Dieffenbachia plants are beautiful additions to any home, but sometimes they can get a little too tall. If your Dieffenbachia plant is getting too big for your indoor space, don’t worry! There are several things you can do to keep it looking great and under control.
In this article, we will discuss what to do if your Dieffenbachia plant gets too tall, and how to keep it healthy and looking great.
What Is Dieffenbachia?
Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane, is a tropical plant that is native to Central and South America. It is a popular houseplant because it is easy to care for and it looks great in any home.
Dieffenbachia plants can grow to be very large, so it is important to know how to care for them properly, and how to keep them under control.
How Large Can Dieffenbachia Get?
Dieffenbachia plants can grow to be very large, up to six feet tall. They can also spread outward, so it is important to keep them in a pot that is large enough for their size.
If you are growing Dieffenbachia indoors, you will need to provide them with plenty of space so they can grow and spread out. However, if you want to keep them from growing too large, it would be best to prune them regularly, and keep them in a small pot.
Why Is My Dieffenbachia Getting Too Tall?
There are several things that can cause your Dieffenbachia plant to grow too tall. One of the most common reasons is if the plant is not getting enough light.
Dieffenbachia plants need bright, indirect sunlight to thrive. If your plant is not getting enough light, it will become leggy and tall to reach the sunlight.
Another common reason for Dieffenbachia plants to become too tall is that they are simply potted in a larger pot. One aspect of growing indoor plants that needs to be considered is the pot size.
Some plants may simply grow into the size of their pot. Dieffenbachia may become root-bound if the pot is too large, but it may also grow taller than anticipated if the pot is too large.
What Can Be Done?
There are several things you can do to keep your Dieffenbachia plant from getting too tall. To keep your Dieffenbachia plant under control, it is important to monitor its growth and prune it when necessary.
Be sure to provide it with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight, and keep it in a pot that is the appropriate size for its growth. If you follow these tips, your Dieffenbachia will stay healthy and look great!
When Do I Need to Prune My Dieffenbachia?
You should prune your Dieffenbachia plant when it starts to get too big for your indoor space. If you do not prune it regularly, it can grow out of control and become very tall.
Some people like to let their dieffenbachias grow up to eight feet. At this height, they resemble more of a tree than a decorative houseplant.
Prune your Dieffenbachia plant every few months, and be sure to remove any dead or yellow leaves. This will help keep your plant healthy and under control.
If you never trim your dieffenbachia, it will continue to produce new shoots at the top, and shed lower leaves while it grows upward. This growth pattern is natural, but it will cause the plant to grow tall, more like a tree.
To prevent this from happening, it’s important to monitor new shoots, and trim them back when you can.
How to Prune a Dieffenbachia Plant
If you want to keep your Dieffenbachia plant from getting too large, you will need to prune it regularly. To prune a Dieffenbachia, cut off the top of the plant with sharp scissors.
This will help limit its growth and keep it under control. Be sure to only trim the top of the plant, and not any of the leaves or stems, as this could damage the plant.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to trim back your dieffenbachia without any trouble.
Prepare Your Tools
To prune your Dieffenbachia, you will need a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears. The leaves of the dieffenbachia can be quite sturdy, so if scissors or pruning shears aren’t enough, you may need to use a serrated blade or saw to cut through the thick stems.
If you are using pruning shears to make your cuts, be sure that they are sharp and in good condition. Dull blades can cause more damage than sharp blades, as they will require more force to cut through the stem. A dull blade can also crush the stem, which will lead to poor propagation later on.
Make sure that you wear gloves, as the sap from the plant can be irritating to your skin. As soon as you cut into it, sap will begin to leak from the plant, so it’s best to have gloves on from the start.
You will also want to have some kind of disinfectant. Whether you use alcohol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide, make sure you dilute it.
The best dilution ratio for sterilizing your tools is 10/1, meaning 10 parts water to 1 part disinfectant. This will help to ensure bacteria won’t infect your plant at the pruning sites. Plants can get infections and disease just like humans, so it’s important to disinfect your tools before you begin, and after each cut.
Ensure that the scissors or shears are completely dry after disinfecting, before you start cutting.
Make Your Cuts
The amount that you remove from your Dieffenbachia is almost entirely up to you. You can cut off as much or as little as you want, as long as the cuts are made in the right place.
To encourage new growth, it’s important to trim the leaves back just above the nodes where new growth comes from. It’s easy to locate the nodes, as they are light brown or white in color, and appear as a ring that breaks up the green color of the stem.
Cutting above the node will ensure the plant can produce new leaves later on.
Remove Any Dead or Yellow Leaves
The next step is to remove any dead or yellow leaves from the plant. This will help keep it healthy and looking great! Use your hands or a pair of scissors to remove the leaves, and place them in the trash.
Make sure you disinfect your hands after handling any dead or decaying plant material.
What to Do with The Trimmed Leaves
You can compost the leaves, or use them as mulch in your garden. If you have pets, it’s best to avoid using the leaves as mulch, as Dieffenbachia is poisonous to animals if ingested, and may cause irritation to their feet if walked on.
If you want to avoid using the leaves as compost, you can easily propagate your Dieffenbachia to create new plants using the old trimmings. As long as the leaves that you remove are healthy and trimmed at the correct place, propagation is possible.
When making your cuts, ensure that each leaf (or section of leaves) you trim off has at least one node. These are essential, as they are where new roots will grow from. Make sure that you make your cuts at a 45-degree angle below the node.
Immediately dip your trimmings in water or pure aloe vera to soothe the cut, and transplant them into a small container filled with a germinating or rooting medium.
Water the medium thoroughly and allow it to drain first. Dig a small hole using a pencil or pen. Then take your trimming, place it stem-end into the hole and gently fill in around the sides with the medium.
Optionally, you can dust the stem with growth hormones immediately prior to planting it in the rooting medium. Your new dieffenbachia plant will begin to take root in three to eight weeks, and it’s crucial to leave it be during this time, only watering when the medium dries out.
Final Thoughts
Dieffenbachia plants can get quite tall, but with a few simple steps, you can keep them looking great! Pruning Dieffenbachia is a simple and easy task that anyone can do.
By following these steps, you will be able to keep your plant healthy and under control. With a little bit of care and attention, your Dieffenbachia will thrive indoors for many years to come!
Remember to water your Dieffenbachia thoroughly when the medium dries out, and leave it be during the rooting process. It may take up to eight weeks for your new plants to begin taking root, so be patient!
That’s it! You now know how to properly prune your Dieffenbachia plant. By following these guidelines, you will be able to propagate new plants from the trimmed leaves, and have a healthy Dieffenbachia in no time.
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.