Dieffenbachia - Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is one of the most beloved indoor plants that growers grow in apartments. In the wild, this plant grows in South America. Its name comes from the surname of a scientist from Germany I.F.Dieffenbach. The described culture belongs to the Aroid family.

Description of the plant

The leaves are quite large in size and a bright pronounced shade, due to which they look very interesting. The stem of an adult plant from the side resembles the trunk of a small compact tree, but it has a fairly large diameter and is distinguished by a large amount of sap inside. The culture grows very quickly and reaches a fairly large size, so its exotic appearance is increasingly attracting flower lovers. This plant is used for decorative purposes for landscaping and decorating loggias, balconies, grown on spacious verandas and in other rooms.

It should be noted that the juice dieffenbachia is poisonous, so you need to be extremely careful when damaging the leaves or stems. Getting on the mucous membrane of the human body, the juice can cause tissue damage. It is for these reasons that this plant is not grown in rooms where there are children, and it is also not recommended to place them in rooms with pets.

The plant is very unpretentious and available for growing even to inexperienced growers. The culture does not require special care and can grow in almost any conditions. The only thing that dieffenbachia does not tolerate is stagnation of moisture in the roots, which can cause rotting.

This plant is distinguished by the fact that it grows at the top, while the lower leaves wither after some period of time. For this reason, an adult dieffenbachia loses its decorative function and becomes like a large broom.

In addition, very often a thick, but fragile stem can be damaged as a result of careless handling of the plant or if it is not tied up. In this case, do not be upset. It is enough to root the broken off part in a separate container. It is also possible to divide the stem, each part of which also takes root. This produces a large number of young dieffenbachia.

And there are varieties of dieffenbachia that have dormant buds on the sides of the stems, and when they awaken, the stem begins to branch, and the plant itself takes on the appearance of a bush.

Dieffenbachia blooms very, very rarely under growing conditions in an apartment. If the flowering process has nevertheless begun, then dieffenbachia must be artificially pollinated, after which the formation of ovaries and fruits is possible. Subject to the basic rules of cultivation, as well as if the plant is in comfortable conditions for it, then dieffenbachia can bloom annually, while it is imperative to remove faded, dried inflorescences. This is necessary so that the plant does not spend all the nutrients and forces on the formation of seeds.

Care rules

Dieffenbachia's natural habitat is the warm, tropical, humid climate that prevails in the southern continent of America. Therefore, when growing this plant at home, it is necessary to choose a bright room and organize a large amount of heat. In addition, it is necessary to protect dieffenbachia from drafts. It is best to choose the lightest southern window. However, it will be best if direct sunlight does not hit the plant throughout the day. You can also grow a crop on the balcony if it is on the south side of the house. But if the summer is very hot, then the plant will grow very poorly there.With a lack of sunlight, dieffenbachia will stretch ugly, the stem will become thin and fragile, and the number of leaves will be very few.

Watering

Dieffenbachia requires abundant watering, especially during the period of active growth. In winter, the plant is dormant, so here it is necessary to change the watering regime, reducing the number of repetitions. The most important rule is to avoid excessive moisture in the soil. It is necessary to focus on the state of the top layer of the earth and water the plant only when the top layer dries out by about 2 cm. You can check the condition of the soil with a special device or manually. The air humidity level is required high enough for the plant to feel comfortable, since the wild natural conditions of Dieffenbachia are characterized by high humidity. In addition to installing special humidifiers and water containers, it is necessary to constantly spray the leaves with a spray bottle, especially during the heating season, when the air is driest. If the edges of the leaves become dry, it means that the plant lacks moisture.

The temperature of the room where dieffenbachia grows should be above 17 degrees. In addition, it is not recommended to open windows or vents in the room during the winter period.

The soil

In order for the plant to look beautiful, you need to choose the right soil mixture. The optimal composition here will be sod land, sand, leafy soil and peat. Also, a good drainage layer must be laid on the bottom. In addition to the soil, finely crushed brick or charcoal can be added to the container.

Feeding

Like any houseplant, dieffenbachia must be fed regularly during the period of active growth, about once every 2 weeks. It will be optimal to use ready-made complex fertilizers, and dieffenbachia is also very responsive to nitrogen-containing preparations.

