How to Care for Dieffenbachia Plants

Dieffenbachia houseplant in a pot.
Photo Credit
Ekaterina_str
Botanical Name
Dieffenbachia spp.
Plant Type
Sun Exposure
Hardiness Zone
Subhead

Caring and Propagating Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

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Also known as the dumb cane or leopard lily, dieffenbachia is a beginner-level houseplant that tolerates low to medium light. Its colorful leaves are perfect for brightening dark corners where other houseplants won’t grow! Learn how to keep dieffenbachia happy and thriving for many years with our plant care guide.

About Dieffenbachia Plants

In the wild, dieffenbachia grows as understory plants in the dappled light of humid rainforests throughout South and Central America. They can be grown outdoors in North America but only in hardiness Zones 10 through 12. Indoors, these plants prefer similar conditions and thrive in bright, indirect sun and high humidity. That said, dieffenbachia isn’t that picky about its environment and can tolerate average indoor humidity and low light, too!

When dieffenbachia are cultivated in the garden, they can stretch up to 10 feet tall and occasionally produce subtle, greenish-white blooms similar to peace lily flowers. As houseplants, dieffenbachia usually stay much smaller and rarely bloom—but that doesn’t detract from their charms! Even without their flowers, dieffenbachia delights with large, thick leaves that often come in variegated, patterned leaves displaying speckles, splotches, or stripes in shades of green, cream, yellow, or white.

Dieffenbachia plant in a pot by the window
Dieffenbachia plant grows well in bright, indirect light. Credit: KELENY

Most growers keep dieffenbachia as a tabletop or floor plant in bedrooms, offices, and living room spaces. However, positioning dieffenbachia in a well-lit and steamy bathroom makes it easy to meet this plant’s humidity needs and make your home a little greener. 

One warning, though—dieffenbachia are toxic and should be kept away from small children and pets! 

Planting

Indoors, this houseplant grows best in bright, indirect sun or partial shade, but it will also tolerant full shade. Keep temperatures between 60° and 75°F, which works well for a house environment. 

While dieffenbachia can be grown in any well-draining container, terracotta pots are ideal as they dry out quickly and can ward off root rot. Small dieffenbachia can be grown in 4- to 6-inch wide containers, but larger plants need roomy 10- to 14-inch pots for proper growth. Healthy dieffenbachia plants grow fast, so it’s wise to repot them every year in spring! 

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia Exotica) leaf close-up.
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia Exotica) leaf close-up. Credit: Sajis De Silva

How to Repot Dieffenbachia

Before repotting dieffenbachia, don your gardening gloves. Dieffenbachia sap is a skin irritant!

  1. To repot dieffenbachia, hold your plant’s stems in one hand and use your other hand to wriggle the roots free from the pot. If the pot isn’t budging, use a butter knife to loosen the soil around the pot’s rim.
  2. Add a few inches of well-draining potting mix to the base of your new growing container and position your plant in the pot so it’s at the same level it was growing in its old container.
  3. Fill the space around your plant’s roots with more potting soil, and then firm the soil around the plant’s stems to keep them upright. 
  4. Water well and place your plant friend in a location with indirect sun if possible.

Growing

There are about 50 species of dieffenbachia plants, but only a few of them are common enough to be sold at plant nurseries. Leaf size, color, and variegation patterns vary between dieffenbachia species, but most dieffenbachia have the same basic care needs!

Light

Most types of dieffenbachia prefer bright, filtered light and east- or west-facing windows, but these plants can also be grown in shade. Just remember that lower light conditions will slow their growth, while too much direct sun can scorch their leaves. To keep dieffenbachia from stretching towards the light, rotate your plant’s pot a quarter turn every time you water.

Water

Dieffenbachia prefers consistently moist soil but is vulnerable to overwatering and root rot. To avoid watering issues, keep dieffenbachia in pots with drainage holes and water them about once a week or when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry. After watering, pour out any excess water pooling in your plant saucers to keep plants from sitting in soggy soil.

