Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine) Flower, Leaf, Care, Uses

The dieffenbachia plant should be watered when the top two inches of soil become dry. In general, the soil should be kept very lightly moist at all times throughout the growing season between spring and fall. The leaves of this species will shrivel if it is not watered frequently enough. With adequate water, the leaves will harden and become more resilient.

Fertilization

The dieffenbachia plant is considered a heavy feeder, so it is advisible to fertilize this species. This plant will grow well with a complete 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer and should be applied every four to six weeks during the active growing season. During dormancy between fall and winter, this species can be fertlized less frequently.

Pruning

Trim the dead, diseased, overgrown branches in winter.

Potting Suggestions

Needs excellent drainage in pots.

Sunlight

Water plantains and allies

Partial sun, Full shade

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Dieffenbachia

Water

Every week

Sunlight

Partial sun

Hardiness Zones

10 to 12

Planting Time

All year around

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Questions About Dieffenbachia

Watering

Pruning

Sunlight

Temperature

Fertilizing

What is the best way to water my Dieffenbachia?

There are plenty of viable ways to supply your Dieffenbachia with water. If you grow your plant in an indoor pot, for the Dieffenbachias in small pots, you can bring your potted plant to your kitchen sink. Then, use the faucet to add water to the container. By holding the pot in your hands, you should easily notice when the water begins to run through the pot’s drainage holes, at which point you can stop watering. The cold temperature will hurt the plants' root system, so please don't do this during winter or in cold climates. Most of the time, watering via your faucet is permissible for the Dieffenbachia. However, if the local tap water contains a high proportion of fluorine, chlorine or salts, you should consider using rainwater or lake water.

Also, since the Dieffenbachia can respond well to overhead watering and watering directly into the soil, you can use a watering can, hose, or just about any tool you’d like to water it.

What should I do if I water my Dieffenbachia too much or too little?

If you discover that you have underwatered your Dieffenbachia, your first step towards remedying the situation is to give your plant some water. Water deeply until excess water runs from the container’s drainage hole, or if you grow outside, water until the soil has become entirely moist. If you find your Dieffenbachia is receiving too much water, begin by reducing your watering schedule. You also want to address the soil and container your Dieffenbachia grows in. If either the soil or the container makes it difficult for water to drain efficiently, your plant will likely become overwatered again. Resolve the issue by moving your plant to looser soils and/or a container with bigger drainage holes or a more porous material. Also check the location of the plant. If the plant is in places like a corner, then it is recommended to move it to a window or around a door to enhance ventilation. Making sure the plants are in a well-ventilated location can reduce the occurrence of overwatering to some extent.

How often should I water my Dieffenbachia?

The Dieffenbachia is not a species that requires consistent soil moisture. Instead, it is better to allow this plant’s soil to become dry between waterings. If you are like the many gardeners who grow Dieffenbachias in containers, you can judge whether or not it is time to add water by how dry the soil within the container is. For instance, if about top half of the soil in your container has become dry, it is time to add water. You can feel it by inserting your fingers or sticks into the soil or with soil moisture meter. For those who grow the Dieffenbachia outdoors, you can plan to do your watering about once every other week, provided it has not rained recently.

How much water does my Dieffenbachia need?

After waiting for the first several layers of soil surrounding your Dieffenbachia’s root to become dry（top half of the soil）, it is time to add enough water to make them moist again. The amount of water it takes to achieve that goal depends on if you use a container, how large that container is, and how large your plant itself is. For a small Dieffenbachia growing in a small to a medium-sized container, one to two cups may be enough to dampen the soil sufficiently. As you would expect, the volume of water you supply should increase for a larger plant. The best way to make sure your plant has received enough water is to stick your finger or a trowel into the soil and feel whether it is entirely moist. Alternatively, you can water until you see excess water draining from the holes at the bottom of your container.

How can I tell if i'm watering my Dieffenbachia enough?

Overwatering and underwatering are both bad for the health of your Dieffenbachia. These two issues also manifest themselves in subtly different ways when they occur. Dieffenbachia that receives too little water may begin to develop yellow leaves. Underwatering may also cause the leaf margins to become brown and brittle. By contrast, Dieffenbachia that gets overwatered will often show yellow and brown marks on its leaves at the same time. Overwatering can also lead to diseases like root rot, some of which may also be visible on your plant. However, if you know the signs of overwatering and underwatering, you stand a good chance of correcting both issues.

How should I water my Dieffenbachia through the seasons?

During spring and fall, your watering schedule for the Dieffenbachia will remain relatively the same, which will involve watering this plant about once every week. During summer, you may find that the hot weather causes your plant to need more water than usual, especially if it grows where there is a considerable amount of daily light exposure. In the winter, if it's hard to find some warm places for you plant, your Dieffenbachia will enter a dormant growth phase, in which it will need far less water than usual. At this time, you may get by without watering your plant at all. If you do choose to water during winter, you should not do so more often than once every two to three weeks.

How should I water my Dieffenbachia at different growth stages?

After planting a new, young Dieffenbachia or after transplanting an older Dieffenbachia, you will probably need to give this plant more water than usual. Young plants often need consistent soil moisture during the early stages of their growth to help them adapt to their new growing locations. Transplants also need more water for a brief time to overcome transplant shock. In either case, you may need to water multiple times per week until your plant has exhibited continuous healthy growth. In most situations, your water should be moderate and should never be significant enough to cause overwatering.

What's the difference between watering Dieffenbachia indoors and outdoors?

There are a few reasons why you may need to water an indoor Dieffenbachia more often than one that grows in the ground outdoors. First, indoor growing settings tend to be drier than outdoor ones, often due to the effect of air conditioning units. While thw size of the pot and the soil determines the warer accumulating ability. Additionally, when your plant grows indoors, it will rely on you entirely for its water By contrast, Dieffenbachia that grows outside can receive water from rain. If you are in an area with high rainfall, you may not have to give it extra watering. When there is not enough rain, you should water additionally to ensure that the soil does not dry out completely.

Is pruning necessary for my Dieffenbachia?

It is helpful to lightly prune this plant periodically during the spring and summer. When performing this light pruning, you should search for leaves that have wilted, become discolored, show signs of disease, or have died completely. Remove dead or damaged leaves by cutting their petioles, or trimming off stems that have died. This will increase the light and ventilation of the plant and help it to grow. Some gardeners also choose to remove the flower buds of the Dieffenbachia. However, removing flower buds before they open is a strictly aesthetic decision that will emphasize the beauty of this plant’s showy leaves.

When should I prune my Dieffenbachia?

You can prune your Dieffenbachia any time you notice dead, diseased, or damaged leaves during the growing season. Once you notice such a leave, locate an unwanted leaf, then follow its stem all the way to the bottom of petiole. Removing dead stems will increase the light and ventilation of the plant and help it to grow. you can cut its stem just above the soil’s surface to remove it. Such pruning can take place as needed during spring and summer. Also, this plant can bloom any time between spring and fall, and some gardeners choose to remove flower buds before they have a chance to open. Removing unopened flower buds allows this plant to focus most of its growing energy on its beautiful leaves. However, pruning in this manner does not necessarily influence the plant’s overall health.

How do I prune my Dieffenbachia?

Pruning the Dieffenbachia is as easy as waiting until you notice dead or damaged leaves on your plant. When you recognize these leaves, equip yourself with a pair of sharp and sterile hand pruning shears. Hand pruning shears will work best as larger tools like loppers will not be well suited to the precise cuts you need to make. Once you have a proper set of pruning tools, locate an unwanted leaf, then follow its stem all the way to the bottom of petiole. Removing dead stems will increase the light and ventilation of the plant and help it to grow. Cut the stem just above where it exits the soil to remove it entirely. If you wish to stop this plant from flowering, you can use the same pruning shears to remove any buds before they open. Finally, you may prefer to just trim off dead or damaged portions of the plant, including deadheading spent flowers, to keep it looking its best. This can be done at any time of year. Diseased or damaged stems should be cut right at the soil line and removed completely. Blooms should be cut off just below the flower head.