Reproduction

Dieffenbachia is propagated using cuttings cut from the tops of the stems. This planting material must be placed in sand or in a mixture of sand and peat, and treatment with Kornevin will also be optimal. The stalk is placed in Kornevin before placing it in the sand. After planting the cuttings, you need to make a glass shelter or you can cover the plants with foil. The container with the handle should be placed in a bright, warm room, protected from the scorching sun rays. The moisture level of the soil should be constantly monitored and watering should be done about once a week. It is advisable to add during watering preparations that stimulate plant growth and its adaptation. This is the same Kornevin, Ekogel, Zircon and others.

If you follow these rules, the plant will take root better and in a shorter time. You can treat the handle itself with water from a spray bottle, but the water must be warm. It is also important to ensure that the temperature of the soil where the seedling grows is at least 21 degrees. It is not recommended to place the container with the planting material on a cold windowsill. You can root the stalk not only in a mixture of sand and peat, but also simply in a glass of water. Thus, when the roots have grown by about 3 cm, then the cutting can be placed in the soil. If you grow cuttings in sand, then before transplanting them, you need to fertilize with mineral fertilizer, reducing the concentration by about 4 times. When the container becomes too tight for the cutting, the plant should be transplanted. This must be done very carefully, keeping the clod together with the roots.

In addition to cuttings of the apical part of the stem, some propagate dieffenbachia by sections of the stem. For these purposes, it is necessary to take a healthy, strong stem and divide it into equal parts, about 10 cm each. It is important to ensure that at least three internodes remain in each area.Parts of the stem are dried for about 2 days, and the sections are treated with charcoal powder or sulfur.

Further, parts of the stem are placed in the soil, adding a little drop in them. Here you need to be patient, since reproduction by this method is very slow. Sometimes it may take six months for the planting material to take root. Sometimes it happens that the roots do not grow back in a given planting material, but the cutting does not rot either. In such cases, you should continue to care for the seedling.

After some time, after the rooting process has begun, new buds may appear from the ground. Then a young leaf will grow in this place. During this period, it is necessary to slightly huddle the plants. After the sprout has hardened in the soil, you can already transplant it to a permanent place. However, a part of an adult plant should never be cut or removed. It is not necessary to get rid of the plant from which the planting material was taken, since new stems with leaves will begin to appear in the places of internodes.

Dieffenbachia is propagated by the seed method. But for this it is necessary to achieve flowering of dieffenbachia and ripening of seeds. The flowers are artificially pollinated. The flowers, male and female, are formed on the cob. Male flowers are on the top of the ear, and female flowers are at the very bottom, which are also covered by a part of the plant. To make artificial pollination, you need to make an incision and use a brush to pollinate the female flowers. After the process is completed, the incision must be closed with tape. It is important to choose the period and time here, since flowering lasts a very short period, after which the flower withers. If all pollination rules are followed, after the flower has finished flowering, seeds will begin to form, which are bright red berries. In no case should you eat these berries. After about 6 months, the seeds will be ripe, and the berry itself will have a wrinkled skin. After removing the seeds, you must immediately start sowing. It is better to choose sphagnum as a substrate for germination.

Transfer

Dieffenbachia transplant should be carried out in the spring and only when necessary. It is best to pre-prepare the soil, which will consist of leafy earth, humus, sand and peat.

You can buy ready-made soil for fruit and deciduous crops. The transplant must be carried out in a container of a larger volume, while it is important to plant the plant itself deeper so that new roots appear from the stem. During transplantation, it is important to keep an earthen ball so as not to damage the root system.

Roots should be checked for damaged parts. If the root system looks healthy, with no signs of disease, then you can move the crop along with the old soil to a new container. Previously, a drainage layer must be placed in a new container, expanded clay can be added. Also, in addition to the old soil, the new container should be filled with fresh nutrient soil, scattering it along the edge around the earthen clod.

