How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia – also known as the dumb cane plant – is one of the top ten most popular indoor plants out there. It’s easy to care for and has beautiful variegated green and white foliage.

Part of what makes it so easy for most people is that it doesn’t need direct sunlight. The dark green leaves of this tropical plant thrive in the conditions that exist in most homes. There are so many different Dieffenbachia species that you’ll easily find something that fits your home’s aesthetic.

In this guide, we’ll cover Dieffenbachia from A to Z – its care, propagation, pests, diseases, and common problems.

Let’s get started!​

What is Dieffenbachia?

Dieffenbachia species are also known as dumb cane or leopard lily plants. They are all members of the Araceae family, or the family that includes peace lilies.

Native Area

These flowering perennials come from Central and South America, with more prevalence in Mexico, Argentina, and the West Indies. If left unpruned, the plant will resemble a palm tree. This is what Dieffenbachia looks like in the wild. They grow on forest floors under the shade of canopy trees. Most cultivars have white speckles on the leaves, though not all cultivars have this feature.

Characteristics

All species grow a characteristic spadex flower (think, peace lily flower) and these tend to bloom in the wild. They may bloom in domestic environments, but it’s not as common. The flowers are white, with a spiked inflorescence. In the wild, these are pollinated by beetles.

The name “dumb cane” name comes from the fact that the leaves contain raphides, which can poison you and leave you unable to speak for a period of time. Dumb cane is poisonous to humans. Ingestion can cause the mouth and throat to burn and swell. In severe cases the swelling can block airways resulting in suffocation.

According to the ASPCA, Dieffenbachia is toxic to cats and dogs. ​The leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate their mouths and prevent them from performing many normal functions, such as swallowing.

Varieties

There are over 30 different species of Dieffenbachia and over 100 different cultivars, which I can’t cover in this section. But here are a few of them stand out over the rest:​

Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’

‘Camille’ is one of the most popular cultivars out there and probably the one you’ll see at a garden center. It’s well-known for the deep-cream color that fills the middle of each leaf. It prefers more shade than most types of dieffenbachias.

Dieffenbachia amoena ‘Tropic Snow’

‘Tropic Snow’ grows very tall at over six feet. The leaves are similar to ‘Camille’, but less consistently cream-colored in the middle.

Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Tropic Tiki’

‘Tropical Tiki’ is one of the biggest dumb cane plants at two and a half feet tall to three and a half feet wide. Its leaves are silver, cream, green, and heavily variegated. It’s one of the coolest-looking Dieffenbachias out there.

Dieffenbachia ‘Hilo’

‘Hilo’ differs from the cultivars mentioned above due to its lime green variegation mixed in with a dark green base color. The only white found on this type is in the veins of the plant. It grows more upright at four feet tall and just one to two feet wide.

Planting

Planting Dieffenbachia requires proper care to thrive indoors or outdoors in a suitable climate. Choose a pot with good drainage and fill it with well-draining potting soil, such as a mix containing peat moss, perlite, or sand. When planting, ensure the root ball is covered with soil and positioned at a depth similar to its original pot – about one to two inches below the soil’s surface. Allow at least two to three inches of space between the soil surface and the pot’s rim to make watering easier.

How to Grow

Because the home basically mimics the natural habitat of Dieffenbachias, they are not hard to care for. Here are the basic needs of this lovely tropical, and most commonly indoor plant.

Light

Most dumb cane plants prefer a medium to bright light source. This means they shouldn’t be exposed to direct light but will thrive two to five feet away from a windowsill. Some cultivars prefer even less light, like ‘Camille’. You can get away with placing Dieffenbachia in pretty low-light situations. Place away from direct sunlight to avoid leaf scorching.

Water

The best way to water your dumbcane is to let it get moderately dry and then completely drench the soil. Keep in mind you can only use this method if you have a drainage hole in your pot. Without one you risk causing root rot and killing your plant.

Let the soil dry to one inch before repeating the process, and never let the soil get bone dry. In their native habitat, these plants tend to have consistently moist soil.