What should I do after pruning my Dieffenbachia?

Since pruning for the Dieffenbachia should take place periodically throughout the season, what you do after pruning can vary. For instance, if you prune to remove selected leaves and stems from your Dieffenbachia, you won’t need to do anything except continue your regular maintenance routine. At times, you may choose to remove healthier leaves and include them in a display of cut flowers and foliage. However, there is no crucial maintenance task to perform for this plant after typical pruning. The only thing to note is that when watering after pruning, you need to be careful not to touch the wound to prevent fungus from infecting the plant through the fresh wound. Placing Dieffenbachia in a well-ventilated location will also help the wounds to dry out and heal in time. The timely replenishment of Dieffenbachia after pruning will help the Dieffenbachia to recover as soon as possible.

Are there any important tips when pruning my Dieffenbachia?

For your major pruning, use sharp pruning sheers that will make clean cuts to avoid damaging your plants. As you are pruning your Dieffenbachia, step back occasionally to check the appearance of the plant to make sure it has the shape you want and that you are pruning it symmetrically. If the overall growth of the plant is weak, the flowers need to be pruned back in time for flowering to be able to save nutrients for leaf growth and allow the plant to grow more vigorously.

What type of sunlight does Dieffenbachia need?

Dieffenbachia typically needs full, indirect sunlight in order to thrive indoors. This means that the plant should be exposed to bright sunlight that doesn’t hit it directly from a window or another light source, like a grow light. You can easily protect it from direct sunlight by placing a sheer curtain between your Dieffenbachia and the window, or by placing it behind a part of the window with a dark screen.

How can I avoid damaging new Dieffenbachia with sunlight?

If this is your first time bringing your Dieffenbachia home, then it might be a good idea to try to ease it into the sunlight it needs, rather than place it in bright, indirect light right away. Over the course of two weeks or so, you can slowly move your plant into the sunlight to avoid shock or burning of the leaves from sudden intense light exposure. By easing it into the light, your Dieffenbachia is much more likely to adapt to your home environment well.

How can I tell if Dieffenbachia is getting too much light?

Dieffenbachia is one that can easily sunburn with too much sunlight. In the wild, these plants only receive mild, dappled light, filtered down from tree canopies. While they need more light than that to grow in our homes, too much can certainly cause issues. If your Dieffenbachia is getting too much light, you’ll notice that the foliage begins to look bleached or washed out, the tips of leaves may turn yellow or brown and crispy, and it may even grow too quickly to support itself.

What should I do if my Dieffenbachia gets light damage?

Sunburn for plants is much less severe than sunburn for people. While it may look unsightly, crispy, burnt leaves can be removed if they’re too far damaged to recover, or over half of the leaf is damaged. However, you can also try trimming back the leaves just to remove any sunburn damage in an effort to save them, if there’s not too much discoloration. Move your Dieffenbachia away from its light source to avoid future light damage.

Does Dieffenbachia need different light during different growth stages?

While some plants may be ready to face the sweltering sun straight out of the ground, Dieffenbachia needs some time to build itself up enough to tolerate bright light. Propagated cuttings should receive only moderate indirect light, while new leaves during the growing season should be shielded a bit as well. The tender new leaves are more prone to sunburn than any other part of the plant.

How can I tell if Dieffenbachia isn’t getting enough light?

Fortunately, plants can communicate in their own language to convey whether they have adequate sunlight or not. Like most plants, your Dieffenbachia will tell you if it isn’t getting enough sunlight. The most visible sign is when your plant becomes particularly dark, or there is no new growth on the plant from one season to the next. You’ll also notice that leaves that do grow in may remain smaller than others, since there isn’t enough light to photosynthesize to support large new leaves.

