Plant Care Guides / Indoor
The dieffenbachia is a proper show-stopper, with big, paddle-shaped leaves splashed in cream and green. It is also one of the easier statement plants to keep, happy in the kind of bright indoor spot most homes can offer, and known for helping to freshen the air. It takes its name from Joseph Dieffenbach, once head gardener at the Schoenbrunn palace gardens in Vienna.
Dieffenbachia is often called "dumb cane", and that name is worth knowing. The sap can irritate the mouth and throat if any part of the plant is chewed, so keep it out of reach of small children and pets, and wash your hands after taking cuttings. Beyond that it is an easy, forgiving plant. The one thing it dislikes is cold: if the leaves droop or drop without yellowing first, the room is probably too chilly for it.
Bright but filtered light, through a blind or a sheer curtain, suits it best. Protect the fresh leaves that push out in spring and summer from direct sun, which can scorch the tender new growth. It will also cope in a lower-light corner, though growth slows down.
Overwatering is the quickest way to lose a dieffenbachia. Let the soil dry out at least five centimetres down, then water deeply until it runs from the drainage holes. It is comfortable in normal household humidity, but if you are running heaters through a cold snap, an occasional misting helps.
It is not a hungry plant, but a feed twice over summer with a balanced fertiliser keeps the leaves full and lush.
Repot when you see roots creeping out of the drainage holes, or when the soil dries out far quicker than it used to. Move up one pot size in spring, into a free-draining potting mix.
Ask about availability. We keep a changing range of indoor plants. WhatsApp us to see what is in store, or pop in and we will help you choose.
