Greek
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia, its name may not be so well known, but most of us have admired it from time to time in a home or office. With a cane-like central stem that reaches a height of one meter, the dieffenbachia has impressive shiny leathery round or narrower leaves in a white-yellow color.
The Dieffenbachia has a total height of 40-60 cm and belongs to the category of indoor plants that need minimal maintenance and care.
(Well, how did they give it such a name? The German gardener Dieffenbach, who brought it to Europe from Brazil, its place of origin, is responsible for everything!)
1. What conditions does the Dieffenbachia need inside the house?
Dieffenbachia needs a bright spot indoors to thrive, as long as the sun's rays are not hitting it directly. If we have it near a window, don't forget to draw the curtain when necessary. Regarding the temperature, from 18 to 28°C it grows ideally, while in very hot but also in cold it suffers and loses the intense color of its leaves.
Of course, we make sure to place it away from fireplaces, radiators, air conditioners and strong air currents. For its planting, we choose potting soil special for indoor plants, rich in nutrients and with good drainage.
2. What watering does dieffenbachia need?
We water the Dieffenbachia once a week by doing a good watering with a bowl of water. During the summer, we water more often, as soon as we see the surface soil in the pot drying out.
3. How is dieffenbachia propagated?
Dieffenbachia is propagated by cuttings that are cut in spring or early summer. We can plant her shoots directly in pots using rooting hormone or put the shoots in water to grow roots and then plant them in pots.
4. And a secret about Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia should not be in areas with dogs or cats yet, as it contains an enzyme in the leaves which, in the -very rare- case of being eaten, may cause swelling of the throat and tongue.