How much sunlight should Dieffenbachia get each day?

Depending on how bright the sunlight is that your Dieffenbachia gets, the number of hours in a day may vary. If you have your plant in bright, indirect light, then there’s no need to try to restrict or increase the amount of time your plant gets this light each day. However, if light is less bright or further away from your Dieffenbachia, then you can try to aim for at least eight hours of full light per day.

What is the optimal temperature for Dieffenbachia?

For this tropical plant to thrive, you’ll want to keep them between 75℉ and 90℉ (25-32℃). Each species can handle temperatures outside of this range, but keeping it within several degrees of these limits will ensure they grow to their maximum potential.

As for its extreme temperature limits, any environment below 50℉ (10℃) or above 95℉ (35℃) will begin to hinder its growth and cause various aberrations to its leaves and stems. This is especially true with low temperatures; even a light frost can cause your tropical plants to perish. Cellular death can begin to happen at a rapid pace, with some species dying in as little as 12 to 24 hours.

Does Dieffenbachia require different temperatures for different growing phases?

While Dieffenbachia doesn’t require any changes in temperature to enter different growing phases, it is important to stay consistent. Wild temperature fluctuations can slow down its growth regardless of its current phase, so it's always better to keep them in a controlled environment. That optimal temperature range of 75℉ and 90℉ (25-32℃) is vital to maintain, especially staying above the lower limit. Going above 90℉(32℃) isn’t ideal, but as tropical plant it won’t suffer too much. On the other hand, going below 50℉ (10℃) (and especially 40℉/5℃) will begin to directly damage this heat-loving plant species.

Does Dieffenbachia need different temperatures for different seasons?

Dieffenbachia does not need different temperatures for different growing seasons. The most important step in seasonal care is to keep the environment within the optimal temperature range. That's why it's always best to keep this plant indoors. That way, you can control the temperature no matter what the climate is like outside.

Light is also important for tropical species, with all of these plants preferring a partial side level of sun exposure. This means any light they receive needs to be dappled or filtered, with bright but indirect light being the best option when growing your plants indoors. Too much direct sunlight can negatively affect your plant’s leaves, reducing its growth potential.

What are the temperature guidelines to keep your Dieffenbachia healthy?

Tip #1: Don’t Leave Your Plant Near Windows in Colder Months

If you want to make sure your plant isn’t exposed to colder temperatures, you may want to keep them away from windows. In colder months like late fall and winter, even the smallest draft can leak cold air into your home through cracks in your windows. While this air usually dissipates and warms up as it travels throughout your home, any plants placed in close proximity to the window will be affected. Move your tropical plants into an area where they will still get bright but indirect light, while making sure they won’t be affected by potential drafts.

Tip #2: If You Find Dry Patches, Your Plant May Be Getting Too Much Sunlight or Heat

You may notice the leaves become white or even scorched on a sunny day. These discolorations and unusual markings usually indicate that a plant is getting too much heat or sunlight, and it may be dehydrated. Excess light and heat will dry out the soil, stopping plants from getting the moisture they need to support their cellular structure. It also slows down or stops the process of photosynthesis, further hindering growth. If ignored for too long, these dry spots can spread and eventually result in the death of your plants.

Tip #3: Avoid Frost at All Costs

Colder temperatures and frost can damage your plants by causing ice crystals or disrupt normal physiological activity. This makes it nearly impossible for water to move freely throughout plant tissue, creating a deficit of moisture in their stems and leaves. You can tell a plant has been damaged by frost if it begins to suffer from hydrosis (it will appear as though it's soaked with water.) If the problem persists, your plants may begin shriveling and turning a dark brown or black hue. After that, the plant will almost certainly die.

What is the best way to maintain the right temperature for my Dieffenbachia?

