It’s no secret that dieffenbachia plants are some of the most popular houseplants you can buy. Many people love putting these in their offices because of how vibrant and green they are.
You love the way that these plants look. They aren’t that difficult to take care of either.
Sometimes you might notice strange things happening to the plants, though. For example, you might notice that your dieffenbachia plant appears to be dripping water.
Why would a plant drip water like this? Is this something that you need to worry about?
Read on to learn about dieffenbachia plants dripping water. You’ll learn why this happens and whether you need to do something to stop it.
Why Does This Happen?
So why does the plant start dripping water? This is a process known as guttation.
It’s generally considered to be a physical reaction to over-watering issues. If you’ve been watering the plant way too much, it’s going to start dripping water.
Simply put, the roots of the plant start absorbing more water than the plant is able to use. Since it can’t utilize all of the water, some of it is going to be excreted by the plant.
The plant will begin to excrete water through its foliage in the form of sap. The substance that the plant is dripping is known as xylem sap.
It’s made up of mostly water, but it also contains minerals and plant hormones. You don’t want guttation to occur, and this means you should try to change how you’re caring for the plant.
Water the Plant Carefully
Moving forward, it’s going to be best to water the plant carefully. You want to avoid giving the plant more water than it needs.
These plants don’t like being kept in soggy soil. You shouldn’t water the plant unless it needs to be watered.
To check if the plant is ready to be watered, you should touch the soil with your fingers. When the top two inches of the soil are dry, you’ll want to go ahead and water the plant.
When watering the plant, it’s recommended to water it thoroughly at the base. These plants will do well when the soil is kept slightly moist.
Pour water onto the plant at the base. You do this until water starts to come out of the drainage holes in the pot.
Having good drainage holes will be an important part of the process. Be sure to pick out a pot with proper drainage holes so your plant will be able to thrive.
So long as you keep this in mind, it should be easy to get good results. You’ll be able to keep the plant watered without giving it more water than it can utilize.
Air Circulation
Good air circulation can help the plant to dry out properly. You might need to put the plant in a better pot that will have the right type of air circulation.
You want to put the pot in a location that has good ventilation, too. This helps it to dry out and should make avoiding guttation much simpler.
For many, the most practical way to improve air circulation will be to use a fan. Simply get a fan for the area where you keep your houseplants.
Another idea is to put the houseplants near a window. This can sometimes be detrimental if the window is drafty, though.
Hot or cold drafts can negatively impact the dieffenbachia plants. Keep this in mind and make good choices that will keep your plants safe.
Ensure That the Plant Gets Sunlight
Of course, the plant is going to need sunlight to grow strong and stay healthy. Dieffenbachia plants do well in partial shade.
They can also tolerate full shade. However, it’s best to give them a bit of sunlight because it can help the plants to dry out.
Do your best to find a good spot where the plant can experience partial sunlight. You want to avoid direct sunlight because it’ll scorch the plant.
These plants are too delicate to be placed in direct sunlight. Keep this in mind as you choose an appropriate location that will meet the plant’s needs.
Protect the plant while also ensuring that it gets enough sunlight. The plant getting enough sunlight will work in tandem with good circulation to protect it from guttation issues.
Use the Right Soil
Using the right soil will play a role in how well the plant dries out, too. If you use soil that doesn’t drain well, you’re going to have a tough time.
You want to use loamy soil that is going to do an excellent job of draining. Using soil that is too thick will wind up being detrimental to the plant.
Remember that you’ll need to repot the dieffenbachia plant every so often. It’ll eventually grow too large for its current pot.
If you don’t repot the plant as it grows, it’ll wind up becoming root-bound. This can be a huge problem that will make things much worse when you’re trying to keep the plant in good condition.
Check the plant to see if it is starting to get too large for the pot that it’s in. Slide the plant out of the pot and check the condition of the roots.
Generally, you’ll need to repot the plant every other growing season. Sometimes you might need to repot it two years in a row, though.
Is Guttation Always a Problem?
What if you’re sure that you’re not watering the dieffenbachia plant too much? If the plant is still dripping water, is it really a sign that you’ve done something wrong?
Not necessarily. You see, guttation is something that can occur naturally for a number of reasons.
You should pay attention to guttation because it can be a sign that you’ve been watering the plant too much. However, it could also happen under normal circumstances.
Many plant owners have noted that they see their plants do this fairly often. It’s said to be related to having high humidity levels.
Since tropical plants thrive in high-humidity environments, it’s not something to worry about. It could be perfectly normal to see the plant dripping water from time to time.
If you’re not seeing any other signs that you’ve been watering the plant too much, it’s probably fine. You can likely just chalk it up to normal dipping due to humidity.
Important Care Tips
Caring for dieffenbachia plants properly will allow you to enjoy them to the fullest. Most people keep these plants as indoor houseplants in pots.
This is totally fine, but you might benefit from putting them outside for a portion of the year. During the growing season, it can be beneficial for these plants to be placed outside.
It helps the plants to develop healthy cells. Also, air circulation is a lot easier outside when it’s a bit hot out.
You do need to be careful where you put these plants, though. Ideally, you’ll want to put them in a partially-shaded spot near your home.
It isn’t completely necessary to put these plants outside if you don’t want to. This is simply something that you can do if you like the idea.
No matter what, it’s a good idea to give these plants a boost using fertilizer. You can use fertilizer for dieffenbachia plants starting in the spring.
Fertilize these plants from the early days of spring until the late days of autumn. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer and be sure not to use too much of it.
Too much fertilizer can wind up being bad for the plant. Use a well-balanced fertilizer that gives the plant all of the nutrients that it needs to grow strong.
Final Thoughts
Now you know why dieffenbachia plants sometimes drip water. When you first notice the plant doing this, it’ll likely cause you to worry.
It could indeed be a sign that something is wrong, but it might also be normal. Sometimes this happens when plants are put in high-humidity environments.
You might have this happen when you water the plant too much, too. This can be a serious issue, and that’s why you shouldn’t ignore the dripping water problem.
Sometimes you’ll notice other signs of over-watering such as yellowing leaves, drooping, and other such situations. You need to be careful not to water the plant more than necessary.
Whenever you go to water these plants, it’s best to check the soil first. Only water the plants when the top two inches of the soil are dry.
Now that you know this, it’ll be easier to avoid guttation issues. You should be able to enjoy your plant and keep it safe.
Let your friends know what you learned about dieffenbachia plants and guttation today. These are popular plants that many of your friends and family members likely own.
Ensuring that they understand why the plants will sometimes drip water will help them out. You might be able to keep them from worrying unnecessarily.
You can also help them learn how to water the plants the right way. This keeps issues with guttation from occurring in most situations.
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.