Image - Wikimedia / Daderot
All the Dieffenbachia They are very popular indoors, as they tolerate lack of light well and are ideal for those who do not have much experience in the maintenance and care of plants. Its leaves are very ornamental, and each variety has its own "pattern", but the cultivation requirements are similar for each of them.
Decorating with them is really easy, since they are not very demanding, and they can even live in pots for their entire lives. But, How are they cared for?
Origin and characteristics of dieffenbachia
It is a genus of perennial plants native to the jungles of Central and South America. They grow to a height of between 2 and 20 meters depending on the species and the place of cultivation, and have an erect stem from which oval or lanceolate leaves, dark green or variegated, sprout.
To this day, different types of cultivars have been created, so much so that we can find dieffenbachias with leaves that are greener than white, and others with leaves that are more white than green. In any case, you have to know that all of them are toxic if consumed.
They are popularly known as lottery, galatea, or of course dieffenbachia.
Is it a poisonous plant?
To answer this question it is important to first clarify concepts: a poisonous plant is one that can cause death, while a toxic plant is one that can cause an annoying reaction but without being fatal. Starting from this, diffenbachia is toxic to adult humans (for children and pets it is poisonous).
If an adult chews the leaves for example, as they contain calcium oxalate crystals, they will have burning and redness that in principle will be mild or moderate. You will only require urgent medical attention if you are a particularly sensitive person, or if you are a child, since in these cases the symptoms are serious: shortness of breath, drooling and / or severe sore throat. Treatment for them will be with activated charcoal, analgesics and / or antihistamines, depending on the severity of each.
However, if there are children and / or pets at home, it is not recommended to have dieffenbachia, unless it is placed in an area inaccessible to them.
Main species
About 30 different species are included in the genus Dieffenbachia. All of them are very toxic, but not for that reason they are cultivated less than others; in fact, they are one of the plants that are most cultivated indoors as they tolerate low light conditions. Now, which are the most popular?
Dieffenbachia amena
Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang
La Dieffenbachia amena It is the species of the genus that has the largest leaves: they can measure 30 centimeters or more in length. It receives another name and is Dieffenbachia tropic, referring to the Dieffenbachia amoena 'Tropic Snow'. Previously it was called Dieffenbachia bowmanii, and is native to Brazil. It can reach a height of about 50 centimeters in a year, and reach one and a half meters in height even in a pot.
Dieffenbachia 'Camilla'
Image - Wikimedia / LucaLuca
Dieffenbachia 'Camilla' is a variety. Its full scientific name is Dieffenbachia amoena var »Camilla». It is a medium-sized plant, with stems that reach 30 to 40 centimeters, and with green and white leaves. We could almost say that it is one of those with the whitest foliage of all, a feature that greatly embellishes it.
Dieffenbachia Seguine
Image - Wikimedia / Forest & Kim Starr
La Dieffenbachia Seguine It is a species that used to be called Dieffenbachia maculata. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the Antilles and northern South America reaching as far as Brazil. It grows between 1 and 3 meters in height, and its leaves are yellowish green with a green margin.
What are the care it requires?
If you dare to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
Location
- Interior: as an indoor plant it can be had in rooms with a lot of light. Dieffenbachia are native to tropical forests, where they live under the shade of trees; that is why they will tolerate little light better than other variegated leaf plants. However, they are very sensitive to cold. Although they can withstand temperatures of up to 5º, it is recommended that they do not drop below 10º, since if that happens, it is likely that it will begin to lose some leaves.
- Body exterior:: it will look spectacular under the shade of other trees, in a sheltered place and only if the weather is free of frost. Never expose to the sun, as it will burn.
Irrigation
It is a plant sensitive to excess water, as well as drought. To avoid problems, it is highly recommended to check the humidity of the soil or substrate, either by inserting a thin wooden stick, digging a little or weighing the pot once it has been watered and again after a few days.
