Lush foliage is the whole reason to grow dieffenbachia, a tropical houseplant native to Central America and Brazil that earns its keep indoors on leaves alone. Stand it near a window that lets plenty of light through but out of direct sunlight, and it stays handsome — though the plant is poisonous and needs handling with gloves.
Dieffenbachia at a glance
Name
Diffenbachia x hybrida
Family
Araceae
Type
indoor plant
Height
1 ⅓ to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 meter) indoors
Exposure
very well-lit
Soil
soil mix
Foliage
evergreen
Care, repotting, watering and exposure are as many small things to do that will make your dieffenbachia even more lush.
Planting and re-potting of dieffenbachia
Upon purchasing, if the pot is too small, proceed to repot so that the plant may grow adequately.
After that, every 2 or 3 years and preferably in spring, repot your dieffenbachia in a pot of a slightly larger size.
The roots hate excess water.
Verify that the pot has proper holes at the bottom, and increase drainage with a layer of gravel or clay pebbles along the bottom of the pot, to make water flow through more easily.
Good soil mix is needed.
The plant, since it lives indoors, needs soil mix because that is its only source for the nutrients it needs.
Where to place the dieffenbachia
The best place to set up your plant is near a window that lets a lot of light through, but isn’t in direct sunlight.
Indeed, this plant is vulnerable to excess sun, and even tolerates part shade when outdoors.
Absolutely avoid setting it near heat sources such as radiators, because moisture is what this tropical plant most needs.
If leaves tend to turn whitish, it needs more light.
Dieffenbachia care through the year
What a dieffenbachia needs changes with the growing season: plenty of moisture and feed while it is in growth, much less once growth slows. The table below sums up the whole year at a glance.
Dieffenbachia care through the year
Season
Watering
Feeding
Other task
Early to mid-spring
Keep the soil mix moist
Liquid fertiliser as growth starts
Repot into a slightly larger pot every 2 or 3 years
Early spring to late summer
Regular but moderate; keep moist and check drainage
Green plant liquid fertiliser every 8 to 15 days
Spray the leaves with calcium-free water
Early autumn to late winter
Reduce watering; let the soil dry out first
Stop adding fertiliser
Keep away from radiators and other heat sources
Water moderately all year round: the roots hate excess water far more than a short dry spell.
Watering dieffenbachia
Regular but moderate watering is called for.
In spring and summer
Keep the soil mix moist and check that water drains properly.
Add green plant liquid fertilizer every 8 to 15 days during the growing phase.
Spray the leaves on a regular basis with calcium-free water.
In fall and winter
Reduce watering and wait for the soil to be dry before watering again.
Stop adding fertilizer.
Learn more about dieffenbachia
A marvelous indoor plant, dieffenbachia is however poisonous and must be handled with gloves to avoid risking intoxication.
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
