Today in the collections of lovers of indoor plants you can see many representatives of exotic flora. One of them, undoubtedly, is Dieffenbachia. The plant attracts with a spectacular decorative look and simple care. About the varieties and features of growing Dieffenbachia at home, we will discuss in this article.
This exotic guest is greatly appreciated by designers. They are happy to use it in interior design - the luxurious coloring of large spreading leaves effectively emphasizes the design of the room. They especially recommend placing Dieffenbachia in their offices, because, according to legend, the plant favors businessmen, fills the room with positive energy and activates brain activity.
History and title
An evergreen exotic plant belonging to the aroid family has a 150-year history. This family includes not only 30 species of Dieffenbachia, but also philodendron, monstera, alocasia, anthurium and others. Where did Dieffenbachia come to us from? The birthplace of the plant is North and South America, and therefore it is not surprising that the culture prefers a humid and warm climate.
The genus got its name in honor of Joseph Dieffenbach - the main gardener of the imperial palace in Vienna. After the discovery of America, traders and travelers were fascinated by this plant and often exported it to other continents, where it quickly gained popularity due to its unpretentiousness. In its homeland, Dieffenbachia is considered an evergreen perennial shrub.
External features
This flower is grown for its foliage. The stems are unramified, erect, powerful and juicy. The leaves hanging slightly on the petioles can reach 25 to 40 cm in length. Depending on the variety, leaf blades can be green, with various cream, yellow and white marks, in rare cases even almost white, framed along the edge with a thin green border.
Blooming dieffenbachia in indoor floriculture is not common, although experienced owners claim that when creating ideal conditions, the plant blooms every year. An inflorescence in the form of an ear is revealed from the sinus of the leaf. The flowers are white or greenish, odorless. Specialists recommend cutting the flower stalk so that the formation of seeds is not taken away from the plant.
Another feature of the plant is its poisonous juice, which is secreted from the damaged stem and leaves. If it gets on the mucous surfaces of the nose, mouth, eyes, skin, it can cause dermatitis or burns. In this regard, it is not recommended to put a flower in the children's room, and it is also not advisable to plant it in the presence of pets.
Varieties of Dieffenbachia
As we have already said, more than 30 species of this plant are known. In form, they are divided into two almost equal groups: tree-like and bush.
- The tree form has a strong and powerful stalk without branches. During development, the plant discards the lower leaves, and soon the silhouette of the plant resembles a palm tree. To this type should be attributed Dieffenbachia colored, lovely, for example.
- Bush. Plants of this group have many stems, and the leaves are located close to the soil. The plant looks like a bush.
Lovely
The leaves of Dieffenbachia are charming, in comparison with many other species, are elongated and have a less pronounced round shape. It reminds herringbone a light pattern along the lateral veins on a leaf plate. The contrast of the background and dark green edges makes the plant very attractive. Good lighting makes the pattern even brighter and more noticeable. If elongated spots, white stripes, strokes occupy most of the leaf, this species is called "Tropical Snow."
Spotted
Sometimes this type of Dieffenbachia is called colorized. This is one of the most popular types in indoor floriculture. Many hybrids are derived on its basis, which, in addition to the combination of colors, differ in the texture of sheet plates. They are embossed, as if embossed or smooth, glossy or matte.
Dieffenbachia Seguin
A species that looks like a spotted species. But its leaf plate is wider, with fewer white spots. This variety has no more than 9-12 lateral veins, while the spotted vein is much larger.
In culture, the most common variety is linear, which differs in the rounded base of the leaf blade, as well as the green-white striped petiole. The dark green leaf blade is covered with light green spots that are randomly scattered around the main vein. The birthplace of this flower is Venezuela.
Leopold
A dwarf plant whose stem is only 50 cm tall and about 2 cm in diameter, covered with dark green leaves that are separated by a central white vein. The ellipsoidal leaf plate can reach a length of 35 cm and a width of about 15 cm. The leaves are held on short pale petioles with a purple hue.
Blooming Dieffenbachia Leopold is found in indoor floriculture much more often than other species. Under a white blanket 17 cm long, there is an inflorescence in the form of a cob no longer than 9 cm long. The plant is native to Costa Rica.
Motley
This is a fast-growing variety of plants. In height, this species can reach two meters. Large oval leaves can be 40 cm long and 15 cm wide. They are saturated green. The pattern consists of a combination of clear white stripes and irregularly shaped spots. Dieffenbachia motley needs diffused light. It is advisable to place the plant at a distance of two meters from the window.
Large leaf
A magnificent guest from Peru with a thick and strong stalk, one meter long. The stalk is densely covered with a magnificent cap of leaves up to 60 cm long and about 40 cm wide. Oval leaves are evenly colored in saturated green. Leaf veins are much lighter than the general background, the central stripe is especially distinguished. When growing dieffenbachia, large-leaved needs warmth and moderate watering. The only drawback of this species is its pungent and rather unpleasant odor.