You need to act carefully, without damaging the root roots, otherwise they will begin to rot. Also, the ground should not be too damp. It is better if it is slightly moisturized. During transplantation, it is advisable to add growth stimulants, which also contribute to better rooting of the plant. If you notice damaged processes on the root system, then you need to shake them off and carefully cut them off. All sections are processed with activated carbon powder. After this, further transplantation takes place.

Diseases and pests

Like any houseplant, dieffenbachia can be attacked by pests. The popular ones are the spider mite, the false shield mite and the mealy mite. Signs of the presence of parasites are a spider web on the leaves of a plant, as well as a fluff in the form of cotton wool.If dieffenbachia is struck by a scabbard, then you will see brown growths that have a sticky structure. To get rid of pests, it is necessary to use Actellic, dissolved in a liter of water. You can treat the plant with soapy water, or treat the leaves and stems with water.

The most popular disease for dieffenbachia is rot, which occurs due to excessive soil moisture. The signs of the disease are wilting of leaves and their premature fall.

If the soil in the pot does not dry out for a very long time after watering, this indicates that, most likely, a decay process occurs in the roots. In this case, the plant is dug up and the damaged areas are removed. Sections should be treated with activated charcoal or cinnamon. The soil in the pot must be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate. In addition, you should think about changing the irrigation regime and still wait for sufficient drying out of the soil in the upper layer.

Plant species

Motley... This is a very popular type of this plant, which is often grown by gardeners. The culture is growing in size. Thus, an adult dieffenbachia can have a stem of two meters in height, which gives the room the appearance of a tropical thicket. The leaf plates are very large, and, moreover, are distinguished by a colorful, beautiful pattern. At the same time, the shade has patterns that contrast in color with the background of the sheet plate.

Dieffenbachia spotted. The plant is also very loved by flower growers. Unlike the above-described type of dieffenbachia, this plant is more compact and has a height of about a meter. Large and brightly colored leaf plates of this plant perfectly perform decorative functions in a room or office space. The leaves are oblong, slightly pointed at the tip. One sheet can reach half a meter in length, while the width of the sheet is about 10 or 13 centimeters. The patterns on the plate also differ in color, with light and dark shades of green.

Leopold... This type of dieffenbachia is much less common in offices and apartments. However, the plant also has a very showy look. Unlike other species, this variety has a trunk that is only 5 cm long. At the same time, rather wide leaves grow from it, which are in the shape of an ellipse. The color of the leaves here also has a light shade, gradually reaching a dark green shade. Besides the short stem, the petioles are also very small.

Adorable... This plant is very unpretentious and does not require special care. The culture is very well grown in offices and in an apartment. For this species, the low level of humidity in the room is not terrible, therefore, even during the period of operation of the heating devices, the plant will not lose its beauty. The only thing that needs to be done for this is to control soil moisture. The height of this culture reaches 150 cm, the leaves are also large in size, growing up to half a meter in length. The shade of the leaf plates is bright, variegated, exotic.

Seguina... This plant has large leaves and very short petioles. In addition, the variety is characterized by the presence of a large number of veins throughout the leaf. Also, the culture is famous for its active participation in the selection processes and is the ancestor of many very beautiful and popular varieties.

Oersted... Differs in a monochromatic shade of leaf plates, which are distinguished only by a bright light middle.

Dieffenbachia is magnificent... Also very popular and spectacular looking plants, which are distinguished by bright white spots found on the leaf blades as well as on the leaf petioles. Outwardly, Dieffenbachia looks very noble, therefore it is also called "Royal".

Large-leaved dieffenbachia is distinguished by wide leaf plates that have a green tint. The height of this plant does not exceed one meter.

Baumann... The leaves here are also variegated and very large. If the plant is grown in conditions comfortable for it, then the leaf plates can reach almost a meter in length. Also, this species is distinguished by the characteristic color of the leaves, which has two shades of green: light and dark.

Bause... This species also looks extremely attractive, while having small leaves and a beautiful variegated shade that distinguishes all Dieffenbachia.

Conclusion

Dieffenbachia is a beautiful, unpretentious plant that multiplies easily and takes root quickly. This culture is capable of giving an exotic look to any room and reaches a fairly large size. Due to the undemanding plant, even a novice florist can grow dieffenbachia.