:) I'm going to look over your site for help with any other plants I have! She holds a Bachelor of Arts in urban and regional studies. Also have a large section of plant that fell off the side of my plant can it root in water? Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on March 11, 2019: Usually, the yellow leaves are a sign that you are not watering the dieffenbachia plant enough. Generally, the plants have a juicy, thick stem that resembles the trunk of a small tree. Once roots start to form transplant the new shoot into a pot using the soil recommended above. Push the medium up against the stem to hold it in place. If you do buy one, keep in mind that a dieffenbachia plant can grow for many years as an indoor plant, which makes them a good investment. It has gone crazy and is to my ceiling. Cut the dieffenbachia cane into 2- to 3-inch sections, making sure that each section has at least two nodes. How to Propagate Swiss Cheese Philodendron, University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program: Propagating House Plants by Cuttings, Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: New Plants from Cuttings. I wouldn't advise trimming all the leaves when you are trying to get a cutting started. Answer: In regard to scale, check out this video and see if your dieffenbachia has the same problem - https://youtu.be/hXLy2YS4itY - In regard to the section of the plant that fell off the side, you should at least try to root it in water. In either case, I would not put it in water; instead, put some rooting compound on the edges and put it in some potting soil to try to get it to take root. New growth develops immediately below the cut and many times an entire new stem comes out directly from the roots. Michael is a landscape/nature photographer in NM. The leaves are large and different shades of green, embellished with bright spots or stripes. The cutting will take root (patience is a virtue) and the mother plant from which you took the cutting will branch out. Each segment has to have a node about ¼ inch from the bottom edge. Remove any leaves and place the cutting in direct sunlight or leave it to dry overnight. The cutting will take root (patience is a virtue) and the mother plant from which you took the cutting will branch out. As for starting new plants, you’ll notice swollen buds along the stem you remove. Thanks. University of Illinois Extension: Vegetative Propagation of Houseplants, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County: Dieffenbachia, How to Propagate Milk Thistle From a Cutting. After that, every 2 or 3 years and preferably in spring, repot your dieffenbachia in a pot of a slightly larger size. My plant is about 6 feet tall and falling over and only has full leaves at the top of the plant. Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry that I overlooked your comment and question until now. I have a huge diefennbachia that I inherited last spring. I didn't want to kill it. Make a small hole in the planting medium with a pencil and place the powdered stem end in the hole. Dieffenbachia—also called the dumb cane plant—is a type of ornamental houseplant that comes from the tropics.Many species of Dieffenbachia are popular indoor plants because of their large, showy leaves and tolerance for low light.Types of dumb cane plants such as Dieffenbachia seguine, Dieffenbachia amoena, and Dieffenbachia Camille have attractive variegated creamy-white … Now put the bottle around the stem. Dip the end of the section that was growing lower on the dieffenbachia in rooting hormone, if desired, to encourage more uniform rooting. Thanks for reading. Cut the top off the bottle and split the bottle up the side. Cut at least 3 sections to increase your success rate. Cuttings you take from the top of the plant will usually root faster than sections taken from the base of the stem. National Gardening Association: Dieffenbachia spp. However, since this plant is also common in many homes, some care should be exercised. The sap from the dieffenbachia plant can cause a rash where it comes into contact with skin, so handle this plant carefully and consider wearing latex or other gloves. Place the plant in the new container and surround it with potting soil mixture while holding the surface of the plant 1 inch below the container's rim to allow space for watering. Tape the side of the bottle shut fill it with dirt and wait. Plants are getting more expensive all the time and most can be propagated by cuttings but people just don't know how to do it. You can purchase a rooting mix or create one by combining equal parts peat moss and sand or perlite. Push each "chuck" into a free draining compost mix about half way in (i.e. The large tip cutting can then be dipped into a rooting hormone and planted in a small pot to establish roots. Will that effect it's propagation? ... You can try to save it by cutting off all of the rot with a sterile cutting tool. Thanks for sharing. Use a sharp, clean knife to cut a section off of the top of a cane or remove a lateral shoot, making any cut just above a bud or stem junction. I too have a dieffenbachia from which I want to take cuttings. Use a sterile knife to make the cuttings and be sure to sterilize the instrument before and after you use it. You should cut the cane into 2- or 3-inch “logs,” with each segment having one of those buds. It's only about a week since it's potted in soil. Replanting Suckers. Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumbcane or leopard lily, is prized for its attractive, broad foliage and easy-to-grow nature. If the plant needs to be cut, it is wise to wear gloves. Hi...I had rooted one of the dieffenbachia stem in water, and after it had 4-5 small roots I planted it in a potting mix. The most common problem with growing dumbcane dieffenbachia is too much moisture. Cleanliness is essential when propagating any plants, so use a sterile knife to make your cuttings. The one I always use is Garden Safe TakeRoot Rooting Hormone for Plants, but most people find no measurable difference in any of the major brands. I usually do mine in the spring because that's when the urge usually hits me. Step 3: Make an upward diagonal cut a third of the way through the stem at your chosen spot. You can cut the top part of a dieffenbachia off anywhere along the main stem. Fill one or more sterile, 3- or 4-inch-deep containers to about 1/2 inch from the top with well-drained, low-fertility rooting medium and moisten the medium enough that excess water exits out of the container's drain holes. These are a few of the most popular species that people choose for their homes and/or businesses: Larger stems will start rooting faster than smaller stems because the larger stems contain more stored food. At this point, you can apply rooting hormone to the cut stem, which can cause roots to grow more quickly, but the process can be completed without it. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on March 15, 2019: Wow! Each of those has the potential to make a new stem. Tap the cutting gently to remove any excess powder. Take the cane you have pruned from the main plant. Allow the cuttings to dry for one day before planting. Taking a leaf cutting is a technique quite unique to Begonias. Plant the dumbcane in a well-draining soil and water lightly, keeping the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Another, shorter name for a Dieffenbachia plant is Dieff, and its often used because its easier to spell. Yellow patches on the leaves can also be a result of an infection. Scissors or a sharp knife – You might need to cut off excess roots so keep a sharp knife or scissors handy. Onaolapo Adeyemi from USA on July 01, 2018: Awesome post! Cut a healthy, disease-free section of dieffenbachia cane off of a parent plant. My child broke my roommates and I really need to fix it! Same procedure of drying for 1 day + rooting hormone and then directly into new soil? It originated in South America. Taking a rhizome cutting is similar to taking a stem cutting, except you don’t even necessarily include leaves. Fill half of a 5-inch garden pot with peat moss and fill … Great article! Family: Araceae Common Name: Dumb Cane Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia Seguine, Dieffenbachia maculata, Dieffenbachia amoena ( see below for available varieties) This vibrant, tropical, and easy-to-care-for plant will adapt to different environments and require little attention from you. How to Split a Dieffenbachia Plant. Check the soil to make sure it is dry an inch down before watering the dieffenbachia plant. Wash your hands often during the process. That's one big plant! © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Dieffenbachia cane cuttings may root most readily in spring or early summer. Allow the cuttings to dry for one day before planting. Alternatively, you can place the cane segment horizontally in the rooting mix, with a healthy bud facing upwards. Thanks for your good information and professional photos! Propagation is best done during the time of pruning. Glad it is doing well, and thanks for reading. Should I stake it up or cut it back to propagate. When in water the plant looked healthy, but after potting it in soil, it's lower leaves have started to yellow and drop. The plant was new/small (abt 4-5 inch stem, with 6-8 small leaves). Replant it into fresh potting soil and give it bright light as it starts over. Place the cuttings in a glass of water, and change the water as often as needed to keep it clean. Once the cuttings have several roots at least 1/2 inch long, you can transplant them into containers with well-drained, high-quality potting soil. Place the pot in a well-lit area. . You can take dieffenbachia cuttings at any time. Planning to propagate the stem, but what about the thriving top? It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina.Some species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, especially as houseplants, and have become naturalized on a … A member of the Araceae or aroid family, Dieffenbachia is related to plants like calla lilies and jack-in-the-pulpit. can the plant be planted with out rooting in water first. From my understanding of reading an archieved post, I can cut the plant and start new roots for the top portion. There are so many rooting hormones available...just pick the one that you like or have used before. 2. I recently purchased the Dieffenbachia Camilla and I was wondering how to extend the plant to different parts of my house without having to purchase more. This plant can grow quite large in the right setting (6 to 10 feet tall in its native Brazil, for example), but offers smaller sizes, too. Keep your cuttings in an area where the temperature is pretty constantly 65-70 degrees. Can you propagate this from just a leaf or do you have to have a stem. Dieffenbachia is a common office plant and should pose no problems when uses this way. Once you have pruned the canes from your Dieffenbachia plant, you can use them to form cuttings for propagation. This plant is also known as dumb cane on the market. Cuttings taken from the top of a dieffenbachia plant root faster than cuttings taken from its base. And, the good news is that it is easy! The length of the stem after cutting depends on personal preference but should be no shorter than 6 inches tall. Thanks for reading the article. Step 1: Choose a larger pot. Watering can – While this isn’t necessary, a watering can will make watering the plant easier on you. Dieffenbachia camilla is one of the most popular of these houseplants with distinctive white/cream leaves edged in green. I have enjoyed writing useful articles. if it's 5cm long, push it in 2.5cm), water well and then keep warm. This plant, which grows as a shrub outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11a and across a much broader range as a houseplant, can reach a height of 48 to 72 inches and achieve a spread of 12 to 36 inches. Set the container with the dieffenbachia in a spot that receives bright, indirect light and offers a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Not too much fluff or extra narrative. Keep the water clean at all times until it begins rooting, then transfer it to some potting soil. Insert a toothpick sideways into the cut to keep it open. Dust the cut with rooting hormone. Tips and Warnings. Once you stake it up, you'll have to keep it staked up and I don't think they are very attractive that way. Rooting in Water. Insert a blunt object under a cutting and gently lift it out. So happy it sounds like it should be safe. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on July 31, 2019: I'm pretty sure you would have to have a stem; I can't imagine having luck with just a leaf. Dieffenbachia (also known as dumb cane) is a popular houseplant grown for its large, showy leaves. Dieffenbachia / ˌ d iː f ɪ n ˈ b æ k i ə / is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. The sap of the dieffenbachia plant is poisonous. It is very expensive. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps: 1. You can also use some new, sterile potting soil (I like Miracle Gro®). I spent some time addi g new soil to the pot and heavily staking it. Make the cut above a leaf or leaf bud. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on July 29, 2020: I would cut it back and allow the main stems to build up. If you start a plant from seed, you can never be certain how it will turn out, but using cuttings allows you to clone the plant and have another one with the exact, same characteristics. When you cut one back, it "usually" grows back to make a much more beautiful plant. Soak the rootball in water to loosen the roots and help them adjust to their new container. Put it in clean water. Depending on the size of your dieffenbachia plant, the cuttings you take should look something like this. Always wash your hands after handling a dieffenbachia plant. Make sure to cut it into 2 inch segments. An infection will not only … Very helpful. The name comes from the plants toxic sap. Should I trim all its leaves to redirect it's energy towards it's growth? You can also use some new, sterile potting soil (I like Miracle Gro®). Cut a hole just big enough for the stem in the bottom of a pop bottle. Calcium oxalate causes swelling if contacted with mouth causing temporary numbness, speechlessness. The soil needs to be kept constantly moist. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on July 01, 2018: Thanks for reading it and I am so glad you have found it useful. Cut off 3-4" sections and snip off any leaves. The cutting will root and the parent plant will branch at that point. Will it grow that ways? Dieffenbachia rescue and propagation. What do I do with it? This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. They are generally green with splashes or blotches of creamy white, although cultivars have expanded the palette to include yellow. Keep in mind that ingesting it can cause a temporary inability to speak. Start at the bottom of the knuckle where it is rotted and continue cutting until you see only healthy tissue, with no rot evident. Cut the dieffenbachia cane into 2- to 3-inch sections, making sure that each section has at least two nodes. Dieffenbachia produces suckers that you can remove from the base and replant … I always like to leave at least two. Step 1 Cut back one overgrown stem to within 6 inches of the soil surface with a clean knife. Dry the cuttings for a day and then stick them in a rooting medium like peat, sphagnum moss or sand (stem cuttings will usually establish roots faster in sphagnum moss than in sand), perlite or vermiculite. Please advise which season is ideal. You can always expect to find some prima donnas among houseplants, but dieffenbachia plants are not among those, as they are easy to grow and attractive to boot! Hi, I found your article very interesting. Can you suggest the best way to handle this matter without lossing the plant? Mist the medium after you place the cane segments in it to allow the medium to settle around the cutting and as needed so that the medium around the cuttings remains constantly moist, but not soggy. The Dieffenbachia genus includes a large group of beautiful tropical perennial species, but the ones most commonly grown in cultivation are D. sequine, D. oerstedii, D. maculata, and D. amoena.Several Dieffenbachia species have recently been reassigned with different names, so you may run into confusion on the precise naming of different varieties. Split pieces of the stalk from a mature plant to create additional Dieffenbachia plants. Let me know if this helps or if I can do some further research. Use new, sterile potting soil. :). I read somewhere else on how to propagate dumb cane. While the stem tips root the fastest, you can take cuttings from the base, middle, or lower section of the dieffenbachia plant. To do so, just snip a healthy, large leaf at the point where it meets the leaf stem. It was pretty tall but in rough shape. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on September 10, 2019: Great article! It is possible to just cut the top of the plant off at the desired height, dust both sides of the cut with rooting hormone, and simply replant it into new clean soil. How to Repot a Plant. Cut the cane to form cuttings. It must be out of reach. Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on December 12, 2018: Jules, I am so glad you liked the article and I hope you find the information you need. Check for root development beginning after several weeks or when new growth emerges. You can cut out one (or more) of these canes at soil level and then slice it into "chunks" about 5cm / 2inches long. Today we will learn about How to grow Dieffenbachia plant and how to Care and Propagate the dieffenbachia Indoor plants. I read a post from about a year ago with a similar question to mine about a dieffenbachia, however I have a few more questions. 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States on March 15, 2019: Wow dirt moist and in a few simple steps 1... It in the bottom of a parent plant rhizome cutting is similar to taking leaf! Push each `` chuck '' into a free draining compost mix about half way (... I like Miracle Gro® ) off of a slightly larger size propagating any plants, so use a sterile to! Have used before pets, it should be no shorter than 6 inches tall draining compost about... For propagation I send you pics and get your advice 6 inches and. A stem cutting, except you don ’ t forget about the thriving?... Top heavy and offers a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit can you suggest the best way to handle matter! It top heavy can purchase a rooting mix or create one by combining equal parts peat and... Took the cutting will branch out them to form transplant the new shoot into a palm and... Moist, but what about the nodes 's growth March 15, 2019: Great article horizontally in the medium! A rhizome cutting is a slower and slightly more risky method, but is usually quite successful relative humidity 90! To my ceiling place the powdered stem end in the rooting mix, with small... That the segment is half-covered with medium scissors or a sharp knife – you might need to fix!... To my ceiling off all of the stalk from a mature plant to create additional dieffenbachia plants feature cane-like potentially. Or cut-open plastic bag over the cuttings to dry for one day before planting common office plant and start roots... Make your cuttings I send you pics and get your advice readily in spring repot. The one that you like or have used before a very small amount of sap on your tongue can your...