Plant of the Week - Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental, especially as a house plant, and has become naturalized on a few tropical islands.

Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant with straight stem, simple and alternate leaves containing white spots and flecks, making it attractive as potted foliage. Species in this genus are popular as houseplants because of their tolerance of shade. The common name, "Dumb Canes" refers to the poisoning effect of raphides, which can cause temporary inability to speak; for this reason it is also known as the mother-in-law plant. 

Cultivation
With a minimum temperature of 41 °F, dieffenbachia must be grown indoors in temperate areas. They need light, but are extremely tolerant of shade and would do well in decorative pots by an entryway or on a patio area. They also need moderately moist soil, which should be regularly fertilized. Leaves will periodically roll up and fall off to make way for new leaves. Yellowing of the leaves is generally a sign of problematic conditions, such as a nutrient deficiency in the soil. Dieffenbachia respond well to hot temperatures and dry climates.

How To Grow
The Dieffenbachia prefers medium sunlight, moderately dry soil and average temperatures of 62 – 80 °F so it will thrive well for most of the year in Arizona. Watering it about twice a week will suffice, but should be watered more frequently in summer.

Caring for Dieffenbachia Plants

Dieffenbachia plants are beautiful and many gardeners choose them for their decorations. These plants are often grown because of their unique, striking foliage. If you wish to grow these plants for the first time, here’s some good news: it’s easy to learn all the basics pretty quickly so you can start growing your Dieffenbachia plants very quickly.

This plant is also known as “dumb cane” on the market. The name comes from the plant’s toxic sap. Keep in mind that ingesting it can cause a temporary inability to speak. Another, shorter name for a Dieffenbachia plant is “Dieff”, and it’s often used because it’s easier to spell.

Before you start, you need to know that there are many varieties of the “dumbcane” plants on the market. Some varieties are very small, almost dwarf. On the other hand, there are also very large varieties you can find, such as Dieffenbachia amoena. The choice is all yours and it depends on your preferences. Both varieties can easily be grown. These plants can easily reach a height of about 4 to 5 feet (if you don’t choose the dwarf variety). 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

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