If you doubt, it is better to wait a few days. Anyway, depending on the weather and your location, It is watered an average of 3 times a week in summer and an average of 1-2 a week the rest of the year.
Use rainwater, or water without lime, since otherwise the leaves could present chlorosis.
Earth
Image - Wikimedia / Jerzy Opioła
- Flower potAlthough they can grow to a height of 4m depending on the varieties, in cultivation it rarely exceeds 2m. They are plants that can be kept in a pot without problems, since their trunk is thin and their growth is rather slow. The ideal substrate will be one that has an acid pH, between 4 and 6, like this one they sell here.
- Garden: grows in soils rich in organic matter, well drained.
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To avoid chlorosis, it is recommended to fertilize the plant with a specific fertilizer for acidophilic plants (on sale here) during the growing season (spring to early fall).
It is also highly advisable to fertilize with organic fertilizers, such as guano, to ensure that the plant grows healthily.
Time of transplantation or planting
Whether you want to transfer it to the garden or if you see that the roots are coming out of the drainage holes and you want to transfer it to a larger pot, you can do it in spring, when the minimum temperature is 15ºC or more.
When planting them in the garden, it is advisable to mix the soil on the ground with a little organic compost (such as worm castings for example). This will ensure rapid adaptability and optimal growth.
Pruning
Image - Wikimedia / Louise Wolff
Don't need it, but you can remove the dry, diseased and weak leaves whenever you consider it necessary.
In the event that you have it indoors and it is reaching the ceiling or is close to it, prune it at the end of winter. This will bring out lower shoots.
Pests
It can be affected by Red spider, cochineal, aphid y trips. They are treated with specific insecticides, or if the pest has not spread much, with a cloth soaked in pharmacy alcohol. Diatomaceous earth will also work for you (for sale here) or the potassium soap.
Management
In humid environments, or when you are suffering from excessive watering, fungi will cause leaf spots, and / or stem and root rot. It is treated with systemic fungicide (for sale here).
Rusticity
It does not resist cold or frost. The minimum temperature that it supports is 10ºC.
Common growing problems for dieffenbachia
Image - Wikimedia / Forest & Kim Starr
There are a series of problems that usually arise, especially when grown indoors, and they are:
Leaf and / or stem burns
The dieffenbachia plant is not one that tolerates the sun or direct light. Because, It is very important to put it a little protected from the star king, because only then can we get it to grow well. In addition, it is not a good idea to have it next to the window, since it would also burn when the magnifying glass effect occurs.
To know for sure if this or another problem happens to you, we will have to look at where those spots have appeared. For example, if the plant is indoors, the burns will appear in the part that is closest to the window. A burnt dieffenbachia, as long as the problem is mild, will remain green and growing with only a few brown spots on a few leaves. The situation is different if it has suffered a lot: in these cases it is best to cut your losses, put it in the shade and wait.
Lose leaves
Leaf loss can be a sign that something is wrong with you, but it won't always be the case. It will depend a lot on which leaves are shedding from the plant:
- If they are young: it can be due to a low temperature, dry or cold air. It must be protected in a greenhouse or indoors, and make sure that the humidity around it is high, for example by putting glasses of water near the pot.
- If they are the lower ones: this is normal, since the life expectancy of the leaves is limited. It can also be due to cold.
In any case, it is important to clarify something: when we speak of loss of leaves we mean that these leaves can no longer continue to fulfill their function, for whatever reason, and therefore dieffenbachia can no longer "count on" them .
And this is a plant that, unlike others, it does not come off its dead leaves immediately that they are uselessIf not, first stop feeding them (that's when they turn yellow) and then brown. To prevent infections, the ideal will be to cut them as soon as they lose their natural color.
Brown leaf edges
If the tips of the dieffenbachia leaves are brown, it may be because the air is very dry. This plant lives in tropical jungles, where the humidity is high. For this reason, when they are kept in places where the environment is dry, whether indoors or outdoors, the leaves are the first to have a hard time. Now, this is not the only reason.
