Showy, beautiful and easy to care for, Dieffenbachia can make a super indoor plant.
Its tolerance for low light and numerous varieties make it a favorite houseplant for homes and offices.
One word of caution, however. If you have small kids or pets, you’ll probably want to make sure you place this plant out of reach. Diffenbachia’s milky sap is a mild irritant and should be kept from bare skin. The sap can even result in temporary loss of speech if ingested by causing swelling of the tongue and throat! That’s how Dieffenbachia came by it’s other name, “dumb cane.”
Caring for Your Dieffenbachia
- Light: It likes bright but filtered light, particularly in the spring, when it’s tender new leaves can get easily burned. Make sure to rotate your dieffenbachia so they don’t pull to one side of the planter.
- Water: Keep your Dieffenbachia moist, but be careful not to overwater.
- Fertilizer: Feed every couple of weeks with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage growth