How to grow dieffenbachia in a pot and garden

 

How to grow dieffenbachia in a pot

Dieffenbachia, which has the unfortunate common name of ‘dumb cane’ (due to its potential to cause speaking and breathing difficulties if ingested so please don’t eat!) has attractive large green and yellow patterned leaves and brings a lovely tropical feel when grown as an indoor plant or a lush look when grown in a warm, sheltered spot out in the garden.

How to grow dieffenbachia in a pot

1. Choose a pot at least 200mm wide. Outdoors, position the pot in a shady, windy protected spot or indoors in a brightly lit room away from direct sunlight.
2. Fill chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix. 
   
   
   
3. Plant into pot and water in well. Apply Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food every fortnight from spring to autumn to promote healthy plants with lush foliage growth. 
4. Keep potting mix consistently moist. Check moisture levels by inserting your finger into the top few centimeters of potting mix.
5. You may need to re-pot your plant if it grows too top-heavy.

How to grow dieffenbachia in a garden

1. Choose a shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in some Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
2. Dig a hole in the prepared area, place the plant in the bottom of the planting hole, gently backfill around the plant’s root ball with soil then water the well.
3. Reapply Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed around the root zone every 8 weeks from spring until mid-autumn to promote good soil health and lush foliage growth.
4. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw and water in well.  Do not overwater them as they don’t like wet feet. 
5. If they grow too clumpy, they can easily be divided and re-planted somewhere else in the garden.  Use a spade or knife to separate the clumps and re-plant following the instructions above.

Growing tips

• To help the potting mix and root zone stay moist, potted dieffenbachia can be gently and briefly immersed into a tub of water every month.

• Dust the leaves regularly by gently dusting them with a small brush or feather duster.  Dust can clog up the pores of the leaves and make it difficult for them leaves to function.

• Trim off any brown or dead foliage in winter.

• Can be grown quickly from cuttings. 

• Dieffenbachia is toxic if ingested. Keep plants out of reach from children & animals.

How to grow dieffenbachia in a pot and garden

The common Problems 

1- Mealy Bugs

New growth appears distorted with a whitish substance in the leaf axils.

Solution

Control can be difficult. If only a few are present, wipe them off with a damp cloth. Otherwise, spray with Yates Nature's Way Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray.

2- Mites

Yellow mottling or bronzing of the leaves. Significant distortion of flower and leaf buds. Fine webbing on flowers or between leaves can be seen on heavy infestations.

Solution

Yates Mavrik Insect & Mite Spray - Concentrate

Controls a broad range of insect and mite pests, yet will not interfere with honey bees once the spray has dried.

3- Aphids

New leaves distorted and yellow, foliage and stem covered in sooty mold, insects crowded on young leaves and shoots. 

Solution

Yates Mavrik Insect & Mite Spray - Concentrate

Controls a broad range of insect and mite pests, yet will not interfere with honey bees once the spray has dried.

Souece / Agency