diseases. Sometimes the problem is due to pest attacks. It is immediately clear what a diseased Dieffenbachia looks like: all manifestations are reflected on the foliage.
The leaves of a diseased flower are usually damaged
Drops buds and leaves
If the bush is actively getting rid of foliage, then the phenomenon is associated with rot. It is caused by excessive humidity. You can check the assumption by the state of the soil mixture: even with rare or absent moisture, it does not dry out completely. Treatment consists of step-by-step cutting of the affected root system and sprinkling the cut areas with activated carbon.
The leaves are turning pale
The fading of usually bright and colorful foliage is associated with exposure to direct sunlight. The flower must be moved to partial shade, all damaged leaf blades must be cut off - they will not be restored.
The tips of the leaves are drying out
Drying of the tips of the plates is the first alarm bell, which may be followed by massive drying out of the foliage. If the feature appears in an adult plant, then the causes include natural aging processes. In cases where the entire flower has begun to dry out, the source of the problem may be:
- insufficient spraying and moistening;
- increased air dryness;
- hot weather.
Important! Ignoring the problem of artificial drought often ends in the death of the flower
The lower leaves fall off
Rapid growth causes yellowing and loss of foliage at lower levels.
Attention! If the leaf drop affects the entire plant, then it is trying to report drafts or too low a room temperature
Pests
The main problem of the bush is attacks by spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects and aphids. What is the main sign of an attack: the leaves begin to turn yellow and become covered with foreign matter. A small number of pests are removed with a wet sponge, which is pre-moistened in a soap solution. In other cases, it is necessary to use special preparations sold in flower shops.
Other problems
Rooting of the root system is associated with an excess of incoming liquid, absence or insufficient drainage. Rotten areas must be cut off, and in case of complex damage, the upper part of the plant is separated and rooted. The lower lobe is discarded.
Caring for Dieffenbachia flowers at home is not considered difficult. Compliance with the requirements for watering, temperature and lighting will help you constantly admire the decorative flower, and not treat it.
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Conditions for successful growing at home
Many gardeners consider spotted Dieffenbachia a capricious and demanding plant, but this is not entirely true. The flower reacts poorly to cold, drafts and too dry air. Otherwise, it does not require specific growing conditions.
Accommodation
The plant can be placed on the floor or on a windowsill, in a place protected from drafts, well lit, but not in direct sunlight. Lighting should be bright and diffused. A flower pot can be placed at a distance of two meters from a well-lit window. When it is cloudy outside, you need to turn on artificial lighting, otherwise the spotted leaves of Dieffenbachia will turn pale and lose their beauty.
Important! Prolonged flowering greatly weakens Dieffenbachia and worsens its appearance. To preserve the decorative effect, it is recommended to cut off the resulting inflorescences.
Temperature
The flower does not tolerate low temperatures. In summer, the temperature in the room is maintained at +20...+30°C. During this period, the plant can also be taken out onto the balcony or veranda. The main thing: do not leave it in direct sunlight, so as not to provoke the appearance of sunburn on the leaves. In winter, the room temperature should not fall below +18°C. Dieffenbachia is contraindicated in drafts and sudden temperature changes. They can cause leaves to drop.
Air humidity
The flower does not tolerate dry, stagnant air well, so the room must be ventilated. The optimum for Dieffenbachia is air with a humidity level of 70–80%. In summer, and when grown in a warm room in winter, you need to regularly spray the leaves of the plant with water. To remove dust and improve appearance, wipe the flower leaves with a damp cloth every 10–14 days.
Did you know? Centuries ago, in the West Indies, slave owners punished slaves by forcing them to bite the stem of a Dieffenbachia plant. This caused severe swelling of the tongue and robbed the person of speech.
Reproduction technology at home
To understand how Dieffenbachia reproduces, you need to know that the vegetative method involves the use of:
- cuttings;
- leaves;
- tops;
- stems;
- shoots;
- roots.
Alocasia large-rooted is well suited as a neighbor for Dieffenbachia.
Cuttings
Young parts of a light green stem 10 cm long are used as cuttings. They take root either in water or in a substrate. When using water for rooting purposes, part of the cutting is placed in it.
The water is disinfected with activated carbon, and to stimulate the rooting process it is useful to enrich the liquid with a few drops of aloe juice. To avoid rotting of the cuttings, the water should be replaced with fresh water every week.