The best way to maintain the right temperature range for Dieffenbachia is by keeping an eye on both the climate and humidity. You’ll want to try to keep each species in a room where you have access to climate control, keeping the heat in the temperature range best mimics its natural habitat. The humidity levels will also have a direct effect on temperature, so it's important to monitor these as well. You can artificially raise the humidity of your growing space by using a humidifier or lightly misting the leaves with water.

If you intend to grow this species outside, you may find it difficult to maintain the right balance of temperature and humidity. If temperatures begin to drop or the air becomes too dry, your best option is to find room within your home and move your plant inside. An indoor growing space will allow you to control the climate more closely, helping your plant reach its full potential.

Why do I need to fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

All plants rely on soil nutrients to facilitate their growth, and the Dieffenbachia is no exception. However, it is not always a guarantee that the soil in which your plants grow will have all of the nutrients required. Fertilization and soil amendments help ensure that the plants in your garden not only have the basic nutrients they need but also that they get the nutrients that are specifically necessary to them.

Dieffenbachia needs fertilizer to ensure that its roots and stems continue to develop in a healthy way throughout the growing season. Fertilization will also help a Dieffenbachia a set of leaves that looks fantastic, which is especially important for this plant since its foliage is its main point of ornamental appeal.

When is the best time to fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

A Dieffenbachia will need the greatest amount of fertilizer during the seasons in which it is actively growing. This active growth phase typically spans most of the months that make up spring, summer, and early fall.

Once winter ends, you should plan to feed your Dieffenbachia about once every two to four weeks. Continue feeding at this rate until the fall months arrive. Once fall arrives, you can reduce your fertilization rate, reducing the amount of fertilizer you give gradually until you cease feedings entirely in anticipation of winter, when the Dieffenbachia will have far less active growth.

When should I avoid fertilizing my Dieffenbachia?

Throughout most of the year, including spring, summer, and most of the fall, you should continue feeding your Dieffenbachia regularly. The only exception to this is if you notice that your Dieffenbachia has received too much fertilizer or if you have managed to fertilize your Dieffenbachia incorrectly, causing fertilizer burn or some other issue that you'll need to remedy before returning to a regular feeding schedule.

The only time of year when you should not fertilize a Dieffenbachia is during winter. If you grow this plant indoors in an area where the winters are cold, it will enter a dormant phase during the winter. Feeding this plant during its dormant phase is not only unnecessary and unhelpful to this plant's growth, but it is also very likely to cause fertilizer burn.

What type of fertilizer does my Dieffenbachia need?

The fertilizer for a Dieffenbachia has a specific blend of nutrients, each of which is present in relatively low amounts. An ideal fertilizer will have an N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2. However, a general-purpose fertilizer that has an even blend of nutrients can work well in some cases. Still, even when using a balanced fertilizer, the ratio number representing the volume of each nutrient should be at 10 or lower.

The fertilizer you use can be either granular or liquid based. If you choose to use a liquid-based fertilizer, it is often best to dilute the strength by half. While there is not much downside to granular fertilizer, it is often most sensible to use liquid fertilizer, especially if you feed your Dieffenbachia while you supply water.

How do I fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

The fertilizer that you purchase for your Dieffenbachia will likely come with application instructions that you should follow in most cases. However, for a Dieffenbachia, you should always fertilize just before or while you are watering the soil, as this will prevent the fertilizer from burning the plant's roots.

If you use a slow-release granular fertilizer, you should sprinkle it on the soil and then provide water immediately after. If you use a liquid-based fertilizer, you should dilute it with water, apply it to the soil, then supply a bit more water. Diluting your fertilizer by at least half is especially important in spring and fall when the plant's growth is ramping up and decelerating, respectively.

What happens if I fertilize my Dieffenbachia too much?

Since it is advisable to fertilize your Dieffenbachia every few weeks throughout the growing season, overfertilization is not often an issue. However, it remains possible for this to occur. If you overfertilize your Dieffenbachia, you may notice accumulations of excess fertilizer on the soil’s surface and foliage discoloration.