When we put it very close to a wall or in an area where we pass frequently, we also risk that it ends up with the edges of some leaves (those that are closest to the wall and / or people when they pass through its side) brown. Therefore, we have to do several things:
- Low humidity: placing glasses around it or a humidifier will be the most recommended. In summer we can also sprinkle your leaves with lime-free water on a daily basis.
- Change her place: if we see that only the leaves on one side have dry edges, we will have to move it away from the wall and / or find another place for it.
Yellow sheets
The yellowing of the leaves is almost always due to a problem with watering. Dieffenbachia needs moderate watering, but it is important not to add more water than it needs, otherwise it would have problems.
To know if we are watering little or a lot, we have to look at the symptoms:
- Excess of water: the lower leaves turn yellow quickly. Also, the soil looks very wet, to the point that it may be growing verdina.
- Lack of water: in this case, it will be the new leaves that will turn yellow. The soil will look very dry, and when you water it may not be able to absorb the water.
What to do?
Well, if we are watering more, we must suspend the watering. It is also recommended that, if it is in a pot, we remove it from there and wrap the earth bread with double-layer absorbent paper to absorb moisture. In the event that we see that it gets soaked right away, we will remove it and put a new one, and we will leave the plant like that for about 12 hours, in a dry and protected place. After that time, we will plant it in a new pot with universal substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts, and we will treat it with fungicide to prevent infections.
By contrast, if we have a dry diffenbachia, what we will do is water it thoroughly. If it is in a pot, we will take it and put it in a basin of water for half an hour to rehydrate. This will also help the land to regain its ability to absorb water.
Where to buy?
Get it from here:
What did you think of Dieffenbachia? Do you have at home?
Hi Monica, I have one of her in my apartment and she's losing a lot of leaves lately. New shoots emerge, the leaf grows little, turns brown and falls. Do you know what the problem can be? I will appreciate the answer.
Hi Stefania.
Has anything changed since you got it (I mean, has it moved around or has there been any change in cultivation)? Has it been colder than other years? I ask you all this because perhaps it is because it does not have as much light as it needs, or that it is watering too much, or that it has been cold. How often do you water it? It is important that the substrate is allowed to dry between waterings, since it is a plant sensitive to fungi (which appear when the humidity is high). Beforehand, I would advise you to use a fungicide, following the manufacturer's recommendations. And do not fertilize it until it is fully recovered, as it could be detrimental as it now has a delicate root system.
If you have any questions, get in touch again 🙂
A greeting!
Hello, I have this plant at home in the room and it has grown a lot but the stem is very thin, how can I make the stem thicker?
Hello, my name is Vanesa, I have one of them at home and I have had it for six months in a more or less large planter, it is growing fast, and suddenly many leaves began to come out ... I have it to change to a larger planter or when is the season to change?
Hey.
Gisela: To make the stem thicken, put it in a room where it receives a lot of light and you'll see how it grows.
Vanesa: the transplant season is in spring, when the risk of frost has passed. If your plant grows fast, it is highly recommended to move it to a slightly larger pot so that it can continue growing.
Greetings 🙂.
Hi there! I have a Diffenbacchia in water for a long time. It grows well and gives new leaves but lately the lower leaves are arching the stems and they lose color until they reach a brownish tone and they fall off. I would like to know why this is and how I can help her recover.
Thank you very much
Hello Ana.
It is normal for older leaves to turn brown and fall over time. Now, if you notice that it grows more slowly and that it is also losing more and more leaves, reduce the frequency of watering and apply fungicide to prevent it.
Thanks to you 🙂.
HELLO MONICA I HAVE VERY MASSET WITH THIS PLANT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL THE TEGO UNDER A HALF SHADOW, I AND MADE NEW PLANTS CUTTING THE TAALLO AND THE PIECES OF TRON I GOT THEM BROUGHT, THIS YEAR CAME OUT IN TWO OF THEM SOME BRANCHES THAT ARE NOT ABOVE THICK THINK ABOUT THE FLOWER OR SEEDS CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH OF THE TWO THINGS IS AND IF THE SEED IS REPRODUCED, HOW DO I PROCEED
Hello Laura.