After about half a month, the first roots will appear on the cuttings. Once they reach a length of 2 cm, the cuttings are planted in the ground, deepening them 2-3 cm. To successfully root the cuttings immediately in the soil, you should:
- Prepare a quality cutting.
- Dry it overnight.
- Immerse it in a stimulating solution (for example, Kornevin) for 7–9 hours.
- Plant the cuttings in the soil to a depth of 5 cm.
- If the surrounding air is cool, cover the container with the cuttings with a transparent film to create a greenhouse effect.
Leaf
This method of plant propagation involves the following actions:
- Select a high-quality leaf from the plant with an intact surface and bright color.
- Cut it and dry it overnight.
- Place in a container with water.
- When root shoots (2 cm long) are formed, the leaf is planted in the prepared soil.
Top
It is also a cutting, but cut from the top of the bush just below the last bud. This method of propagating Dieffenbachia allows you to quickly obtain an adult plant with all its decorative advantages. However, the original plant can no longer be preserved.
Therefore, this method is used mainly in cases where the plant has lost its lower leaves with age, or has discovered root rot. Sometimes in this way you can save a bush affected by diseases.
In order for propagation by the tip to give a good result, you need:
- Carefully cut off the top of the bush below the top bud.
- Immerse the lower fragment of the top in a container with water enriched with activated carbon.
- At ambient temperatures below +22 °C, heat the water.
- Replace old water with fresh water weekly.
- When the roots are 3 cm long, plant the sprouted top in the prepared soil.
stem
This method is predominantly rejuvenating in nature and is used when the leaves begin to fall, exposing the lower part of the trunk, and the leaves on the middle “floor” of the plant turn yellow. To root the stem, you need to find the growth point from where the leaves begin to diverge. The stem is cut 7 cm below this point.
Did you know? Designers claim that the coloring of the leaves of different varieties of Diefenbachia is so diverse and original that these plants are suitable for decorating any room decorated in a variety of styles.
Then you need to:
- Dry the cut stem (about 24 hours).
- Bury it in the prepared soil.
- Create greenhouse conditions using transparent film.
- Wait for the stem to sprout (it does not sprout immediately, sometimes you have to wait six months).
By shoots
This method of propagation is advantageous in that the entire plant is rejuvenated at the same time. Side young shoots that interfere with its development are removed and at the same time used for flower propagation.
To do this you need:
- Cut off a shoot with a pair of young leaves.
- Place it in a container with water previously enriched with activated carbon.
- Changing the water weekly, wait for the root shoots to germinate (they should be 2–3 cm long).
- Plant the seedling in the prepared soil, keeping in mind that a sprouted shoot is already an almost full-fledged plant.
Dividing the roots
Since Dieffenbachia feels equally uncomfortable both in an overly spacious container and in a cramped one, its next transplant can be combined with propagation through root division.
To this end:
- Release the bush with the earthen lump from the container.
- Wash the roots in running water, while unraveling them.
- If root shoots damaged by rot are found, they are cut off, and the rest are treated with a low-concentrated solution of manganese or water with activated carbon.
- Leave the root ball divided into several parts to dry for a day.
- Plant the shoots in the prepared soil.
Dieffenbachia spotted "Camilla": reproduction
It is best to propagate Dieffenbachia spotted "Camilla" in the summer from head cuttings. It takes longer when using stem parts.
Reproduction begins directly with spring pruning. Wear gloves before starting work. Cut off side shoots that are too long; they make very good head cuttings. The cuttings are cut about 10 cm long and planted in a container with a mixture of earth and sand.
To obtain the temperature necessary for germination of about 25 °C, the container with the cuttings is covered with a transparent film and placed in a bright place. After about 6-8 weeks, roots will form and the cuttings can then be transplanted into their own pots of growing soil.
- Always keep the soil and sand mixture moist.
- Ensure good ventilation by regularly (once a day) removing the film from the container for about 1 hour.
The cut shoot can also be placed in a glass of water or in a vase where it forms roots. Then the shoot is planted in the soil.
Popular types
The popularity of this decorative flower culture is directly related to its luxurious appearance. Large leaves with typical bright yellow, greenish stripes and spots can transform the most inconspicuous room. Any type of Dieffenbachia looks great in a home environment or the interior of a public institution. And, most importantly, they do not require special care.