Fertilizer burn is the most common issue you should worry about when feeding a Dieffenbachia. This issue occurs when you overfertilize, fail to dilute your fertilizer, or when don’t water during and after fertilization. In any of those cases, the fertilizer can draw moisture out of your plant’s roots, causing it to dry out. Often, fertilizer burn will manifest with browning and yellowing of this plant’s leaves.

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Common Pests & Diseases

Common issues for Dieffenbachia based on 10 million real cases

Brown spot

This infection can cause brown spots or patches to appear on the plant.

Solutions: In minor cases of brown spot, there isn’t any need to treat the disease. However, if much of the foliage is affected and defoliation occurs, the plant will benefit from getting rid of the infection. It is recommended to start by applying organic treatment options, working up to the more potent synthetic, chemical fungicides if necessary. Organic options won’t kill the fungus, but will prevent it from spreading. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of liquid soap in a gallon of water. Using a spray bottle, spray on tops and bottoms of leaves until the mixture drips off. Repeat every two weeks until existing spots stop enlarging and new spots no longer appear. Spray a copper-based fungicidal soap on the leaves, coating the top and bottom leaf surfaces. Reapply as directed on the product label. Copper penetrates the leaf surface and prevents germination of spores so the fungus cannot spread. Apply an all-purpose fungicide to the entire plant, following the label instructions carefully.

Underwatering

Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.

Solutions: The easiest (and most obvious) way to address underwatering is to fully hydrate the plant. However, this must be done carefully. A common mistake that many gardeners make is to douse their underwatered plants with water. This can overwhelm the roots of the plant and shock its system, something that can be even more damaging than the lack of water to begin with. Instead, water thoroughly and slowly, taking breaks to let the water slowly saturate through the soil to get to the roots. Use room temperature water, as cold water might be too much of a shock. In the future, shorten the time between waterings. A good rule of thumb is to check the soil around each plant daily. If it’s dry to at least two inches down, it’s time to water. If a container plant is repeatedly drying out very quickly, repotting into a slower-draining container might be a good idea, too.

Aged yellow and dry

Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.

Solutions: If the yellowing and drying of leaves and flowers is a natural progression due to age, nothing can be done to slow or stop the process. Once hormones within the plant begin the process of senescence, it’s irreversible.

Leaf rot

This pathogen can cause the leaves to rot.

Solutions: Bacterial infections need to be treated quickly to prevent the spread to neighboring, healthy plants, potentially wiping out large sections of your indoor or outdoor garden. In mild cases: Use sterilized (10% bleach solution) pruning shears or scissors to remove any infected plant parts, making sure to dispose of them off site. Use a copper-based bactericide to treat the unaffected foliage, as well as the soil, and neighboring plants. Follow the manufacturer’s rate and timing directions found on the product label. In severe cases, where more than half the leaves are affected: Remove all of the infected plants from the garden, disposing of them off site. Treat the soil and neighboring plants using a copper-based bactericide. Follow the manufacturer’s rate and timing directions found on the product label.

Leaf tips withering

Low air humidity can cause the edges of the leaves to dry out.

Solutions: If your plant has only a few dried tips, complete the following: Increase humidity. Increase the humidity around your plant by misting it with a spray bottle daily. Alternatively, you can use a humidifier. Water plant. If your soil is dry, water until the soil is moist but not damp. Water again when soil dries out. If a large portion of the leaves is suffering from dry tips, complete the following: Prune away affected tissue. Using sharp and clean pruning shears, remove the dried out tips using clean cuts to avoid harming healthy tissue. Plant tissue will heal on its own, but you can apply a pruning seal for extra protection.

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Toxicity

* The judgment on toxicity and danger is for reference only. We DO NOT GUARANTEE any accuracy of such judgment. Therefore, you SHALL NOT rely on such judgment. It is IMPORTANT TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE in advance when necessary.

