How to propagate Dieffenbachia? Propagation methods and precautions

Dieffenbachia is a foliage plant that many gardening enthusiasts love very much, often used to improve indoor environments. Some enthusiasts find that their Dieffenbachia grows very tall after reaching a certain size, and at that point they can choose to propagate a new pot of Dieffenbachia themselves. Dieffenbachia is generally propagated by two methods: division and cuttings, so how exactly should this be done?

Dieffenbachia

I. Propagation by division:The suckers at the base can be used for propagation by division, generally carried out in spring when repotting. During the operation, lift the plant out of the pot, cut off the rhizome at the base of the stem, coat it with plant ash to prevent rot, or leave it for half a day until the cut surface dries before potting, then water thoroughly; after planting, do not water too much. Growth can resume in about 10 days.

II. Propagation by cuttings:This can be done in both spring and summer. Plants potted for more than 2 years have longer stems, so propagation can be combined with shaping and pruning. Cuttings taken during the high-temperature period of July to August are best. Cut 7-10 cm from the top of the stem, remove part of the leaves to reduce water evaporation, coat the cut with plant ash or sulfur powder, insert into a sand bed or wrap the cut with sphagnum moss, maintain relatively high air humidity, place in a semi-shaded spot with about 50%-60% sunlight. At a room temperature of 24-30°C, roots form 15-25 days after inserting. After new buds sprout on the stem section, transplant into pots. You can also cut the old base section into stem segments with 3 nodes, insert them straight into the soil to 1/3 of their length, or lay them horizontally in the soil to induce rooting and budding.

Dieffenbachia cultivation methods and precautions

 Dieffenbachia is one of the most popular green foliage plants today, and is mostly grown as potted plants placed at home. But how should Dieffenbachia be cultivated? What are its cultivation methods and precautions? To help everyone easily grow Dieffenbachia well, I will now give a specific introduction to its cultivation methods and precautions.

 1. Potting soil for growing Dieffenbachia

When growing Dieffenbachia normally, the potting soil is very important. It is best to choose a mix of leaf mold, garden soil and river sand as the potting soil for Dieffenbachia, and it should have good permeability. After successful cultivation, repot once every spring to avoid the potting soil becoming overly compacted.

2. Water and fertilizer supply for Dieffenbachia

When growing Dieffenbachia, pay attention to the water supply. Dieffenbachia is a plant that likes water, so water it more often normally and try to keep the potting soil moist; it should be said to prefer wet over dry. In addition, while watering, also spray water on the leaves. However, after autumn begins, reduce the water supply, and after winter begins, keep the potting soil dry. In addition, during the peak growing season, Dieffenbachia should be fertilized once a month, mainly with diluted nitrogen fertilizer and cake fertilizer.

3. Light and temperature for Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia likes to grow in a semi-shaded environment. In summer, avoid placing it in direct sunlight; too strong light will damage its leaves. In addition, Dieffenbachia grows fastest in an environment of around 15 degrees, and enters dormancy after winter begins. It is also a plant that fears cold; when the outside temperature is below 5 degrees, it cannot survive the winter safely.

Detailed explanation of Dieffenbachia cultivation methods and precautions

Dieffenbachia is native to China and Japan. It is widely distributed in China, and can be seen in East China, Central China and the Southwest region. Its main producing areas include Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei and other places. In addition, the whole Dieffenbachia plant has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain, and potted plants are often grown everywhere for ornamental purposes. Today I will give everyone a simple understanding of Dieffenbachia cultivation methods and precautions.


Dieffenbachia cultivation methods: soil selection:
      For potted Dieffenbachia, use 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part garden soil, 1 part river sand plus a small amount of decomposed base fertilizer as the growing medium. During the growing season, to keep the potting soil moist, water more, preferring wet over dry, while also spraying water on the leaves.

      In autumn, control water, alternating between dry and wet; in winter, make sure the potting soil is dry. During the growing season, fertilize generally once a month. Normally, prevent direct sunlight and provide shade. Repot once every spring; the wintering temperature in winter must not be lower than 10°C.

Light and temperature:
      Dieffenbachia likes a semi-shaded environment and fears direct summer sun. For greenhouse cultivation, shade more than 60% in spring, summer and autumn, and 40% in winter. Too strong light easily causes sunburn, while too weak light makes it difficult to bloom and bear fruit.

      The suitable growing temperature is 15-18°C. In winter it goes dormant and should be brought into a greenhouse, placed in a sunny spot, with the temperature kept above 10°C, and the lowest temperature must not be below 5°C. In the Yangtze River basin it can overwinter in the open ground; although the leaves may suffer frost damage, new leaves can still sprout again the following year.


Watering and fertilizing:
      During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer once every 10-15 days. In summer, strengthen ventilation, prevent heatstroke and lower the temperature, and supply sufficient water, often keeping the potting soil moist and the surrounding air humid. In summer, water 1-2 times a day; in winter, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.

Shaping and pruning:
      To maintain a good shape of the plant and improve its ornamental value, as the plant grows, promptly prune the yellow leaves, residual leaves and some old leaves at the lower part of the plant. When growing in pots at home, you can wipe the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in beer, which not only removes dust but also adds nutrients to the leaves, making them bright green and clean.

Pest and disease control:
      When Dieffenbachia clumps become too dense, this leads to poor ventilation, and at this time it is prone to damage by scale insects, so everything should focus on prevention. If scale insects are found, you can spray with a 50% malathion emulsion at 1000-1500 times dilution once every 7 days; after 2-3 consecutive sprays, the scale insects can be eliminated.


Precautions for growing Dieffenbachia
      Dieffenbachia is a flower that likes warmth and humidity, tolerates shade, and fears cold. When placed outdoors for cultivation in summer, a shed is needed for shade. Under strong sunlight, the leaves easily turn greenish-white, and the leaf edges also easily become scorched.

      The most suitable temperature for Dieffenbachia growth is 20—30°C. In winter, the indoor temperature is best kept between 12—15°C, and must not be lower than 7°C. Below 7°C, the leaves wither and yellow and drop off, and in severe cases the whole plant dies.


      During the growing season, Dieffenbachia prefers wet over dry. When the temperature is above 25°C, frequently spray water on the leaves; after autumn, control watering, preferably alternating between dry and wet; in winter, keep it appropriately dry.

      Dieffenbachia has a strong tolerance for fertilizer, but fertilization should be moderate. During the growing season, apply 20% cake fertilizer water or 1% compound fertilizer solution once every 15-20 days; stop fertilizing in winter. Provide shade at noon in spring and autumn and in summer; when grown indoors, place it in a bright spot. But in winter, maintain sufficient light.