Dieffenbachia Maculata Care

Just like most tropical counterparts, Dumb Cane loves a consistently moist growing medium. It shouldn’t be wet in any case. Give the plant a drink once the topsoil feels dry to the touch. Remember to empty the saucer after each watering so as not to let the plant reabsorb the drained moisture.

Spring is the best time for pruning Dumb Cane. Remove the damaged or yellowed foliage with a sterile pruning tool. As the plant matures, the lower leaves turn brown, and it’s a good practice to pinch them off. If the plant has grown too tall, simply prune it, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tall stem.

This leafy greenie would benefit from a regular balanced extra feeding. Nourish Dieffenbachia monthly with a diluted to the half-recommended dose 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer during the spring-summer growing season. The plant shouldn’t be fertilized in fall and winter.

It’s best to keep Dumb Cane away from harsh sunlight. The plant is protected from direct sunlight by other trees in its natural habitat, so our task is to recreate similar conditions. Keep the greenie in a bright place with ample or indirect sunlight to make it happy.

A well-draining and nutrient-rich soil is what Dieffenbachia Maculata enjoys. If the ground seems too dense, it can be amended with some sand or perlite. A soil mix with 5.5-6.5 pH will be perfect for this plant.

The most popular way to propagate Dieffenbachia is root division. Gently unpot the plant in spring and divide the roots, leaving 3-4 leaves on each part. Then, plant the new greenies in a fresh potting mix and water them regularly to help the little Dieffenbachias enroot.

It’s best to keep the plant in a warm 60-80°F (16-27°C) temperature range. Since the humidity level in Dieffenbachia's native region is higher, it’s recommended to mist the plant regularly or introduce a humidifier to create the most favorable conditions for this greenie.

It’s best to grow Dieffenbachia Maculata in a pot twice as big as the plant’s current root ball. This will allow some room for growth. The pot should have at least one drainage hole in the bottom to allow excess water to flow out easily. It’s also recommended to use a pot made of plastic or glazed ceramic, as such materials will not let moisture evaporate too quickly.

Dieffenbachia is also metaphorically known as Mother-in-law's Tongue due to its toxicity. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and pets; thus, consuming the plant should be avoided in any case.