I'll tell you: the flowers are very similar to those of Zantesdachia, light green with a more or less short white pistil. The fruits, on the other hand, are round, red when they finish ripening.
It may be that the fruits come from that stem, which could be planted in a pot by removing the red peel, with a universal substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
Greetings 🙂.
Hello Monica, I am writing because I am very worried about my diphtheria, I have looked for an answer but I cannot find it. I have had a diphembaquia in a pot near the window for a long time, but recently with its growth I have noticed that the stem of each leaf as it grows is curving downwards, pulling the same leaf. Its leaves are large, it seems that the stem is curved because it does not support the weight. In other words, the plant is opening. I have held it with sticks to keep the stem straight and grow upwards ... but it doesn't work. I await your prompt response. Thank you
Hello Veronica.
From what you count, your plant has grown a lot in the direction of the light that passes through the window, and now it cannot with its weight. My advice is to move it away from the window, putting it in a very bright room.
It is important that you know that it may take a while to recover, but that is something that will end up doing 🙂.
A greeting.
Thank you very much Monica. I'm going to do what you told me. a greeting
Thanks to you, greetings 🙂
Hello, I have some dieffenbachias in water but I want to put them on land, what would the procedure be? Thanks!
Hi Chema.
To put them on the ground you have to fill a pot with substrate composed of black peat and perlite in equal parts up to about half, place the plant, and fill with more substrate. Afterwards, it only remains to give them a good watering and place them in a very bright room, away from drafts.
A greeting.
Thank you!
Greetings to you 🙂.
because they do not open the cocoons of my deffinbacchia. thanks for the reply
Hello Pilar.
The light may be low or the temperature is low. My advice is that you place it in a brighter area -no direct sun-, and that you protect it from drafts (both cold and warm).
A greeting.
Hey.
They gave me a red moena and I forgot to get it off my vehicle until the next day, it was immensely hot and the sun gave it a lot, when I lowered it I took it up to my office with the weather and I watered it but I notice that it is drying 03 days with me and he's dying, what do I do ???
Hello Irene.
Unfortunately not much more can be done. Go watering it every 4-5 days, and remove the leaves when they finish drying completely (when they no longer have any green = chlorophyll).
It is also important that you put it in a bright room, away from drafts and windows.
You can water once every 10-15 days with natural rooting hormones - lentils. Here we explain how it is done.
Good luck.
Thank you very much, I just have a question, what do you mean by luminous?
I intend to leave it in my office and the sun's rays do not enter
Hey.
Yes, it will be fine there. By bright I meant in a room with plenty of natural light.
A greeting.
Hello good night, I have the one from the first photo and the truth is I want to have it inside the house, it is small, since it can be adapted faster this way, it hits light from the sale and non-direct door but if there are light reflections, my question is: she would change the tonality or the shape of the leaves when being with light bale thanks
Hi Keliver.
Dieffenbachia can grow in low light areas, but it is true that if it is a very dark room it could have growth problems.
Ideally, put it in a place that is at least a little lit, but protected from direct sun.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a dieffenbachia like the one in the second photo, I forgot it outside one night (it was cold) and some leaves began to fall and others to get very soft and sad, what can I do? I don't want my plant to die
Hello Romina.
For now, keep it indoors, in a room with plenty of natural light, and water it little, 1 or 2 times a week.
Some leaves may wilt. If that happens, you can cut them.
But it shouldn't be more serious than that. Dieffenbachia is a much stronger plant than it appears.
Courage 🙂
Hello Monica!
My dieffenbachia has grown so big that it no longer fits and sticks to the ceiling! I think it is already reaching 2 meters. They tell me I can cut it off the trunk and replant it, is that true?
Thank you!
