My dieffenbachia has become 'leggy' over the winter months indoors. Can I 'prune' it to encourage bushy growth? If so, is it okay to cut the main stalk? It is almost 3 feet tall. It spent last summer outside in a place where it was shaded a good deal of the day with strong sunlight in the late afternoon. Since it did well, I have moved it outside again this summer.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/propagating-houseplants-from-cane-cuttings-and-divisions.htm
You can cut back your Dumbcane and then grow a new plant from the cutting.
I just read what you had regarding growing this plant as a houseplant and I did not see what is happening with mine. I bought it at Lowe's on major clearance. It looked very good and was for a few days. However, many leaves are turning a pretty bright yellow so I have been removing them. I transplanted it first put in fertilizer and water carefully. Have moved it to various windows and all of my home is filtered lighting as I have a north/south facing home. I do see new shoots coming up. Please help me.
Your plant is most likely a little stressed from the repotting.
Find a good filtered light location for it and allow it to acclimate to it's new location.
You can rotate the plant weekly to give even light.
Water when the soil begins to feel dry.
My plant is a beautiful gold speckled dark green, but the new leaves unfurling are pale yellow. It started this a week after I had it, daughter purchased it for Mother's day this year. The garden we bought it from said they had never seen this before and were no help. I am hoping you can shed some light on the problem. The one I discarded had been with me for six years, so you can understand my curiosity. Thank you, Fort lauderdale.
Your plant sounds like it needs more water.
A Dieffenbachia is a tropical plant and needs to have it's soil consistently moist.
Here is a link that will refresh you on the care requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
My dumb cane plant is about 3 feet high. The pot is 10 inches high, 7 inch diameter. The problem is, where the leaves start, the stem is fatter than the lower part of the stem at the soil level in the pot, so it's getting top-heavy and is starting to tip. Is there a way to encourage the lower part of the stem to grow thicker? If not, how do I avoid this in the future?
You can cut off a Dumb Cane that has become to tall to support itself.
You need to wear gloves, as the sap is a skin irritant. Remove no more then 1/3 of the plants leaves.
Make a cut on the stem at 45 degrees 1/4 inch above a leaf node, these are the brown rings on the plant stem.
New growth will began at this point.
The remaining stem cuttings can be also propagated into new plants.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/propagating-dieffenbachia.htm
I have had this plant for 11 years and all of a sudden for the first time it has produced many flowers with a strong aroma like a lily. I always thought it was a dieffenbachia but maybe I was wrong. It is over 8' high - will it die now?
In the right conditions a Dumcane Dieffenbachia will bloom.
Most people do remove them, as they can take energy away from the plant.
It will not kill your plant if you leave the flower.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm
I just came upon your website, but a few days ago, I googled propagating Dieffenbachia and read that I could cut the plant midway down the long stems and keep the stems in their original pots while putting the tops in water to grow roots. I remember my grandfather, who gave me these plants, successfully growing them in water only. However, once I put the stems of the newly cut tops in water, the leaves started to die. The leaves are not touching the water at all, just the stems below them; however, the lowest leaves on the stem are slowly turning brown/translucent/not dry and crumbly but moist. First it was one leaf, then another, then another...There are still a number of green leaves on it, but I'm worried that it is going to die if I don't do something. Can you tell me what's happening and what I should do? So many people online talk about how easy it is to just stick them in water and let them grow, but I am not having that experience at all. Thanks so much!
Here is an excellent article that will help you propagate Dumbcane Dieffenbachia.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/propagating-dieffenbachia.htm
I have several plants that I am unsure of the species and how to care for them. I have pictures. They're all babies. Here is one type, but I have several others that I'm unsure of.
This is a Dumb Cane Dieffenbachia.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/dumb-cane/growing-dumbcane-dieffenbachia.htm