Melinda Myers

Dieffenbachia

Botanical Name

Dieffenbachia

Hardiness

Zones 10 to 12

Height

3 to 6 feet

Width

1 to 3 feet

Light

Filtered light spring thru fall - more direct light in winter

Soil

Moist, well-draining potting mix

Planting & Care

• Needs bright light to maintain even bottom leaves
• Fertilize March thru September with diluted houseplant fertilizer
• To increase humidity in winter place container in a shallow pan filled with pebbles and water
• Can rejuvenation prune back to 6-8 inches if leggy or try air layering to renew
• Propagate by cuttings or air layering
• Sap is poisonous if ingested and can be irritating to skin
  • Wear gloves when handling plant

Problems

Spider mites, scale, aphids, mealybugs, fungal leaf spot, blight, rot in poorly drained soil

Varieties

• Compacta - fuller growing, compact, cream leaves freckled with green
• Snow Queen - creamy yellow leaves with dark green edges and white veins
• Camille - creamy yellow leaves edged in green, full growth
• Tropic Marianne - large, creamy-white leaves framed with rich green, up to 3' or more
• Delilah - creamy-white leaves sporting dark green center vein and spots along the margin
• Camille - ivory-yellow leaves with deep green center vein and margins
• Honeydew - large golden-yellow leaves are edged with green
• Snow - large variety, dark green leaves are variegated with silver-green and creamy-white spots, 6' or more tall
• Sparkles - light green leaves variegated with streaks of dark green and white
• Star Bright - narrower, golden-green leaves mottled with dark green
• Tiki - ruffled green foliage speckled with gray, green and white