Dieffenbachia is a common houseplant that is known for its immaculately large leaves. It comes in many different varieties ranging from green, cream, and even white colorations.
They are notorious for being large when they are in their prime living conditions. The leaves can actually grow to be around 20-inches long!
The plant itself is also capable of growing to be around 10-feet high. Dieffenbachia is known for being fast-growing, and it can definitely exceed your expectations if cared for properly.
When you first start growing a dieffenbachia plant, you can expect an impressive 2 feet of growth in the first year alone. Given the proper conditions, you can easily grow this beautiful plant that will serve as a great addition to any home.
Ideal Conditions
Dieffenbachia thrive in plenty of indirect sunlight. They are a tropical plant by nature, so they do love this brightness.
If you are keeping it indoors, make sure that it is not going to get an excess of direct sunlight. Indirect light is preferred, and this will keep your dieffenbachia happy.
When you place dieffenbachia in low-lit areas, the plant will not necessarily die right away. Instead, you will notice that its growth slows dramatically.
Dieffenbachia grows best in soil that is not overly moist. For this reason, taking care to never over-water the plant is crucial to its survival.
Aside from light pruning and fertilizing, you do not need to do much to ensure that your dieffenbachia thrives. They are great large plants to keep that do not require a ton of maintenance.
Can it Grow Outdoors?
Many people keep their dieffenbachia indoors, but it is possible to grow it outdoors. Because of its sunlight requirements, you do need to make sure that it can get shade periodically throughout the day.
Indirect sunlight works best for dieffenbachia, even when you are keeping it outdoors. Also, keep in mind which climate zone you are in.
It is noted that dieffenbachia grow best in zones 11 and 12. You can easily look up which zone you reside in here using the zone map.
They make excellent landscape plants, perfect for framing walkways or keeping in your garden amongst other plants and flowers. Getting the lighting right outdoors is more challenging because you have less control.
If you see that your dieffenbachia is struggling outdoors, this might be a sign that the lighting is not ideal. There is always the option of moving and replanting it to a more suitable location.
Since the plant is tropical, many people like to only keep it outdoors in the summertime. This is going to provide the right temperature and a chance for it to obtain the correct level of sunlight.
Another reason why you might decide to keep your dieffenbachia outside is because the plant grows incredibly quickly. Oftentimes, it can outgrow your indoor space if it gets too tall or keeps requiring bigger pots for its roots to spread.
The versatility that dieffenbachia provides is great because you do have options of where you can grow it. With some careful consideration, you will find the right location for your plant.
Indoor Care
When you keep your dieffenbachia indoors, you will follow a structured watering routine. This is not a plant that requires daily watering since it is prone to being over-watered.
The best soil for dieffenbachia is soil that is not overly moist. You can water it once, and then you should wait until the first two inches of the soil become dry.
To check, simply feel the soil with your fingers. If you are ever unsure whether or not your dieffenbachia needs water, take a look at its leaves.
The leaves will become droopy if the plant is not receiving the proper amount of water. The reason why you do want the soil to dry out a bit before you water it is because the water will travel down to the base of the plant.
Even if it does not seem very wet at the surface, your plant is still receiving moisture through its roots down below. With a plant pot that has a drainage system, be sure that you are checking for overflow.
A sign that you are actually over-watering your plant is when you begin to see water pooling up in the bottom saucer of the pot. These are a few key elements to pay attention to when it comes to creating a watering routine that works best for your plant.
Each one is going to be slightly different, so you cannot necessarily follow a set schedule. You will get the hang of checking the soil and determining whether or not it needs more water.
About a month after you plant your dieffenbachia, you will want to add some plant food to the soil. All it takes is a single pump for smaller pots and about two pumps for pots larger than 6 inches in diameter.
The only other care routine you will have to keep up with is occasional pruning of your plant. It is normal for a dieffenbachia to shed its lower leaves as it grows.
This is a sign that it is healthy and should be no cause for concern. To prune it when this happens, all you need to do is take a pair of pruning shears and cut away the leaves that have died.
There is also the option of using the pruning shears to trim the plant if it becomes too long for your liking. This tends to happen when your plant begins to thrive.
If you decide you would like to propagate your dieffenbachia, this is also possible. With the stem cuttings that you prune, you can actually plant these (indoors or outdoors) and make new saplings.
Whether you want to keep your plant indoors or outdoors, your dieffenbachia should make for a great houseplant that is very impressive in size. With its versatility, you really have the opportunity to see its full potential.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.