How to Care for Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia, often sold as dumb cane, is a bold leafy plant that gives you a lot of impact for very little effort. The large oval leaves are splashed and speckled with cream, white and pale green, and no two leaves are marked quite the same. Young plants are bushy and low, and as they mature they develop a thick upright cane with the leaves clustered at the top, rather like a Dracaena.

There are around fifty species in the genus and they come from the tropical Americas, growing across Mexico, the West Indies, Central America and down into Brazil. In the wild they grow on the shaded rainforest floor in warm, humid conditions, which is why they cope so well with the moderate light levels inside a home.

How Much Light Does Dieffenbachia Need?

Dieffenbachia does best in bright, indirect light and tolerates medium light well. A spot near an east or north facing window, or set back from a brighter one, suits it nicely.

Keep it out of direct sun, which scorches the leaves and bleaches out the cream markings. In light that is too low the plant stretches, the new leaves come through smaller and the variegation fades towards plain green. Heavily variegated varieties need a bit more light than the darker green ones to keep their pattern. Turn the pot every few weeks so the cane grows straight rather than leaning.

How Often Should You Water Dieffenbachia?

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of compost feels dry. In spring and summer that usually means once a week, dropping to every ten to fourteen days in autumn and winter.

Check with your finger rather than watering on a schedule, as the plant slows down noticeably in the colder months and needs far less. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then let the pot drain completely and empty the saucer. Dieffenbachia rots from the base of the cane if it sits in wet compost, so a light, free draining mix and a pot with proper drainage make all the difference.

What Humidity Does Dieffenbachia Need?

Dieffenbachia prefers humidity of 50% to 60%, which most homes come close to already.

Coming from the humid rainforest floor of tropical America, it responds to moist air with larger, glossier leaves. It is more tolerant than something like a Calathea, though, and ordinary household levels are fine. If winter heating drops your rooms below about 40% you may see brown crispy edges on those big leaves. Grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles or running a humidifier nearby will keep it looking clean.

What Temperature Does Dieffenbachia Need?

Dieffenbachia grows best between 18°C and 27°C and wants that warmth consistently.

The lowest temperature it can withstand is around 15°C. Below that the leaves develop dark, sunken, water soaked patches from chill damage, and anything under about 12°C causes lasting harm. This is one of the more cold sensitive plants in the series, so keep it well away from draughty doorways, cold glass and unheated rooms over winter.

How Do You Propagate Dieffenbachia?

Dieffenbachia propagates well from cuttings, and it is the usual answer to a plant that has grown tall and bare at the bottom.

Take the leafy top of the cane as one cutting, cutting cleanly with sharp secateurs. Then cut the remaining bare cane into sections around 8 to 10 cm long, each with at least one node, keeping track of which end was pointing upwards. Let the cut surfaces dry for a few hours before planting, which reduces rot, and wear gloves or wash your hands afterwards because of the sap.

Push the leafy top cutting into damp, free draining compost, or stand it in water until roots appear. For the bare cane sections, either stand them upright with the lower end in the compost, or lay them horizontally on the surface and press them half into the mix. Keep everything warm, bright and humid, and covering them loosely with a clear bag helps. New shoots and roots usually appear within four to eight weeks. The parent plant will also sprout fresh growth just below where you cut it.

Shop Dieffenbachia at House of Kojo

Looking for big, boldly marked leaves without much fuss? Browse our Dieffenbachias at House of Kojo, from compact bushy plants to taller caned specimens. Each one is hand picked, carefully packed and sent with clear care instructions.