Toxic to Dogs

All parts of the dieffenbachia are moderately toxic to dogs when ingested. Symptoms include burning and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat due to the sap's needle-like crystals embedding in the tissues. Difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur; a trip to the vet may be necessary if these symptoms grow more severe, as they are sometimes fatal. Even topical exposure to the sap can cause skin irritation.

Toxic to Cats

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine) is moderately toxic to pets. Chewing any part of the plant will release calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, causing pain and swelling, and ingestion may cause vomiting. Occasionally the airway will swell as well, rendering it difficult for the cat to breathe. In such cases, veterinary intervention may be necessary.

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Distribution Map

Habitat

Edge of a wetland slough, trail up mountain, mature forest

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

More Info

Plant Type

Herb

Flower Color

Green

White

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

White

Variegated

Symbolism

protection from negativity

Usages

Garden Use

Dieffenbachia is a common ornamental perennial grown as a house plant. The lovely variegated leaves are its most prized feature, giving a boost of color and interest to what otherwise may be an uninteresting area of the house. Dieffenbachia is perfect for those who don't have access to an outside garden and want an easy-to-care-for plant to bring indoors. Houseplants that require similar growing conditions, such as the spider plant, will be great companions.

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Family

Arum

Genus

Dumb canes

Species

Dieffenbachia

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Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia seguine

Also known as: Poison arum

Every week

Water

Partial sun

Sunlight

Toxic to Pets

Care Guide for Dieffenbachia

Water

Fertilization

Pruning

Potting Suggestions

Needs excellent drainage in pots.

Sunlight

Partial sun, Full shade

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Questions About Dieffenbachia

Watering

Pruning

Sunlight

Temperature

Fertilizing

What is the best way to water my Dieffenbachia?

What should I do if I water my Dieffenbachia too much or too little?

How often should I water my Dieffenbachia?

How much water does my Dieffenbachia need?

How can I tell if i'm watering my Dieffenbachia enough?

How should I water my Dieffenbachia through the seasons?

How should I water my Dieffenbachia at different growth stages?

What's the difference between watering Dieffenbachia indoors and outdoors?

Is pruning necessary for my Dieffenbachia?

When should I prune my Dieffenbachia?

How do I prune my Dieffenbachia?

What should I do after pruning my Dieffenbachia?

Are there any important tips when pruning my Dieffenbachia?

What type of sunlight does Dieffenbachia need?

How can I avoid damaging new Dieffenbachia with sunlight?

How can I tell if Dieffenbachia is getting too much light?

What should I do if my Dieffenbachia gets light damage?

Does Dieffenbachia need different light during different growth stages?

How can I tell if Dieffenbachia isn’t getting enough light?

How much sunlight should Dieffenbachia get each day?

What is the optimal temperature for Dieffenbachia?

Does Dieffenbachia require different temperatures for different growing phases?

Does Dieffenbachia need different temperatures for different seasons?

What are the temperature guidelines to keep your Dieffenbachia healthy?

What is the best way to maintain the right temperature for my Dieffenbachia?

Why do I need to fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

When is the best time to fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

When should I avoid fertilizing my Dieffenbachia?

What type of fertilizer does my Dieffenbachia need?

How do I fertilize my Dieffenbachia?

What happens if I fertilize my Dieffenbachia too much?

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Common Pests & Diseases

Common issues for Dieffenbachia based on 10 million real cases

Brown spot

This infection can cause brown spots or patches to appear on the plant.

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Underwatering

Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.

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Aged yellow and dry

Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.

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Leaf rot

This pathogen can cause the leaves to rot.

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Leaf tips withering

Low air humidity can cause the edges of the leaves to dry out.

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Toxicity

Toxic to Dogs

Toxic to Cats

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Distribution Map

Habitat

Edge of a wetland slough, trail up mountain, mature forest

Map

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

More Info

Plant Type

Herb

Flower Color

Green

White

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

White

Variegated

Symbolism

protection from negativity

Usages

Garden Use

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Water plantains and allies

Family

Arum

Genus

Dumb canes

Species

Dieffenbachia

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