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Plants have an attractive foliage and leave to clean the harmful toxins in the atmosphere. Though the plant is toxic to humans when consumed, the leaf containing Raphides compound can still purify the surrounding atmosphere at both home & offices areas. It helps you to live a better and happy life by inhaling fresh and purified air in your rooms.
Most of these plant varieties are grown as ornamental plants and some as houseplants as they can tolerate in shade. Here is the list of some dumb cane plant varieties based on its growing climatic conditions and leaf structure…
| S. No | Plant Variety | Specification |
| 1 | Rudolf Roehrs | Creamy leaves with white spots |
| 2 | Camille | Pale yellow leaves and bright green margins |
| 3 | Compacta | Creamy centers and green margins |
| 4 | Tropic snow | Green leaves along white veins and deep green margins |
| 5 | Sparkles | Bright colored leaves with white rib |
To grow dumb cane plants in pots or large containers choose a baby plant variety. You can buy them from nursery or online store that you wish to grow for air-purifying purpose and makes the home look beautiful.
Pot & Soil: Choose a pot of size 8-12 inches and check the soil ph before planting. Fill the pot with well-drain soil. Spacing should be 12 inches long between each plant when you prefer to grow dumb canes outdoors or landscape method.
Water & Sunlight: Plant dumb canes when the frost has passed. They grow well in warm climatic conditions and water the plant lightly to provide sufficient nutrients. When root develops you can increase the amount of water supply to the plants. Allow the plant to get sufficient sunlight for a minimum of 8 hours a day. So the best temperature to grow dumb canes is 65-75F.
Pruning: Plant can reach a height of 4-5 feet tall and can grow for years as an indoor plant. To prune dieffenbachia plant cut them at 45-degree angle using a knife. Remove the plant’s foliage which is 6 inches above the soil. Water the plant a little to recover it from pruning.
Nutrient Deficiency
| S. No | Element | Deficiency symptom |
| 1 | Nitrogen | Spindle yellow leaves |
| 2 | Potassium | Browning at the leaf edges |
| 3 | Phosphorus | Slow growth and dull yellow foliage |
| 4 | Magnesium | Leaf veins turns yellow and reddish brown tints |
| 5 | Boron | Stunted growth and elongated twisted leaves |
Pests & Diseases
| Pests | Diseases |
| Spider mites | Bacterial rot |
| Mealybugs | Yellowing of leaves |
| Aphids | Leaf dropping off |
| Fungus gnats | Discoloration of leaves |
Fertilizers: Generally fertilizers are used to improve the plant growth by deterring pests and diseases problem. It also supplies sufficient amounts of nutrients to the plants. Use Epsom salt, bone meal, N-P-K fertilizers (20-20-20) and organic matter such as compost or manure to boost the plant grow faster.
Propagating Dieffenbachia from cuttings is easy to grow outdoors. You can use this method by selecting mature stems at moderate room temperature conditions. This method is most suitable for landscaping purpose. There are 2 methods to propagate Dieffenbachia plants from cuttings i.e. by placing cuttings in water and soil directly….
For rooting in water method, take the stem cuttings of a certain height and place them in a jar or glass of water. Provide sunlight to the cuttings and change the water in the jar for every 2-3 days. Once the root develops you can transplant it to outdoors to promote faster growth.
Here are some useful tips to grow dumb cane plants in your home…
Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family of Araceae. These plants are native to the tropical regions of Mexico, West Indies, and Argentina. The plant has simple, alternate leaves with white spots & flecks and is grown as ornamental plants.
Yellowing of leaves is a sign of nutrient deficiency in plants. It can also be due to the drought (lack of water) conditions. To overcome this problem place a tray with water under the plant that adds humidity to the surrounding atmosphere.
Dieffenbachia or dumb cane leaves contain needle-shaped crystals called Raphides (calcium oxalate) and if consumed the leaves in small amounts then it can cause erythema, burning sensation in stomach and can cause temporary inability to speak.
Start growing these wonderful dumb cane plants in pots or outdoors that purifies the surrounding air and improves your health. If you have amazing ideas about growing dumb plants in your home, please share your experience with us.
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