Each of the species of this tropical plant (and there are more than 40 of them) has a significant difference in color and has a unique beauty. But still, its brightest representatives received greater recognition and prevalence:
- Oersted's Dieffenbachia oerstedii is a crop with a dense, evenly colored crown. Its distinctive feature is slightly elongated, pointed leaves with a uniform green color and a wide central vein.
- Dieffenbachia seguine has a characteristic greenish stalk with white patches throughout the base. Large leaves are oblong, slightly rounded at the base.
- Dieffenbachia bausei is one of the most popular shrub plants with a strong tree-like trunk. Even with normal care, it grows 1 m in height, and the wide light green leaves have a characteristic “marble” pattern.
- Dieffenbachia maculata is the true queen of the tropics. On its dense, well-developed trunk, a luxurious crown is neatly located - the main trump card of this flower culture. Skillfully decorated by nature itself, it frames the stem in a beautiful cascade and gives it a luxurious, majestic look. In a well-lit, moist place and with proper care, it reaches the apogee of its decorative effect.
Varieties of Dieffenbachia
The plant has several different species that differ in external characteristics. At the moment, there are several main varieties:
Baumann. The species is distinguished by very large leaves, which often reach 80 cm in length.
Camilla. Most of the leaves that form the shape of the bush are light yellow. Only at the edge there is a border of a light green hue. An important property of Camilla is endurance and unpretentiousness.
Leopold. It is rarely found among amateur gardeners. The plant has a short and thick trunk, as well as wide leaves growing in the shape of an ellipse.
Nice. Dark green leaf blades are colored with light veins. The variety grows up to 1.5 m and tolerates drought and hot conditions.
Dieffenbachia spotted
Spotted. The leaves are close to round in shape and have a pointed top. Features: spots of yellow and white on a dark green background. The plant grows 1 m in height.
Seguina. Outwardly, it resembles a spotted variety, from which it differs in the width of its leaves. The bush species is widely used in breeding.
Oersted. The leaves have a bluish-green color and a light vein in the center. The length of the dense leaves reaches 35 cm, and the shape resembles a heart.
Propagation of Dieffenbachia by cuttings
When lovers of indoor plants talk about a flower like Dieffenbachia, propagation by cuttings is the first thing they remember. The fact is that this method gives better survival rates.
For this method you need to prepare cuttings from the stem. In Dieffenbachia it is short, but very dense and thick.
It is necessary to separate a shoot 5-8 centimeters long from the main bush with an oblique cut. It is very important to leave at least 3 dormant buds on each stem cutting (they look like small arcing patterns)
All cuts and other mechanical damage must be treated with strong root-forming stimulants - most often gardeners prefer Kornevin.
The cuttings need to be buried 3-4 centimeters into the substrate. Then moisten the soil and cover the container with a glass or plastic dome. After a month, you can transplant it into a separate pot.
The apical cutting should be much larger than the usual stem cutting
Types of Dieffenbachia
There are about 50 species of this plant and many developed varieties. Most often on sale there are specimens with heterogeneous leaf color, on which there are white or cream inclusions. For example, the 'Super Tropic' variety has dark green leaves with white marbling. The 'Camilla' variety has almost entirely white leaves, while the 'Green Magic' leaves are green but with a white midrib. There are also completely green varieties. For example, large-leaved Dieffenbachia macrophylla and its varieties are distinguished by their uniform green color.
Dieffenbachia Camilla with white central part of leaves
The large elongated leaves of Dieffenbachia Green magic have a distinctive detail - a white central vein.
According to the growth form, Dieffenbachia can be bushy or tree-like (stem). Their difference is that bush plants produce numerous shoots from the ground and look like a bush. Tree-like forms rarely produce shoots; they have one dominant trunk, so in a pot they look like a tree.
Dieffenbachia forms
Dieffenbachia - transplant
In order for the plant transplant to go as smoothly as possible for the capricious Dieffenbachia, it is important to follow several recommendations:
- It is necessary to replant the plant only after the root system has completely entwined the flowerpot;
- The optimal time for transplantation is from the second half of winter to the end of spring;
- If replanting is necessary in summer, use the transshipment method so as not to injure the roots;
- The pot is needed several centimeters larger than the previous one;
- The soil selected is light, which allows air and moisture to pass through well, the optimal substrate is: leaf soil - four parts, peat and sphagnum moss - two parts each, sand - one part;
- Drainage is required.
