Dieffenbachia Snapped Leaves

Question

Hello,

I left on a trip for 3 days and left my plants in the care of my husband who knows nothing about caring for them. When I got back home I noticed that several of the leaves of my dieffenbachia plant have snapped. I checked the soil and realized it needed water and so I watered it. But also the weather in Florida has been bipolar some days in the 80s-90s and others 40s-50s and I am certain my plants stayed in the sun room at night in the cold. Wandering if this could be the problem and if there is anything that I can do to save the leaves or do I need to prune my plant?

Thank you!

• 
• 

Answer 1

They can handle the 50's for short periods. Likely, the room won't have time to reach the same temperatures over night, and will stay quite a bit above what you see outside. Normally, cold damage will appear as soggy looking leaves.

That damage looks like physical damage. Maybe it was brushed up against, or fell off of its stand. Those are the most likely scenarios.

There is no need to cut them off, but they won't recover, either. Leave them until they turn, mostly, brown. Then you can take them off. Since they don't require much pruning (They like a moist environment, which can lead to infection while pruning) doing so unnecessarily can be detrimental.

For now, just resume normal care. Once the leaves get too old or damaged, you can remove them.

This article will give you a refresher on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm