Dieffenbachia seguine (Dumbcane) – Indoor House Plants

Dieffenbachia seguine (Dumbcane) is a herbaceous perennial
indoor houseplant grows 1 m to 3 m in height and 2 feet to 3
feet in width. It has large green leaves 10 inches long and 4
inches wide and often with variegated white patterns. Mature
plants may produce showy white or cream-colored blossoms. The blooms are followed by red berries. The sap of Dieffenbachia
seguine is poisonous. So keep the children away from these plants. Dieffenbachia seguine is the best air purifying plant

Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia seguine
Synonyms: Dieffenbachia maculata, Dieffenbachia picta
Common Names: Dumbcane

How to grow and maintain Dieffenbachia seguine (Dumbcane):

Light:
It thrives best in bright filtered light. 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 wtering.

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 fertiliser. Don’t fertilize
during the winter months when the plants 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 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. Utilize an adequate
pesticide to eradicate the pests. Dumbcane plants are subject
to Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease and other bacterial diseases.