Hello Melina.
Yes, it can be reproduced by cuttings, in spring or summer, impregnating its base with rooting hormones.
a greeting
Hello, I had a plant of these but the leaves turn yellow and dry at the tips, it is in air conditioning but a bright room I wanted to know what I can do
Hi Patricia.
It is very possible that the air conditioning is the cause that your plant has the tips of the yellow leaves.
If you can, move it to a place where the drafts (neither cold nor warm) reach it.
A greeting.
I have a diphenbaquia that grows a lot in height but the leaves come out small and fall down, I don't know the reason, could you help me?
Hi Claudia.
You may very well need a pot change, to a slightly larger one.
If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you can transplant it now in summer.
It could also be that it gave it a lot of light, in which case I would recommend changing its location.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. I have a diaffembachia for almost two years and it has always had a smaller stem near the birth that has been growing with it and becoming a trunk. Now it has grown a lot, but its growth is diagonal and its leaves have been touching the ground for a few days, as if it had fallen under its own weight. Is it really a plant stem or are they two different plants that have grown together? Can I separate them or do I risk killing them if I separate them? Thank you very much.
Hello Consuelo.
Most likely they are two seedlings that have grown together.
They could be separated, but it would be necessary to do it very carefully, since the risk of losing them is very high.
a greeting
Hello Monica, my plant had a very good summer, it grew a lot and with very large leaves, now at the end of winter (Argentina) white spots appeared on one leaf and there are two others that are drying from the outside in and beginning to die. It worries me and my great thing was always the periodicity of the irrigation and if I should wait for the soil to dry out before watering it again or rather keep it always moist .. Thank you!
Hello Federico.
In winter you have to water much less, waiting for the substrate to almost dry out completely. Bearing this in mind, I recommend you water it once a week, or twice if you are already having temperatures above 15ºC, since at those temperatures the plant will not take long to come out of hibernation and wake up.
The white spots are produced by fungi. Treat it with fungicides that contain Metalaxil.
a greeting
Hello, my name is Monica, I have a Dieffenbachia, like the one in the second photograph, its trunk has grown a lot, reaching 2 meters, a while ago I saw that the leaves turned yellow until they dried, checking it I found that in two parts the stem is rotting inside it is all soft and if I cut it a little, everything rotten comes out. I wanted to know if there is any possibility of cutting it, how? When? and where should I make the cut to save it? If the part that I cut I can also save and what should I do with it. and if the part that I cut and remain in the pot, the leaves come out again. I know there are many questions, I am quite worried and I want to save her. Thank you, I await your response. Kisses
Hello Monica.
You can cut it now, for the sake of it. The cut part can be thrown away except if it has a bit of a trunk, in which case you can remove everything that is wrong, and impregnate its base with powdered rooting hormones. Then, plant it in a pot with a very porous substrate, such as perlite, and water every 2-3 days.
With respect to the main plant, seal the pruning wound with healing paste, and water a little less, letting the soil dry completely between waterings.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a dieffembachia in my house but it broke in the trunk, what can I do?
Hi Claudia.
If it's only bent a little, you can wrap aluminum foil around it or to help the wound heal.
But if it has been twisted a lot, then I recommend cutting it and planting it in a new pot with sandy substrate.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a plant like the second photo but the leaves do not fall as usual they are standing, what should I do please
Hi Gladys.
What do you mean when you say they don't fall? If it receives enough light they should look like in the last photo: upright; otherwise it may be that it lacks light.
Hello, I have a plant like the one in the second photo, but for about 1 year, only the stem has grown and only the leaves have been growing at the tips, that is; It has a long long stem but only 2 or 3 small leaves at the tip, can I cut it or what should I do to make the leaves grow as before (it looked leafy)
Hello Maribel.
It may be that it lacks light. Plants tend to grow, sometimes overgrown, looking for light.
My advice is to put it in a brighter room and remove the two newer sheets. This will bring out stems lower.
A greeting.
Hi, I'm Paola, I have a Dieffenbachia from the second photo, there are 2 leaves that have dried their edges, what is it? and it is also leafy and its leaves fall due to its weight, should I tie them? my fear is that they will break their stems when they are down. Greetings
Hello paola.
Do you have it in a passageway or in a room where there are drafts? Dry edges are usually due to that. If not, how often do you water it? Have you checked if it has any plagues?
If you want, upload an image to tinypic or imageshack, copy the link here and I will tell you better what happens.
So that they do not fall, you can put a tutor on it and tie it to it.
A greeting.
Hola!
I would like to know if these plants can be defined as male or female, or are they hermaphrodites ???… ^ - ^
Hi Jennifer.
They are hermaphroditic plants.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I have a plant of these but only the trunk grows and only one leaf grows, when the second one is coming out the first one turns yellow and then falls, what can it be ???
Hi Roxana.
Where do you have it? Diffenbachia can be indoors, but it has to be in a bright area (no direct light), otherwise it will not grow well.
A greeting.
Hello, mine grew super well and now the leaves are very small and the stem is taller, I have not changed its place, what can it be?
Hi July.
Funny what happened to your plant. Are you in a place that gives you light (not direct)? Sometimes it happens that it is stretched in the direction of the light.
If so, I recommend moving it to another area where it is protected from direct sun but has good light.
A greeting.
hello is it true that it is poisonous?
Hi Claudia.
Yes it is. In high doses it can cause stomach upset, vomiting and even diarrhea, among other symptoms.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know what care I should have in winter with this plant because a few weeks ago I acquired one and its leaves lost their turgor and are fallen, what should I do? Will it recover?
Hello Noemi.
You may be lacking light. It has to be in a very bright area, but without direct sunlight.
If it does not improve, write us again.
A greeting.
I have a plant of these this beautiful but I no longer have space for it to continue growing. What do I do, if I cut it where I should, I don't want it to die. And it is twisting since it is up to the ceiling. I can take it out to the patio where it gets direct sunlight, or it gets damaged
Hi, Diana.
No, if you take it out in the direct sun it will burn. It is better to prune it a little, in spring, so it will bring out new lower stems.
A greeting.
Hello, I have my plant for almost thirty years, I prune it and take out children without problems, about 6 months ago some red balls came out behind the leaf, many and what I do is remove them with my hands and clean it with a cloth. How can i eliminate this problem?
Hey.
They could be mealybugs. They can be eliminated with insecticides such as chlorpyrifos 48%, following the indications specified on the package.
A greeting.
Hello
I have a plant of these but it has a stem of about 2 meters, I hold it with two woods but it falls sideways. My question is to cut the stem or how do I do it so that it does not fall?
Greetings.
Hello Antonio.
You can cut it a bit if you want. This will bring out lower branches.
A greeting.
Hello Moni, about a month ago they gave me one of these plants, they told me that the plant was for shade and that its watering would be every three days, so I was doing it a week I noticed that one of its leaves was growing at the tip brown color, the stain has been spreading and the texture where the brown is found is watery, what can I do, I don't want this to continue to happen. Thank you.
Hi Claudia.
The diffenbachia yes, it is a plant more shade than sun but the truth is that it thrives better in a very bright room (without direct sunlight).
Watering every three days can be too much if you are now in winter. Ideally, always check the humidity of the substrate before watering, either by inserting a thin wooden stick (if it comes out practically clean, the soil is dry), or by taking the pot once watered and again after a few days (wet soil weighs more than dry soil, so this difference in weight can serve as a guide).
In the event that you have a plate underneath, you must remove the water within ten minutes of watering.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a problem with my plant, its leaves began to bend, I do not know why they are falling like whips, that I can take it out to drink rainwater and it has been affirmed, thank you
Hello Claudio.
It may be that it lacks light. It grows better in very bright rooms (without direct light) than in shade.