Soil

Like many houseplants, Dieffenbachias need soil that retains some water but also drains well. Standard potting soil may pack too tightly and drown out the roots, so mix in perlite or coarse sand to add aeration. If you want to make your own soil mix from scratch, here’s a good recipe: one part peat moss or humus, one part garden soil, one part perlite or coarse sand, and a pinch of lime​.

Temperature

Dumb canes thrive in temperatures between 60 and 80°F (16-27°C). Any dipping below temperatures of 50°F (10°C) and your plant will suffer cold damage. Heat above 90°F (32°C) can cause singed leaves.

Fertilizer

Dumb cane loves being fed at least twice a month. Use a high-quality houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength, but make sure it doesn’t have lime. Only fertilize during the growing season – you don’t need to feed it as often (or at all) during the winter months.​

Maintenance

Depending on the size of your Dieffenbachia, it may need to be re-potted as it grows. If you decide to re-pot, do it right as winter ends and the growing season is about to start. Pick a pot that is slightly bigger than the existing pot – do not over-pot it!​

Remove the plant from its original pot, and lightly dust the dirt off its roots. Pull them apart gently, and place them in the new pot, adding soil to pack it in. Water sparsely after repotting and continue your regular care regimen.

Although it’s not necessary to prune your dumb cane, you may want to trim it a bit to keep it under control. Important: Wear a good pair of gardening gloves when you prune this plant. The sap contains oxalate crystals that can irritate the skin if you have any open cuts.​

To prune, cut through the stems at a 45° angle with a sterilized pair of pruners, scissors or knife.​ Then water your plant after pruning.

Propagation

​There are three ways you can propagate your Dieffenbachia: air layering, suckers, and stem cuttings. It can be done at any time of the year.

To air layer, cut the plant about halfway through the stem with a sharp knife approximately one foot down from the plant top. Place a toothpick or other thin object into the stem to hold the soil mixture in place.​ Wrap some wet moss around the open cut and secure with plastic and rubber bands or strings. Once roots have formed, cut the new plant off below the roots and pot.​

You can propagate directly from stem cuttings as long as the stem has a section where new leaves and stems will grow on it.

After you cut the stem, place it horizontally in your soil mix and bury 50% of it. The “eye” of the leaf should be pointing upwards. Provide it with a lot of moisture and humidity to speed up the rooting process, which takes anywhere from two to four weeks.​

No matter how you decide to propagate, make sure and use a sterilized cutting tool. Dumb cane is very sensitive to bacteria.​

Common Problems

Overall, the Dieffenbachias are a hardy houseplant that’s easy to grow. A few types of bacteria can attack and decimate the plant, so be on the watch for these.

It’s also garnered controversy due to its toxicity for humans and pets alike, but as long as you’re careful you shouldn’t have any problems having it in your home.

Growing Problems

There are a number of improper growing conditions that cause yellow leaves. Moisture stress, improper lighting, and improper temperatures all are to blame. Remember to keep your plant in temperatures between 60 and 80°F (16-27°C) in indirect, but bright light. Water via soaking when the top inch of soil is dry.

Pests

The classic pests that affect most houseplants can also affect your Dieffenbachia: mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids.

For all of these bugs, you can try to wipe them off with a cotton swab doused in rubbing alcohol. That’s an effective tactic if you catch the infestation early. You can also try washing your plant’s leaves off in water, knocking them all off. You may need to do this three to four times to be sure you got everything.

Diseases

Most of the diseases that affect dumb cane will cause rot of some kind: Erwinia blight, xanthomonas leaf spot, fusarium stem rot, anthracnose leaf spot, myrothecium leaf spot and petiole rot, phytophthora stem, root rot, and leaf spot.

While each of these diseases has its own presentation, symptoms, and prevention, some general rules will prevent you from ever dealing with any of them.

Do not overwater your plant. Overwatering causes many types of disease due to standing water and its rotting effect.​

When making cuttings, transplanting, and re-potting, sterilize all of the gardening gear you use to avoid transferring disease.​​

Frequently Asked Questions