QA

How To Care For Dumb Cane

Plant the dumbcane in a well-draining soil and water lightly, keeping the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Check the soil to make sure it is dry an inch (2.5 cm.) down before watering the dieffenbachia plant. Other problems with dieffenbachia plant may be created by improper lighting.

How often do you water a Dumb Cane?

Common Problem: If the leaves of your Dumb Cane plant are turning brown or the stem is discolored and soft, this means you are overwatering your plant. Solution: To avoid this problem, we recommend that you water your Dumb Cane plant once or twice a week, depending on its size.

Do Dumb Canes need sunlight?

Light. Dieffenbachia plants are popular indoor plants largely because they do well in shady conditions, but these plants do appreciate bright light during the winter months. During the growing season, the plant prefers dappled shade or indirect light.

Should I cut yellow leaves off Dumb Cane?

Once your dieffenbachia plant is dry and the leaves change color, they will not turn to their original color again. Simply cut them off so they don’t affect others.

Should you cut off yellow leaves?

If you have a few yellow leaves that look unappealing and bother you, it’s okay to snip them off. But it isn’t necessary. If you have a lot of yellow leaves, you’re better off finding the problem and fixing it – such as overwatering or not enough sunlight.

Does dumb cane need humidity?

Dieffenbachia love moisture in the air; more is always better. The goal should be to have a 60 percent humidity level throughout the year. You can place your plants atop a tray filled with water and pebbles, or use a humidifier.

Can dumb cane be outside?

Dieffenbachia is a tropical plant that grows well indoors in lots of indirect light. It can tolerate low light, but its growth will slow dramatically. Gardeners living in zones 11 and 12 can grow dieffenbachia outdoors in partial shade, where it makes a great landscape plant.

Does dumb cane purify air?

Dieffenbachia. Ideal for creating a tropical look, dieffenbachia (sometimes called dumb cane because its poisonous leaves contain a substance that can temporarily numb the vocal cords if consumed) offers lush foliage that takes toxins out of the air, so your family can breathe easier.

Why is my dieffenbachia plant dying?

Too Much Sunlight Dieffenbachias thrive in partially shady conditions but can experience stress in bright areas. Sometimes if a dieffenbachia is in sunlight that is bright or direct, it will droop and ultimately die. It is used to being in the shady ground of the jungle where it is not too hot and not too bright.

Why does my Dumb Cane have brown tips?

Leaves have brown tips — Brown tips on your dieffenbachia’s leaves could be caused by uneven watering. Keep your watering practices a little more regular and never let your plant sit in water. Leaves are curled with brown edges — Curled, browning leaves could be caused by excessive fertilizer application.

How do you know if you’re Overwatered to dieffenbachia?

You can spot overwatering easily by feeling the soil, or poking your finger down a few inches. You’ll notice the pot is heavy as it is full of water. If you think root rot may be setting in, you can ease the plant out of its pot and check the roots.

Why is my Dumb Cane droopy?

Why are my Dieffenbachia leaves drooping? Droopy leaves are often caused by underwatering. Feel the soil of your plant, when the surface is dry to the touch your plant is ready for a drink. If the soil is moist and the leaves are drooping, then the issue may be too much water, not enough light, or cold temperatures.

Why do indoor plants get brown tips?

Plant tips can turn brown when they’re exposed to too much fertilizer and too many salts build up in the soil. When this happens to potted plants, tips turn brown from a condition known as fertilizer burn or tip burn.

Should I cut the brown tips of my plants?

The answer to this question is yes, you should always remove the brown tips from your indoor plants. If your indoor plants begin to exhibit dry and brown patches on more than 50 per cent of their leaves, then you need to remove them immediately.

Can yellow leaves turn green again?

Chlorophyll gives a leaf its green color. When the leaf loses its chlorophyll, the plant abandons it and begins to absorb leftover nutrients from the leaf. That’s why once the leaf turns yellow, you generally can’t make it turn back green again.

What is bright indirect light?

To sum up, bright, indirect light is bright enough to cast a shadow—though not a dark, clearly defined one—and to read by. It can be found near north- and east-facing windows or shaded south- and west-facing ones, as well as a few feet back from unshaded south- or west-facing windows.

Why is my dumb cane leaves turning yellow?

Dieffenbachia can grow in heavy shade, but too much sunlight can cause the leaves to turn yellow and droop. Placing the plant in direct or full sunlight will scorch the leaves. If you suspect your dieffenbachia is getting too much sun, move it to a north- or east-facing window.

Does dumb cane like being rootbound?

Allowing the plant to become too root bound in its present container can affect proper and healthy growth. Fortunately, the steps to repot the dieffenbachia are basic, and you don’t have to be a garden wizard to be successful.

When can I put my dieffenbachia outside?

You can move your dieffenbachia outdoors during the summer, and they will flourish. They won’t tolerate the cold at all though, so be sure to move them back inside before the temperature gets below 60F. Like I said, it can be grown outdoors in your shade garden, but must be protected from cold there too.

How do you remove dead leaves from dieffenbachia?

Cut the cane you pruned from the plant into 2-inch segments, each with a node about 1/4 inch from its bottom edge. Strip all but the top few leaves from the leafy top of the cane and discard them. Cut the remaining leaves in half so they do not draw as much moisture and energy from the cutting as it tries to grow.

What soil is best for Dumb Cane?

Like many houseplants, dieffenbachia plants need a soil that retain some water but also drain well.If you want to make your own soil mix from scratch, here’s a good recipe: 1 part peat or humus. 1 part garden soil. 1 part perlite or coarse sand. 1 pinch of lime​.