Plant Care Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia

4.5 out of 5 (373 experiences)

Dieffenbachia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Dieffenbachia has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia was cultivated in England before 1759 and upper Amazon indigenous groups are known to have used their calcium oxalates to make poison arrows. Dieffenbachia flowers can generate large amounts of excess heat which botanists believe attracts potential pollinators to the flower's warmth. 🐝

Taxonomy

Dieffenbachia seguine
Dieffenbachia
Araceae
Alismatales

Also known as

Dumb Cane 'Mars'

How to care for Dieffenbachia

Water

How often to water your Dieffenbachia

Water needs for Dieffenbachia
0.5 cups
every 9

Dieffenbachia needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Dieffenbachia

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Dieffenbachia in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Dieffenbachia: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Dieffenbachia can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Dieffenbachia in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Dieffenbachia

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Dieffenbachia: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Dieffenbachia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Difficulty Level

Dieffenbachia is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!


Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Dormancy
Native Region
Flowers
Growth Pattern
Growing Outdoors
Propagation
Yellow Leaves

Care Summary for Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Dieffenbachia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 220
Dieffenbachia has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 174
Dieffenbachia has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 167
Dieffenbachia has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 79
Dieffenbachia has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 46
Dieffenbachia has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 16
Dieffenbachia has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 15
@iWhilby2021 avatar
@@iWhilby2021
leaf-1 53 Plants
xp 5,877 XP
03/21/2022

I have 3 different variety of Dieffenbachias. One of them is 15 years old. I find them to be hardy and low maintenance. Watering abojld be done after soil dries out.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@SubstantialKate avatar
@@SubstantialKate
leaf-1 14 Plants
xp 441 XP
03/16/2022

Grows very fast, got mine in december and by march, i already had two new leaves. very sturdy plant. cat knocked it off the dresser twice and it seemed unfazed

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@mossycabbages avatar
@@mossycabbages
leaf-1 73 Plants
xp 3,187 XP
03/14/2022

I’ve almost killed this plant probably 10x and she’s still putting out new growth 😅 super quick growth and absolutely gorgeous leaves

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Browns easily Browns easily
Survivor Survivor
@YveO avatar
@@YveO
leaf-1 106 Plants
xp 4,999 XP
02/11/2022

I’ve had no issues with this plant since I brought her home!! None whatsoever!! Most definitely the least divalistic of all my plants by miles! I water once a week and she’s thriving beautifully on my outdoor balcony.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@RichLichen avatar
@@RichLichen
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 48 XP
globe Aurora, CO
02/02/2022

I keep Dieffy in my bathroom and it loves the humidity. It’s growing like a weed

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@MariansOasis avatar
@@MariansOasis
leaf-1 94 Plants
xp 10,240 XP
globe Solana Beach, CA
02/01/2022

So beautiful and easy keeper!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@petunia avatar
@@petunia
leaf-1 36 Plants
xp 2,207 XP
01/26/2022

Beautiful variegation in shades of pink. Easy to care for. Not super picky about its location. Seems to have minimal stress when moved from one place to another.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
Cheryl avatar
@Cheryl
leaf-1 21 Plants
xp 1,303 XP
01/15/2022

Just got this know nothing yet it is beautiful

@BoozyBillsBabe avatar
@@BoozyBillsBabe
leaf-1 46 Plants
xp 9,015 XP
globe Baltimore, MD
01/11/2022

Too much water, too little water, too much water, too little water….very fickle. Will get dramatically droopy if not watered on schedule (will perk back up within a day or so once watered), but be careful not to over water or the leaves will turn yellow and mushy.

Fast grower Fast grower
@Stevied avatar
@@Stevied
leaf-1 35 Plants
xp 481 XP
globe New Haven, CT
01/10/2022

Not too difficult to care and keep alive mines been doing well since arriving over year

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@dylan1stokes avatar
@@dylan1stokes
leaf-1 36 Plants
xp 3,487 XP
globe Witham, England
01/10/2022

My dieffenbachia is continually growing new leaves, I have lots of new ones coming through at the moment

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
@UrbaneBibi avatar
@@UrbaneBibi
leaf-1 14 Plants
xp 179 XP
globe Pittsboro, NC
01/06/2022

Good air cleaner.

Browns easily Browns easily
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@lauren_trees avatar
@@lauren_trees
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 184 XP
globe Tucson, AZ
01/02/2022

Definitely have had some ups and downs with her every few months. Kind of sensitive to lighting too

Browns easily Browns easily
Survivor Survivor
Saundra avatar
@Saundra
leaf-1 72 Plants
xp 4,327 XP
globe Cleveland, OH
01/01/2022

Doesn’t need a lot of water

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@QuayNicole avatar
@@QuayNicole
leaf-1 18 Plants
xp 1,681 XP
12/29/2021

It browns very easily but once I got it on a regular schedule it had been doing better

Browns easily Browns easily
@jwcross99 avatar
@@jwcross99
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 1,011 XP
globe Trenton, MI
11/24/2021

Splendid plant 👌🏼

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Dovergardener avatar
@@Dovergardener
leaf-1 9 Plants
xp 454 XP
globe Dover, FL
11/21/2021

Variegated leaves are pretty in the window

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Nicole avatar
@Nicole
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 171 XP
11/06/2021

Needs to be watered at least once a week. I keep it by my sink in the kitchen and it seems to love the humidity as well when I am doing dishes I feel the soil and just soak it through and then forget about it!

I am by far not the most dedicated plant parent but this is doing great and it gives great confidence to plant parents who are just starting out.

I was given mine as a prop and it just took off!

Fast grower Fast grower
@Cassrose avatar
@@Cassrose
leaf-1 51 Plants
xp 1,155 XP
globe New York
11/05/2021

Absolutely stunning! The colors are a dream, she doesn’t need much attention which is great when you have a bunch of needy plants.

@Cassrose avatar
@@Cassrose
leaf-1 51 Plants
xp 1,155 XP
globe New York
11/05/2021

Super easy to maintain, leaves are gorgeous and there’s constant new growth.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves

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