Dieffenbachia Care – 2 Tips & Tricks For You
The large and beautiful dieffenbachia might be the best way to decorate your home or office.
When you learn how to take care of a dieffenbachia plant, you’ll find that it does well in many places and situations where you wouldn’t expect it to do well.
How to Care for a Dieffenbachia Plant
Most of the time, issues with the Dieffenbachia plant are easy to fix. The most common problem with growing dumbcane dieffenbachia is that it gets too much water.
Many houseplants, including the dieffenbachia, will die if they are overwatered.Plant the dumbcane in soil that drains well and water it gently so it stays moist but not soggy.
The Dieffenbachia plant might have more problems if it doesn’t get enough light. Most dieffenbachia cultivars do best in filtered light, which is when bright to moderate light comes in through a sheer curtain or another window covering that filters the light.
In the spring and summer, when the dieffenbachia houseplant grows new, sensitive leaves that could burn if the light is too bright or shines straight on the plant, filtered light is especially important.
Rotate the Dieffenbachia houseplant often to make sure it gets enough light on all sides and to keep it from leaning toward the light on one side. When growing dumbcane dieffenbachia varieties, make sure you know how much light each plant needs.
The plant stays healthy and attractive, though. Feed the dumbcane dieffenbachia plant twice a month with fertilizer to help it grow and stay healthy. You can use nitrogen-rich plant food that is only half as strong.
Dieffenbachia Houseplant Problems
It is normal for the dumbcane dieffenbachia’s bottom leaves to turn brown. Cut them off to keep the plant looking neat.
If the undersides of other leaves look bleached and feel like webs, check for spider mites and treat the plant with insecticidal soap spray or neem oil.
Chemicals shouldn’t be used to stop the spread of D. dieffenbachia because they tend to make the problem worse.
It’s also important to know that chewing or eating the leaves can cause sudden swelling of the tongue and throat, which can make it hard to speak for a short time and give the plant its common name, dumbcane.
Even though this isn’t usually a big deal, it can lead to suffocation. Don’t put the dumbcane plant in places where curious kids or dogs might try to eat it.
