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- Q.Dumb Cane Care - I can't get my dumb cane to grow. I was overwatering it last year when it was 1-1/2 ft tall, ...
- Q.I Have One Dieffenbachia That Grows Straight Up With Very Little Growth On The Stem. It Looks Like A Stick. How High Should I Allow - it to reach, and when and where should I prune it back so it will fill out? I'd like to ...
- Q.Did I Water My Dieffenbachia Too Much Or Too Little? - After blooming some leaves started to turn yellow and mushy, even though I only watered it once a week. I ...
- Q.Can You Save A Deiffenbachia Plant Exposed To A Cleaning Chemical? - Two dieffenbachia plants in same location, watered and sunlight the same and one is fine and the other is drooping, ...
- Q.How To Root Cutting From A Large Diffenbach Plant That Has Only A Few Leaves - It’s too large bottom, top is not getting sun
- Q.Can Smaller Bush Like Dieffenbachia Grow Into Towering Tall Plants - my plant is about 1 foot tall can it grow to several feet higher if yes then how
- Q.Is It Dying?? - My dumbcane wasnt great looking when I purchased it, but definitely went downhill, though still producing a few, and I ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
September 6, 2019Q.Dumb Cane care
I can't get my dumb cane to grow. I was overwatering it last year when it was 1-1/2 ft tall, which caused mushrooms to grow, now it won't grow.
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
September 8, 2019
Certified ExpertA.The pot is too large for the plant. When the pot is much larger than the plant, it gets too much water, because of the large surface area. I would get a smaller pot and repot in fresh potting soil. Then get on a regular feeding schedule if you aren't on one. Here is general care of dumb cane:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
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- Asked by
DaveDora on
September 16, 2019
Memphis, TNQ.I have one Dieffenbachia that grows straight up with very little growth on the stem. It looks like a stick. How high should I allow
it to reach, and when and where should I prune it back so it will fill out? I'd like to have a lush plant but I'm afraid of where to cut the stem so that it starts to bush out. It's about 1.5 foot right now but just a stem with a few little leaves.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
September 17, 2019
Certified ExpertA.These will reach about 6 feet before they will want to be pruned. I would look into why the leaves are falling off while it is this small. There could be an underlying issue, and I'm afraid that your photo did not come through, so I can't see it to help you.
This article will help you to care for these plants in the meantime: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
January 9, 2020Q.Did I water my dieffenbachia too much or too little?
After blooming some leaves started to turn yellow and mushy, even though I only watered it once a week. I thought I wasn’t watering it enough and tried to do something about it, but more leaves kept turning yellow. Then I left for two weeks, and when I came back no new leaves had turned yellow despite having been dry all that time(remnants are visible in the first photo). So just what happened?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
January 9, 2020
Certified ExpertA.I would say too much watering, considering the two-week interval did no harm. From the photos, the plant looks pretty good.
Overwatering is the most common problem with diffenbachia. Since soils and pots and drainage are different with each plant, I use multiple assessment observations to get the watering right, physical and intuitive. I test the soil surface with a finger, use a soil moisture meter for deeper soil moisture assessment, and look at the foliage for possible wilting.
Here are more tips:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
February 27, 2020Q.Can you save a deiffenbachia plant exposed to a cleaning chemical?
Two dieffenbachia plants in same location, watered and sunlight the same and one is fine and the other is drooping, yellowing leaves and they fall of at the slightest touch. Not over or under watered, someone said it looks like it has had some type of cleaning product on it causing to do this.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
February 27, 2020
Certified ExpertA.If all the foliage is affected, and there is no green terminal growth emerging at the top, then it may be lost. If there is some green foliage, then take it outside or into the bathroom and hose it all off and flush the soil with copius amounts of water to dilute and leach the possible chemical contamination. If the plant has been in the same container for two years or more then consider repotting with fresh potting soil. Ensure good drainage holes are there and don't let it sit in a saucer or outer decorative pot full of water. Consider that with the same growing condtions and management, that the other plant may not be far behind in developing the same disorder. Repot it also.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 29, 2020Q.How to root cutting from a large diffenbach plant that has only a few leaves
It’s too large bottom, top is not getting sun
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 29, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Since it is getting too tall, I would take my stem cutting right off the top:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/propagating-dieffenbachia.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
mikeked45 on
July 9, 2020
staples mn 56479Q.Can Smaller Bush Like Dieffenbachia Grow Into Towering Tall Plants
my plant is about 1 foot tall can it grow to several feet higher if yes then how
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
July 12, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Most can grow from 3 to 6 feet tall and the secret seems to be proper lighting. They need bright, filtered light. Low light will reduce growth.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 26, 2020Q.Is it dying??
My dumbcane wasnt great looking when I purchased it, but definitely went downhill, though still producing a few, and I mean a few, green leaves. What am I doing wrong???
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
July 26, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Here are its care requirements. It looks like it could be overwatered. I would get it into a clean container with fresh potting soil and let the soil dry out an inch down in the soil between waterings.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
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