If not, please write to us again and we will tell you.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, I have this plant since last summer, and it has very fine stems and leaves only on the top. I have to have it tied to a stick so it doesn't break. It is normal? Can I cut the stems and replant them? Thanks?
Hello Julia.
That usually happens due to lack of light. If you have it in a dimly lit room, I recommend putting it in a brighter one. In this way, you will have a better development.
If not, you can trim the stems and plant the cuttings without problem in spring. This will bring out lower stems.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a dieffenbachia and it is beautiful, I like it a lot but he wants me to clear the doubt that it is very dangerous and toxic exclusively in animals and children, I am concerned because I have two children, one 4 years old and the other one anus! I would be very grateful if you could help me with this question I have! Thanks!!
Hi Yury.
Yes, it is toxic. The leaves contain calcium oxalate, which irritates the skin when it comes into contact with the skin. If ingested, the throat becomes sore and you may lose your voice for a few days.
To avoid this, you simply have to prevent the little ones and animals from approaching it.
A greeting.
Hello, I have that plant indoors with enough light, but they are ugly, they have very long stems and few leaves at the top, I even have to hold the stems so they don't break. What should i do
Hello Rocio.
Have you changed the pot? If you haven't, you will most likely need a larger one to strengthen the main stem.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a diffenbachia amoena but the tips of the brown leaves get pissed off and it dries I have it in the light without sun, I beg it only when it is needed, I spray its leaves daily, it is protected from the cold, I place a vaporizer so that the environment does not dry out with the heating but I don't know what else to do !!!
Hi Xime.
I recommend you stop spraying it. That is probably what is hurting you.
The leaves cannot absorb water directly, so when it rains or when they are sprayed, they close the pores on their surface. If those pores stay closed too long, that blade could literally die from suffocation.
A greeting.
Hello, 2 months ago they gave us this beautiful plant, but now I see the leaves a little bent, some have even turned yellow. The plant measures 65 centimeters approximately, it is in a pot 12 cm high and 15 cm in diameter. It does not receive direct sunlight, only the lighting of the room where it is located. We are close to spring, it is watered twice a week. Thank you very much in advance and the information provided is very good.
Hello Fabian.
You probably need a bigger pot. As you have spring close, you can change it to another that is about 3-4cm wider.
A greeting.
My plant grows smaller and smaller leaves, I don't understand. I water it every week and it receives non-direct light.
Hello Ale.
Have you ever changed the pot? If not, chances are that the roots have run out of room to grow. I recommend you transplant it so that it can take leaves of its natural size.
If you recently transplanted it, please write to us again and we will tell you.
A greeting.
Hello, at the end of September they gave me the plant as a gift, I have it in the dining room and it gives it clarity. But I don't know how often I have to water it and if it tolerates heat since I put the stove on and it gives it heat
Hi Noelia.
You have to water it once or twice a week now in autumn-winter. Starting in spring, increase the frequency of watering a little, but not much: 2-3 waterings per week will suffice.
Protect it from drafts (both cold and warm) as they could damage its leaves.
A greeting.
I have had a plant since spring and in summer it became very pretty, now my eyes are turning brown around the edges and then they fall off…. What happens to him?
Thank you
Hi Selene.
You are probably getting cold, or near drafts.
I recommend that you keep it away from the currents and water it less, no more than twice a week.
A greeting.
How can I prune it, since the stem is very tall ???
Hi Edith.
You can trim the branch that acts as a guide a bit. This will force it to remove lower stems. When it does, then you can trim the leader branch further.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I have a diefembachia since November (Argentina) and I always watered it once a week and it was very pretty, but it's been getting worse for about 1 days, it has most of the fallen leaves, many of these brown or stained and on the stem I found a white suppuration, they told me that it is a fungus, that I have to do to improve it, thank you
Hi Mariana.
Have you looked to take it off? It is possible that it is a cottony mealybug, which can be easily removed with a swab from the ears dipped in pharmacy rubbing alcohol. In the event that it is not, I recommend spraying with fungicide to kill the fungi.
