Dieffenbachia is a native of the tropical forests of Central and South America, where there are more than a dozen of its species. Amateur florists Dieffenbachia flowers are valued for beautiful large oblong leaves with original color, forming a luxurious dense crown. The most popular varieties have white or creamy spots on bright green leaves, sometimes merging into stripes or larger spots, forming a fanciful, unique pattern on each leaf.
Dieffenbachia: care features
Dieffenbachia at home is grown quite easily. She successfully fits into any interior, becoming an original element of decor. However, sometimes this plant likes to poke fun. Dieffenbachia prefers bright lighting, but is afraid of burning direct sunlight; loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts; It requires regular watering and high humidity, but can rot and die when the earth coma is waterlogged.
In the cold winter months, Dieffenbachia flowers are in a dormant period. At this time, it is recommended to reduce watering and humidification of the air and transfer the plant to a room with a temperature of at least 17 ° C.
It happens that due to illness or for natural reasons, Dieffenbachia discards the lower leaves and becomes like a real palm. This has its own charm, but if you do not like this look, you can trim the top, leaving only a small stump. Later on, young growth will appear on this stump, and the trimmed upper part can be rooted in a separate container.
Transplant and propagation of Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia flowers usually propagate by apical shoot, as mentioned above, or by stem cuttings. Stalk cuttings are harvested by cutting sections of a length of about 7 cm from the stem of an adult plant. Sometimes the plant gives lateral shoots, which can also become planting material.
Plant transplants are carried out every spring, as Dieffenbachia grows very quickly and constantly requires replacing the tank with a larger one. When transplanting, it is necessary to examine the root system for damaged and diseased areas. All such roots must be removed, and the places of the cuts treated with crushed charcoal. It must be remembered that the milk released from the trunk, leaves and roots when they are damaged is poisonous and can cause irritation of the mucous membranes.
Diseases and pests affecting dieffenbachia
This houseplant - Dieffenbachia requires constant attention and care. The photos presented on this page vividly illustrate how a healthy plant should look. If your dieffenbachia has stopped growing or has begun to shed leaves - this is a sure sign that something is wrong. To understand what’s the matter, pay attention to the state of the environment (lighting, temperature, humidity, drafts), and also examine the root system for the presence of disease damage or decay from waterlogging. Usually in such cases, transplantation into new soil helps.
In addition, Dieffenbachia flowers with their large, juicy leaves can become home to pests - spider mites or various species of aphids. You can deal with them using ready-made products sold in any flower shop.