How to Take Care of Your Dieffenbachia

The Dieffenbachia, or Dumb Cane, is a great plant for beginner plant parents, or experienced ones, as they boast beautiful foliage in a variety of patterns as well as a relatively simple care routine. You may recognize them from the decor in malls, office spaces, or stores as they are very low maintenance once placed in an ideal location. Known as a popular plant that can handle lower light levels, these stunners can add colour to your plant collection with their unique patterns, coming in greens, creams, and yellows.

△ Dieffenbachia Camouflage Leaves

If that isn’t enough to convince you, the shape of their leaves can be broad or thin, long or round, all you have to do is figure out what you prefer and there will be a fit for you! OR you can buy them all, because I am sure there are plenty of locations in your home that a few of these guys would suit. As long as you do not overwater your Dieffenbachia, as this is the most common way of killing these beauties, your plant should require very little maintenance. Find out how to care for your new plant below.

Light Requirements

A bonus with this houseplant, it’s a beginner’s dream as it can handle most light conditions! The lowest light conditions that this plant can handle include the following:

Many plants are sold saying that they thrive in low to high light, however, that is not necessarily the case. There are quite a few options for plants that can be placed in lower light spaces, but they won’t thrive. They will become what people call “leggy”, meaning their growth is more stretched out and the leaves may grow thinner as they adjust to these lower light levels. If this is something you don’t necessarily care about, your Dieffenbachia will be just fine if it is slightly less compact and dense, just watch you don’t overwater it!

△ 6" Dieffenbachia Tiki

However, if this is something you do care about, here are some ideal light conditions for you to keep your plant looking lush and full:

The more variegation, your Dieffenbachia variety has, the more light it needs, just as with any other plant! If your plant has lots of creams and yellows in it, it’ll probably need brighter light to keep those colours rich and vibrant compared to a variety that is just different shades of green. It is also smart to rotate your plant, especially if only one side is facing the light source, this will allow for even growth on all sides.

Now, remember, this may change during the Winter months, as there is much less light than in the Spring/Summer months. The days are shorter and the sun hides its beautiful, warm face way too much for a plant's liking. When these days arrive, you may have to move your plant closer to its light source or invest in grow lights to compensate, but check out more information on this in our “How to Care for Your Plants in the Winter” article.

Watering Requirements

In the Spring/Summer months, when you notice the top of the soil appears dry and the first couple inches of soil are dry to the touch, water the plant thoroughly with lukewarm water until it is coming out of the drainage holes. This is generally every 7-10 days but everyones home environment is different. Aerate the soil beforehand so that water reaches the whole root ball. Do not let it sit in water though as that can produce root rot, so if the plant is in a decorative pot, ensure all the runoff is dumped out. Dieffenbachia are prone to overwatering issues so make sure you keep the soil evenly moist but not wet and soggy.

△ Dieffenbachia Panther Leaves

In the Winter months, you can ease up on watering as plants tend to go dormant in our cold weather, about every 2 weeks when the majority of the soil is dry. Wipe or dust off the leaves more often in winter as well because that is the optimal time for pests to set up shop.

Plant Tip: If you are noticing that the water is running right through the pot rather than absorbing in the soil, try watering from the bottom of the plant by setting it in a bowl of water for roughly 30 minutes!

One thing to always remember: the more light your plant is getting, the more water it will need, and vice versa. If your plant is in a spot that receives very bright light, it will need more water than the Dieffenbachia placed in what I described as a lower light spot above. Keep that in mind when watering your plant and adjust as needed!

Showering your plant off every other week is also a good idea, whether with the hose outside or in your shower, as this not only waters the plant but also washes off any dust and potential pests. Avoid letting water sit on the leaves for too long, however, as this can cause rotting spots from excess moisture. Just make sure to coincide this showering off with your regular watering schedule so as not to overwater your plant.

Humidity

Dieffenbachia can handle all environments but most plants will often prefer humid environments, so if you have the time, and want to make the effort, you can:

Without this added humidity, you may notice some browning at the tips of the leaves but this is natural and nothing is wrong with your plant, as long as it is not a pest or watering problem. Also, ensure your plant is not near a draft, most tropical plants don’t like them, so keep your plant away from any vents or windows (especially when the weather is cold).

Fertilizing

Thankfully, Dieffenbachia are not too picky when it comes to fertilizer, and they really don’t need it that often. Fertilize once a month through the Spring and Summer months and then do not fertilize throughout the Winter, unless they seem to be actively growing. Just use a generic house plant fertilizer that any greenhouse, garden centre, or plant shop offers!

Toxicity

The one downside of Dieffenbachia is that they are toxic to both humans and pets, so keep them out of reach of interested hands and mouths. Always wear gloves when you are dealing with leaf removal or trimming as the needle-like calcium oxalate crystals, called raphides, can cause severe burning and swelling of human (or animal) tissues, both internal and external. Their common name "Dumb Cane" comes from their toxicity, as, when its sap is ingested, the swelling of the tongue and throat can lead to loss of speech.

Common Pests & Problems

Dieffenbachia are generally unbothered by pests and problems but here are some common problems you could run into if you don’t properly care for your plant:

With all that being said, Dieffenbachia are a great plant to have in your home, they purify the air you breathe and are a breeze to take care of, just don't take a bite of one!