 |
| Light Variety of Dumb Cane Plant |
Dumb Cane or also known as Dieffenbachia can vary in color. The leaves will range from almost all green to light green to white. All varieties of Dumb Cane get small flowers that resemble those on a Peace Lily except the leaf surrounding is smaller and not white. This type of flower is known as a spathe and spadix.
Be careful with Dumb Cane plants if you own pets. This plant sap is poisonous if ingested. If you are worried about your pets eating your plant, place it in a high, hard to reach place.
Light: Dumb Cane will tolerate a variety of light conditions as long as it is not direct sun. This means that as long as you do not place your plant right up against a window, it should thrive.
Water: Water needs for Dumb Cane can depend on how much light you are giving it. If you give your plant low-light, it probably only needs to be watered once a week. If you are giving your plant more medium-light, Dumb Cane might need to be watered every 4-5 days.
Soil: Regular, all-purpose potting mix works great for this plant.
Fertilizer: Fertilize every spring with a slow-release, all-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
Pot: Any appropriate size pot will work fine. Make sure the pot gives the plant a little room to grow as these plants can get quite large.
Pests:
Spider mites can infest your plant if you let them dry out too much. To prevent spider mites on Dumb Cane, keep it well watered and wipe the leaves off once a month to prevent dust build-up. Spider mites like dry dusty conditions.
Mealybugs are another common culprit for pests on Dumb Cane plants. Mealybugs look like tiny white furry slugs. If you discover these, pick them off the plant and spray your entire plant with a mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half water.
 |
| Slight droopy leaves at bottom of Dumb Cane plant. |
Droopy Leaves: If your Dumb Cane has droopy leaves, it is getting a little too much water. Just cut back on watering and it should be fine. Another cause of droopy leaves might be the light. If you have your plant in a low light condition, the "droopy leaves" might just be the leaves turning toward the light.
Yellow Leaves: If you have yellowing leaves your plant roots could be sitting in water. Make sure that your pot has good drainage and remove any water that comes out of the bottom of the pot. Yellowing leaves could also be a sign of pests such as spider mites.
Dumb Cane plants are pretty forgiving to maltreatment. These plants will spring back after any bad treatment they receive. This makes these plants great for beginners or people with busy schedules that want to add a little green to their life. Be careful with this plant around pets and young children. This plant is not poisonous to the touch, but the sap inside the stems is poisonous. Keep out of reach from anything that might be tempted to eat this plant.
Good luck on your plant journey!
Lily's Indoor Jungle
