Dieffenbachia ( Dieffenbachia seguine , formerly Dieffenbachia picta and Dieffenbachia maculate ) offers nurseryman a striking foliage payoff for a minimum investment funds of care . Whether it ’s rise out of doors in its perennial grasp across U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 or indoors , dieffenbachia should be kept out of the reach of children and pets because of its toxic sap .
Water and Humidity
Because dieffenbachia is aboriginal to tropical mood , it prospers in moist soil and a moist atmosphere , which may be a fleck intriguing to supply in dry homes . Water typically evaporates apace from dieffenbachia ’s magnanimous leave , so keeping the soil moist – but not waterlogged – helps keep a plant life hydrated . Only the stain ’s airfoil should dry to the touch before you irrigate the plant again , and mostly you’re able to turn off back on lachrymation during fall and winter . Increase the humidness by grouping several plants together or by placing a works ’s jackpot on top of pebble in a water - fill tray .
Fertilization Regimen
Dieffenbachia is regard a heavy feeder , but giving it too much fertilizer can get the wind of its leave to burn . When the works take up nutrients from the dirt , any spare SALT in the fertilizer beyond what the works can apply are carried with weewee to the backsheesh of farewell . The water weeps out of the foliage tip and leaves the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks behind when it evaporates . This salty residuum is what burns the leaf tips . fertilise with 20 - 20 - 20 only every four to six weeks when dieffenbachia is actively growing , and withhold fertilizer when its growth slacken or stops , commonly is during the coolheaded months of fall and winter . Typically , you desegregate 2 teaspoons of 20 - 20 - 20 fertilizer in 1 gallon of water . piss bedding plants with the dissolve fertiliser at the rate of 1 quart per straight human foot and container industrial plant until the supernumerary water drains from the drain pickle .
Pruning and Precaution
Shorter varieties of dieffenbachia may not require rationalise , but tall plants be given to get leggy because of the natural red ink of their lower leave of absence . If you want a bushier plant , prune dieffenbachia by turn off it back anywhere along its canelike stem . If the plant has lose many of its blue leaves , prune it back to a 6 - inch prow . raw growth will come up below the undercut to rejuvenate the plant . For agile regrowth , pruning is best during times when dieffenbachia is actively growing . " Dumb cane " is dieffenbachia ’s coarse name because its toxic sap can annoy and inflame the mouth and outspoken chord of people and pets . Wear boxing glove while clip because the sap may also cause fretful pelt . Disinfect pruning tools by plume them for five arcminute in a solution of 1 part household pine - oil cleaner and 3 parts water . rinsing tools before using them on plants .
Pests and Other Problems
Most problems with this plant are because of cultural influence , such as unlawful lacrimation or undue fertilizing . Dieffenbachia prospers in collateral light ; direct sun may burn its leaves . Plants are typically not plagued by pestis or disease . Sap - fellate pests such as aphid , spider speck and mealybug may be from time to time pestiferous . Because insecticidal soap is too coarse for dieffenbachia , dislodge dirt ball plague with a current of water and rub leaf every few weeks with a damp cloth to keep pests at bay .
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