Fertilizer

To ensure deffenbachia produces lots of lush leaves, feed your plants every 4 to 6 weeks from spring through early fall. A balanced, liquid, organic fertilizer diluted to half strength is perfect for these plants. You can also feed them with slow-release fertilizers or fertilizer stakes—these products should be applied according to the application instructions on the fertilizer packaging.

Humidity

Dieffenbachia loves extra humidity, and they thrive when humidity levels are at 60% or higher. However, dieffenbachia isn’t as fussy about humidity as some tropical houseplants, and they usually get by at average indoor humidity levels. If your plant’s leaves turn brown and crispy at the edges, group your houseplants closer together and add a humidifier or pebble tray to raise humidity!

Seasonal Care

As with other houseplants, dieffenbachia grow more slowly during winter and don’t need as much water or fertilizer. These plants should also be protected from drafty windows, air conditioning, and heating units, as temperature extremes can cause dieffenbachia to drop their leaves.

Throughout the year, remove yellow or damaged leaves as needed with sterilized scissors, and always wash your hands thoroughly when you’re done. Over time, dieffenbachia plants will naturally lose their lower leaves and develop sparsely leafed canes. When this occurs, cut the plant’s stem back to about 1 foot, allow the rooted stem section to grow new leaves, and save the top section of the stem for propagation!

Dieffenbachia houseplant near window.
Dieffenbachia cutting repotted. Credit: Giedre Vaitekune

Dieffenbachia Propagation

There are many ways to propagate dumb cane: from stem cuttings, root division, or entire stem sections. For best results, propagate dieffenbachia in spring, and remember to wear your gardening gloves!

  • To propagate stem cuttings, take 3- to 5-inch cuttings from healthy stems at a leaf node, remove the lower leaves, and let the cutting dry overnight. Dip the cut stem end in water and rooting hormone, and plant it horizontally or vertically in individual pots filled with damp potting mix. Place the cutting in bright indirect light, and water regularly to keep the soil moist. Repot the cutting (if needed) once roots form.
  • To divide dieffenbachia roots, wait until your plant produces an offshoot with several leaves and a healthy nest of roots. Then, use sterilized pruners to clip the offshoot off the parent plant and plant it in its own pot!
  • To propagate larger stem sections, save the upper portion of dieffenbachia plants after pruning and remove the lower leaves. Let the stem dry overnight, dip the cut stem end in water and rooting hormone, and plant it in a pot filled with damp potting mix. Place the cutting in bright, indirect light, water regularly, and wait for roots to sprout.
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Wit and Wisdom

  • Dieffenbachia belongs to the Araceae plant family, which includes other popular houseplants like peace lilies and flamingo flowers. These plants are also related to skunk cabbages, although they don’t emit skunky smells!
  • According to traditional lore, dieffenbachia plants are associated with protection and can be used symbolically to ward against the evil eye. 
  • These plants are named after Joseph Dieffenbach, the head gardener of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Vienna in the 19th century and allegedly the first person to bring Dieffenbachia plants from Brazil to Europe in the 1830s.
  • The nickname “dumb cane” comes from the fact that the plant’s sap is poisonous. Chewing the stem or leaves could cause mouth swelling and loss of speech, rendering one “dumb” (so don’t do that!).

Pests/Diseases

In general, indoor dieffenbachia are pest- and disease-free. But if you notice drooping leaves or other signs of stress, there are a few common culprits.

  • Pests, like spider mites, whiteflies, and scale, will sometimes target dieffenbachia plants. Treat these pests with weekly applications of organic soap or neem oil spray when the sun isn’t shining.
  • Yellowing or browning leaves are usually caused by watering issues, but they can also result from nutrient deficiencies. If your plant develops dark splotches on its leaves and the soil feels soggy, investigate the roots for signs of rot.
  • Drooping leaves and stems can result from too much or too little sun, but they can also occur if dieffenbachia plants get too cold or they don’t receive enough water. Assess your plant’s growing environment to pinpoint the cause!
About The Author

Lauren Landers

Lauren is a gardener, writer, and public speaker with over a decade of experience helping others learn about gardening, homesteading, and sustainable living. Read More from Lauren Landers
 

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