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Dumb Cane Care
Dieffenbachia
Basic Dumb Cane Care
One thing we love about the Dumb Cane Plant is that it adapts well to the conditions of your home or office making them pretty easy to care for. In our Dumb Cane care guide you will find all the information you need to help your plant thrive.
Bright Indirect Light
I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water Moderately
I don't like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I'm after.
Medium Humidity
Please make sure the air isn't too dry, otherwise I won't be a happy plant.
Potting Soil
I need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water.
Detailed Dumb Cane Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your Dumb Cane is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
Light requirement changes with the seasons
Dumb Cane plants like bright light during the winter months so that they can make the most out of the shorter days. However, over summer we suggest moving your plant a little further into the room so that the sunlight is indirect.
Don't let your Dumb Cane dry out
Dumb Cane plants like their soil to be slightly moist and won’t be happy if kept dry for too long. Cut back your watering in winter though otherwise you risk overwatering.
Dumb Cane like warm environments
This isn’t a dealbreaker and Dumb Cane can certainly survive in slightly colder homes. But as a rule, they like to be in a slightly warmer environment so make sure they aren’t sat next to any drafty windows or AC vents.
Dumb Cane plants love humidity
One important thing to take into consideration when caring for a Dumb Cane plant is to keep the humidity levels high. Check out our humidity guide for more information on misting, pebble trays and other methods.
Use a well-draining potting mix
Dumb Cane like to have good draining in their pot to allow for the water to flow through. A well-draining potting soil reduces the risk of root rot too so is quite an important one to remember.
Make sure to dilute your fertiliser
We recommend you do this with most houseplants as they need less that the amount stated on the bottle so if you do want to fertilise your Dumb Cane, make sure you use a diluted soluble fertiliser.
Propagate your Dumb Cane using division
There are a few other methods you can use to propagate your Dumb Cane but division is definitely the easiest. We recommend you propagate in Spring to coincide with the growth period.
Dumb Cane is toxic to pets and humans
One thing that is really important to note is that the sap of Dumb Cane plants is highly toxic. If ingested, it can cause temporary speech issues so make sure to keep it away from children and pets and wash your hands immediately after handling your Dumb Cane (or wear gloves!)
About the Dumb Cane/ Dieffenbachia plant
With incredible large speckles leaves, the Dumb Cane really does know how to impress! It has got a little bit of a bad reputation, however, as it’s very toxic to both humans and pets and can cause temporary loss of speech if consumed in large quantities (hence the name). However, this is quite rare and whilst important to keep in mind, shouldn’t put you off this plant entirely. As long as you keep it away from children and pets, and wear gloves when handling, repotting or propagating your Dumb Cane, then there shouldn’t be any issues.
Dumb Cane plants are pretty forgiving and bounce back pretty quickly, so you don’t need to worry about occasionally over or underwatering. Just provide them with plenty of indirect sunshine and the occasional misting and they’ll reward you with some of the most beautiful foliage.
Dumb Cane Care Starter Kit
We've put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you'll need to take proper care of your Dumb Cane.
Common Problems with your Dumb Cane
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
If your Dumb Cane is losing leaves at the bottom of the plant, it may be due to colder temperatures. Try to move your Dumb Cane to a warmer part of your home away from drafty doors and windows.
If you notice the tips of your Dumb Cane are turning brown and crispy, this is often due to watering issues. Check the moisture of the soil regularly and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
Drooping leaves on your Dieffenbachia are probably caused by underwatering. Dumb Cane plants like to have slightly moist soil so try and adjust your watering schedule a little.
If the odd leaf at the bottom of your Dumb Cane plant is yellowing, don’t be alarmed as that is often due to natural ageing. However, if your whole Dumb Cane plant is turning yellow, there might be a bigger problem occurring such as underwatering or a pest infestation.
Curling leaves on Dumb Cane Plants can have several different causes. It may be due to underwatering, over-fertilisation or temperature changes so check out its environment and adjust care accordingly. Alternatively, it may be due to a pest infestation, most commonly spider mites. We recommend giving your Dumb Cane plant a shower and replacing the soil immediately.
Simple Dumb Cane Care Requirements
It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here's the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Dieffenbachia.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | Dumb Cane |
| Latin Name | Dieffenbachia |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Water | Water Moderately |
| Humidity | Medium Humidity |
| Soil Type | Potting Soil |
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Related Plants
Here are some other plants that will work in similar conditions, or have some matching qualities.
