Have you taken a sudden interest in gardening? But are you also a busy person in general? If you relate, then you should read this blog. This detailed blog is going to talk about that rare, wild, and eye catching plant you see, which almost looks like a small banana plant but isn’t. The moment you see it, it makes you feel sophisticated, wealthy also in fact, or maybe that you are a professional gardener. We believe you are already imagining it in your head. We are talking about the Dieffenbachia plant also famously known as the dumb cane plant or dafan plant. Pumped to read more? Tag along.
What is the Dieffenbachia plant?
The Dieffenbachia plant originates from the plant group called tropical perennial. These species are commonly known as home plants, meaning they are grown mostly indoors. This plant has pointy, ovate leaf structures that come in the color combinations of white, cream, and green.
Fun Fact: A well-grown Dieffenbachia plant can grow as large as 10 feet tall with its leaves reaching 20 inches in length. Hate to break your excitement, but it is highly unlikely that these plants will grow that tall if planted indoors. They can only grow up to 3-4 feet indoors.
How to grow the Dieffenbachia plant?
1. Outdoors
If you happen to live in a warm climate, then it is recommended that you plant the Dieffenbachia plant outdoors in your garden. Keep in mind, if you are thinking of planting a bunch of them, make sure to put them a few feet apart from each other, as they will grow bigger. You need to plant them in early spring and water them twice a week until the summer ends.
2. Indoors
If you have chosen to grow the Dieffenbachia plant as indoor plant, then you need to make sure you are placing the pot in a humid area such as the kitchen or the bathroom. These are the places it is going to thrive the most. If you are going to keep it in dry areas, make sure to mist them sufficiently, or a better option is to place them on a rock tray filled with water, as it will evaporate on its own, and create an ample amount of humidity around the plant.
3. Planting Requirements
- Sunlight: Although, the dumb cane plant is an indoor plant and prefers a shady atmosphere. They do need bright sunlight in winter. They usually turn and grow in the direction of the sunlight. So, make sure you move the pot in the direction of the sun’s rays falling inside your home.
- Soil: Use a well-draining soil, with a good organic mixture. This is important because the roots of the dumb cane plant can’t be left in the soggy soil.
- Watering: Make sure you are watering the dumb cane plant twice a week during its growing period, as it prefers moisture. It is safe to cut back on watering during the winter but pay attention to reducing excess watering as it will damage the roots of the plant
- Temperature: It is best to grow the Dieffenbachia plant in the summer or early spring as they prefer 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually in the colder months, the plant loses its bottom leaves.
- Fertilizer: Use a good fertilizer and feed regularly for 4-6 weeks. Ensure to read the feeding instructions of the fertilizer.
That was everything you needed to know on how to grow the dumb cane plant. You may be wondering looking at so much detail, that they require a lot of care. Don’t worry, trust us, these plants are perhaps the easiest to grow and require very little attention. Now, let’s move on to the types of the Dieffenbachia plant, and help you choose your one.
Types of Dieffenbachia Plant
1. Dieffenbachia Amoena Tropic Snow
2. Dieffenbachia Compacta
3. Dieffenbachia Sparkles
4. Dieffenbachia Camilla
5. Dieffenbachia Mary
6. Dieffenbachia Maculata
These are some of the different cultivators of the dumb cane plant. Choose the one perfect for you!
Dieffenbachia Plant Care
As we said before, these plants are fairly easy to grow and do not require much care. But here are a few general tips:
- Adequate Sunlight: Make sure the plant is receiving the right amount of light to grow well.
- Water as required: Set up watering schedules, based on the requirements of the plant.
- Soil Conditions: Briefly check up on the soil conditions as and when you water.
- Humidity: This particular species demands moist conditions, so pay attention to maintaining that.
- Feeding: Although they do not require much feeding, you can use a home-based plant fertilizer and feed them once per season.
- Propagation: If you want more of the dumb cane plant, you can do so by the method of propagation. Either by Cutting, Layering, or Division.
Reminder
Please keep in mind that the Dieffenbachia plant or Dafan Plant is highly toxic. It assumed its name of dumb cane plant, because the sap produced from the plant, has the ability to make you speechless literally for a temporary amount of time if ingested. These plants are extremely toxic to dogs and cats as well. So ensure you are monitoring this plant around yourself and your pets as well.
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Final Thoughts
The dumb cane plant comes as easy as it can be right? We believe it’s the perfect choice for a busy homeowner, which let’s be honest all of us are. This plant takes comparatively less amount of time and effort to care for and is breathtakingly beautiful to look at. In a way, they add an aesthetic finish to your house. It is always good to have plants around us, but the one that is easier to handle is nothing but an added bonus. It has the luring capabilities even if you plant it in a garden, it probably would be the tallest plant there. Overall, the dumb cane plant is a perfect addition to your house whether indoors or outdoors is left to you. Choose a Dieffenbachia plant from its types of herd today!
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