Camilla
Another popular variety of Dieffenbachia that came to us from the tropical forests of South America. This species grows in length up to two meters. On a strong stem are large, oblong leaves, which are white closer to the middle, along the edge of a green border. With age, white spots disappear from the leaves of dieffenbachia large-leaved. Camilla is developing rapidly - a new leaf grows within a week. In a ventilated room, protected from drafts, a shaded corner will be the best place for this plant.
Oersted
Shrub plant with a strong, thick and branched stem. Located on it are long (up to 35 cm) leaves in the form of an ellipse, and in some varieties oblong or in the shape of a heart, as a rule, they are painted in a saturated green color. A light band crosses the entire sheet plate of Dieffenbachia Oersted. This plant must be transplanted every two years and make anti-aging pruning. In addition, this flower loves spraying and well-lit places, however, direct sunlight should not fall on it. Undesirable for him temperature below +15 ° C and drafts.
Growing Dieffenbachia
These plants do not cause any problems even for beginner gardeners. For their cultivation, it is important to create comfortable, as close to natural conditions as possible, and to listen to the recommendations of specialists.
Room temperature
The first Dieffenbachia, which came to Europe, when kept indoors, needed warm conditions. Species and varieties that appeared later, perfectly develop at temperatures from +18 ° C. It must be remembered that the higher the temperature of the content, the more moisture the plant will need. In winter, the temperature should be lowered to +15 ° C, at which development slows down and the flower enters a dormant period.
What soil is needed?
When growing dieffenbachia, it is desirable to use a substrate that meets the biological requirements of the plant. For her, a ready-made soil mixture suitable for plants of the Aronium family is suitable. A plant develops well in soil with neutral acidity, consisting of leaf soil, sand and peat, taken in one part and four parts of turf land.
Watering
In summer, the plant is watered in such a way as to wet a completely earthen lump, but before the next wetting, the soil surface should dry out a little. Do not allow water to stagnate in the sump. The frequency of watering in the winter depends on the air temperature in the room where the plant is contained. For irrigation, it is necessary to use settled water. It is desirable that it be at room temperature.
Lighting
Dieffenbachia, unlike most houseplants, feels comfortable not in well-lit places, but in shaded, protected from direct sunlight. When growing this flower in full shadow, the plant can slow down its development, and direct rays of the sun (especially in the daytime) will leave burns on the leaves Dieffenbachia should be gradually accustomed to changing the lighting conditions. In this case, there will be no problems with the shady arrangement of the flower, or when grown in diffused sunlight.
It is necessary to regularly turn pots with plants around their own axis so that they develop symmetrically and do not reach the light source.
Top dressing
Dieffenbachia needs nutrition. During the growing season, liquid complex fertilizers are applied twice a month to the soil in half the dosage specified in the instructions. In the cold season, when the flower stops its development, it is fed once a month. The flower is responsive to organic and mineral nutrition.
Transplant dieffenbachia
Young plants (up to three years old) are transplanted in the spring every year, when they become cramped in an old pot and they need to change the soil for fresh. After transplanting in two to three weeks, the plant completely occupies the entire volume of the pot with its powerful root system. For this plant, it is necessary to use a pot with rather large drainage holes. A small volume of the pot inhibits the development of this species.
Breeding
For propagation of dieffenbachia, apical cuttings with a length of not more than 12 cm are used. They must be cut only with a disinfected sharp knife and after trimming, it is necessary to treat the cut sites with an antiseptic. To do this, use wood or activated carbon, powdered.
Remove the lower leaves from the stalk to reduce moisture loss and dip it into the rooting powder (“Kornevin”) with the lower end, then place it in moistened soil. Put the pot with the handle in a warm place (+21 ° C) and cover it with a glass jar on top to create a greenhouse effect. Every day, the plant should be aired, removing the can for about half an hour. Rooting occurs in a month and a half.
Florist Precautions and Tips
We mentioned that Dieffenbachia juice (the variety does not matter) is poisonous, it can cause severe allergic reactions - irritation of the skin, burns of the mucous membranes. After each contact with the juice of the flower, hands should be thoroughly washed, and all agricultural activities should be carried out with gloves. If your family has very small children or pets - wait a bit with the establishment of this plant.
A flower in indoor conditions can live a very long time, but with age, the lower part of its stems is exposed and becomes not so attractive. Change the flower to a fresh one in a timely manner using apical cuttings.
The plant perfectly cleanses in a room where the air contains harmful impurities, such as xylene and toluene. This beautiful and not too demanding plant care plant will perfectly fit into any interior and will delight all household members with its unusual appearance for a long time.