Dieffenbachia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Dieffenbachia (lat. Dieffenbachia) - container plant; a genus of evergreen plants of the Aroid family. Under natural conditions, dieffenbachia grows in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. The plant got its name in honor of the Austrian gardener Josef Dieffenbach, who served at the Imperial Botanical Garden at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Currently, the genus has about thirty species.

Characteristics of culture

Dieffenbachia is a herbaceous ornamental-deciduous plant with thick and straight stems 0.5-2 m high. The leaves are large, variegated, shiny or dull, oblong, elongated-oval, arranged alternately. The leaf blade is covered with a pattern in the form of spots, specks or stripes of yellow or light green.

The plant is fast-growing, under favorable conditions it produces one new leaf per week, while the top of the next one can be seen inside the unfolded leaf. The lifespan of each leaf is not long, it is shortened with insufficient nutrition and moisture. As a result, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, exposing the trunk. In order to avoid the loss of decorativeness, the plants are subjected to rooting upon reaching a height of about 1-1.5 m, as a rule, this happens once every three years.

In some species, dormant buds form at the base of the stem, which over time begin to bush. Tall forms grow as long as they are supported, after which the trunk tilts and lies horizontally. In nature, the dieffenbachia trunk, in contact with the soil, forms new roots, thereby forming new specimens.

The culture blooms in the middle of summer, which is a very rare phenomenon in indoor conditions. Dieffenbachia flower consists of a light green bedspread and cob. The fruit is small, presented in the form of bright orange or red berries. The formation of flowers and cobs significantly weakens the development of dieffenbachia, and sometimes even stops the growth of stems.

Growing conditions

Dieffenbachia is a light-loving plant, but it has a negative attitude towards direct sunlight. Prefers moderately moist substrates consisting of sod and leafy soil, peat and sand (4: 1: 1: 1) with good drainage in the form of charcoal and brick chips. The optimum temperature of the content is 17-18C, without drafts.

Reproduction and planting

Dieffenbachia are propagated by apical stem cuttings, which are rooted in sphagnum, water, sand or a mixture of peat and sand (1: 1). To speed up the rooting process, the planting material is periodically sprayed and wiped, maintaining the substrate temperature at least 20-22C and protecting it from direct sunlight. It is advisable to cover the cuttings with plastic wrap or glass. Upon reaching the roots of the cuttings 2-3 cm long, the plants are planted in separate containers. Before transplanting, the soil in containers is fed with a weak solution of mineral fertilizer.

Dieffenbachia is often propagated by pieces of the stem. The stem is cut into cuttings 15-20 cm long, the cuts are sprinkled with charcoal or sulfur and dried for 1-2 days. Then the cuttings are pressed horizontally against the substrate, but so that they are 1/2 of the thickness under the soil layer. Pieces of the stem take root very slowly, usually taking 6 to 10 months. Care must be taken to ensure that the cuttings do not rot and that the substrate is constantly wet. With the awakening of the buds and the unfolding of new leaves, a fresh substrate is added to the base of the shoot, and after a few weeks it is transplanted into a separate container.

Care

Dieffenbachia care is not difficult. The plant needs regular and abundant watering with warm and settled water, especially during the growth period. In winter, watering is reduced. Requires culture and systematic spraying and wiping of leaves with a soft damp cloth. In spring and summer, dieffenbachia responds well to feeding with liquid complex mineral fertilizers.

Dieffenbachia is prone to being affected by various pests, among them it can be noted: spider mites, scale insects, false scale insects, aphids and mealybugs. For pest control, it is recommended to use soapy water or Actellik.