Dieffenbachia Amoena (Dumb Cane) – Indoor House Plants

Dieffenbachia Amoena (Dumb Cane) is a herbaceous perennial shrub with usually unbranched fleshy stems and huge elliptic leaves arching gracefully from the upright stems.  Dumb Cane is commonly grown for its foliage, which has interesting patterns and markings, particularly as an indoor or houseplant. The leaves are large, oblong, and glossy dark green with cream or light yellow lines, spots, or patches. Leaves will reach 47 cm long by about half as wide. The sap of Dieffenbachia Amoena is poisonous. So keep the children away from these plants.

Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia Amoena
Common Names: Dumb Cane

How to grow and maintain Dieffenbachia Amoena (Dumb Cane):

Light:
It thrives best in the bright filtered light to shade. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight, because direct sun burns the leaves and too much bright light causes the vibrant leaf color to fade.

Soil:
It grows well in rich organic, well-drained soil. To mix your own soil add 1 part moist humus or peat, 1 part garden soil and 1 part Perlite or coarse sand.

Water:
Water your plant regularly during the growing season and always keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. You can allow the topsoil to become slightly dry between each watering. During the winter months, reduce watering.

Temperature:
It prefers an ideal temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 85 degrees Fahrenheit / 18 degrees Celsius – 29 degrees Celsius. Cannot tolerate temperatures below about 10°C (50°F).

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks in the summer and once a month in the spring and fall with a liquid fertilizer. Don’t feed during the winter months when the plant’s growth rate is slowed.

Re-potting:
Re-pot your plants in the spring if the roots have filled the existing pot. Move dumbcane plants into one size bigger pot.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by stem cuttings in spring or early summer or via air layering. Take the cutting (3 – 5 inches long) below a node, strip off lower leaves and dip the cut end in a hormone rooting powder. Plant the cutting in a pot containing a moistened an equal-parts mixture of peat moss and coarse sand.

Pests and Diseases:
There is no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for spider mites, scale, aphids, and mealybugs. Use an adequate pesticide to eradicate the pests. Dumbcane plants are subject to Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease and other bacterial diseases.