Dieffenbachia Plant: Care, Toxicity, and Tips for Thriving Varieties

Dieffenbachia came to us from the New World. For more than 150 years, it's been growing in our gardens and orchards. Even though it’s poisonous, people accept this little risk for the beauty and comfort this flora provides.

How to take care of a dieffenbachia plant? Discover in this article. Propagation tips and toxicity information are included.

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Dieffenbachia Overview

Dieffenbachia is a beautiful green tropical plant, popularly grown in houses nowadays. Funnily (in a slightly morbid way), this flora has a second name, Mother-in-law's tongue, which refers to the ability to cause temporary speech impairment. 

While the prospects of plant poisoning seem alarming, we own many poisonous flora without even knowing, like Croton. As long as you know how to handle this flora, you will be safe and sound.

Dieffenbachia Types and Varieties

This flora has a couple of interesting varieties, but even more interestingly, it has two species that are similar and different at the same time. But both can be grown indoors.

Dieffenbachia Maculata

This variety is a more popular one and has become synonymous with Dieffenbachias. 

The term maculata in Dieffenbachia Maculata plant means "spotted", referring to the speckled or variegated patterns on its leaves.

Among subvarieties of this species, the Dieffenbachia Crocodile plant is a big point of interest. It’s overall similar, but has more vibrant, yellow markings, and leaves that look more rugged.

Dieffenbachia Camille Plant

This species likely originates from Dieffenbachia seguine (or Macutala). It was cultivated, made to be used as an ornamental plant. 

Its leaves are slightly larger, and the pale pattern is more pronounced, taking over the whole leaf.

How to Care for a Dieffenbachia Plant

Would you like to grow a lush, large Dieffenbachia plant? It is possible, as long as you know the needs of this flora and follow the right guides. Here is one guide for you.

Light

This flora prefers bright, indirect light. It tolerates low to medium light, but growth slows and variegation (leaves) may fade.

Ideally, you should find a balance, otherwise, you might scorch the leaves or get a very small plant. For the perfect spot, indoor Dieffenbachia plants should stay away from the window, but still get light from the side.

Watering 

While this flora is not a big water drinker like Lucky Bamboo, it needs more water compared to most house flora.

Try to keep the soil moist, and water this flora every time the soil gets dry. In winter, when the growth stops and the need for water decreases, you can water it less often.

Remember that no matter how water-needy the plants are, don’t flood them, or they’ll develop root rot.

Temperature 

Keep this plant in a temperature range of 65–80°F (18–27°C). Drafts, cold air, or sudden temperature changes are dangerous and may disrupt this flora.

Never expose Dieffenbachia to temperatures below 50°F (10°C). It’s made for very warm climates, which is why you’ll never see a Dieffenbachia plant photo in winter outside.

Soil and Fertilizer 

A well-draining, peat-based potting mix works excellently with Dieffenbachia.
Considering it's an exotic plant like Peperomia, Palms, and others, you can use a mix for tropical houseplants.

Feed this flora every 4–6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Typical Problems

Let’s think of the perfect Dieffenbachia plant image. It’s lush, green, and stands upright… But not every Dieffenbachia house plant is perfect. You may encounter these common problems:

• Dieffenbachia plant yellow leaves. When untreated, the leaves start falling off. Yellowing is caused by overwatering or poor drainage. To fix the issue, install proper drainage and replant the shrub into the drained soil.

• Drooping or Wilting. Most often caused by underwatering or cold temperatures. To help the shrub recover, water thoroughly and consistently, and relocate it to a warmer location.

• Brown Leaf Tips or Edges. The leaf tips become dry and crispy due to low humidity or salt buildup from fertilizers. To fix it, you need to flush the soil with water.

Propagation Guide

What is propagation? It is the process of making new plants… from the old ones! To be more precise, by cutting their parts and making them grow into adult specimens.

How to split a Dieffenbachia plant and turn it into a new plant? Follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose and Cut the Stem

• Pick a healthy, thick stem (not too young or too woody).

• Cut a section about 4–6 inches long, with 1–2 nodes (nodes look like leaf bumps or rings).

Step 2: Prepare the Cutting

• Remove any leaves from the lower half of the stem to expose nodes.

• Let the cutting dry for a few hours. This helps prevent rot.

Step 3: Rooting 

• The lower leaf nodes should turn into roots. To do that, place the cutting in a glass of clean water, submerging the lower node.

• Set the glass in bright, indirect light, and change the water every 3–4 days to prevent bacteria.

• Roots usually appear in 2–4 weeks. When they appear, you are free to plant a Dieffenbachia sapling in a permanent pot.

Dieffenbachia Benefits

Having a Dieffenbachia indoor plant can bring positive changes into your house. But what changes exactly? 

Indoor plant Dieffenbachia care is easy, and by spending a little bit of your time on this flora, you can improve air quality and add a bold accent to your interior design.

Toxicity for People and Pets

Let’s go over “targeted” categories one by one.

• Is Dieffenbachia toxic to people? Yes. It can cause poisoning if you ingest it and even numb your tongue temporarily. Wear gloves when you touch it, as prolonged contact can cause skin irritation.

• Is the Dieffenbachia plant toxic to cats? Yes, it is! This flora contains dangerous saps that, if ingested, can cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral pain, and vomiting. 

• Is the Dieffenbachia plant safe for cats if they don’t ingest it? It is still dangerous, though to a lesser degree. Prolonged contact may irritate the eyes.

• Is the Dieffenbachia plant toxic to dogs? Yes, it is toxic and can cause swelling, oral irritation, and difficulty swallowing. For bigger dogs, effects can be milder, but still unpleasant.

All in all, the Dieffenbachia plant cats combination is a bad one. This flora is worth keeping in your house, but just keep it away from curious pets.

AI Plant Finder

Imagine if you had a tool that could tell you everything about the flora you see? No matter if it’s a houseplant, a tropical tree, or a flower. An app like AI Plant Finder can do this and many more functions.

Some of the AI Plant Finder features:

• Instant plant identification by uploading a photo: The app provides species name, care tips, and general plant facts.

• Disease and pest diagnostics: Upload images of unhealthy leaves or stems to identify potential issues and receive suggested treatments.

• Light meter tool: Measures ambient light levels to help you place plants for optimal growth.

• Care reminders & plant journal: Helps track watering, fertilizing, repotting, and other plant care tasks via the “My Garden” section.

• AI chatbot assistant for personalized advice on pests, repotting, fertilization, and general care.

If you’re curious, this helpful mobile app is free to download.

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