Water it more often, two-three times a week, now that you are in spring-summer.
A greeting.
Hello, I have two diffenbachia, and well they have grown a lot, they have a thin stem below and thick above, and they cannot be supported so I have put a long stick on it, but I still notice that if I take it out, the plants fall. What do you recommend me to do? I was thinking of cutting them and let them grow back, because I can't find another way for the stem in the lower part to thicken. They even only have leaves on top.
Thank you.
Hello Monica.
Yes, in these cases the best thing to do is cut and plant those cuttings in individual pots.
With whatever plant you have left, place it in an area where it will get more light (but not direct sun).
A greeting.
holA they gave me one the leaves are beautiful but one that was sprouting I know I shut up and it has parts of the trunk like rotten to loaded with water I took them away and it was like a jelly now you can see the inside as if outside a bone three parts of the trunk are like this. and the plant does not have much water.
Hello Blanca.
I recommend you take it out of the pot and wrap the earth bread with absorbent paper in several layers. Leave it like that overnight, and the next day plant it back in the pot.
Treat it with a fungicide spray to kill and prevent fungus.
From then on, it only remains to wait, and water little (no more than 3 times a week in summer and every 5 days the rest of the year).
A greeting.
Hello; Monica I have a plant and until less than a month ago it was beautiful, I am happy because it is very majestic, elegant as an ornamental plant, it is one of the ones we find most frequently. My question after reading each of the comments and their answer was not It has become very clear to me how I should cut the stem? to re-sow in a larger pot, and if the same long stem can be sown in several pots?
Hi Theresa.
It will depend on the thickness of the stem: if it is thin with scissors it may be enough, but if it is 1cm thick or more it will be better to use a serrated knife. In any case, the tool has to be disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.
Each piece must measure at least 15-20cm so that it can root and be a new plant 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, I have a plant of the genus Dieffenbachia but I don't know what variety of Dieffenbachia it is, but its leaves are the same as the plant in the second photograph. Do you know what his name is?
Hello Monica.
I have a Dieffenbachia, potted and I am concerned that it has grown so much that its trunks bend and fall to the point where at least movement is broken. I have already put several tutors, but I don't know if the normal thing is to let them bend or what .. thanks!
Hi Eliana.
Are you in a room with high or low light? Normally, the fact that it has very tall and thin stems is because the light is insufficient.
My advice is that, if you want, you cut it a little so that stems sprout lower, and take it to an area where it receives a little more light (but not direct).
Greetings.
Hi there! I have one a couple of years ago but in recent months the leaves are more drooping and darker and they stopped growing in size. What can be? I do not think it is the location because it was always in the same place and before it had no problem.
Thank you!!
Hi Mery.
Have you always had it in the same pot? If so, it will most likely need more space to continue to grow properly.
And if you recently changed it to a larger one, then it may need compost. To pay it, it is advisable to use, following the indications that you will find on the package, universal fertilizer for plants for example.
Greetings.
Hi Monica, I have a Dieffenbachia that I take care of a lot and it is very beautiful, but lately I am noticing that the lower leaves are very arched and I do not know what it could be ...
Hello Natalia.
It is normal that the leaves below, the oldest, end up dying. Do not worry. As long as new leaves are sprouting and the plant is healthy, there is no problem.
Greetings.
My diffenbachia does not open the leaves. Five have come out and none have developed. They have good color and even a new shoot has grown near the ground and its leaves that do not open either. I don't overwater it and it's next to a window. That could be happening? Thanks.
Hello, I am from Barcelona and I think that my dieffenbachia has a plague of thrips, they are elongated and tiny black bugs of about 2-3 mm. How can I remove them? In addition, its leaves begin to look dead at their tips and some necrosis of a lower leaf. I would appreciate the help.
Hi John.
Yes, they may be trips, in the link you can see them.
You can remove them with soap and water if you want. Greetings!