At first glance, the name "Dieffenbachia" seemsquite intricate. But underneath it hides a popular indoor flower belonging to the Araceae family. This evergreen plant is common in the tropics of South America. Dieffenbachia is very easy to distinguish from other plants. It has elongated variegated oval-shaped leaves. If you are interested in growing this flower, remember - its juice is poisonous. Therefore, you should not put the pot in the children's room and make sure that the plant is out of reach of pets. In general, dieffenbachia can be an excellent decoration for your apartment. And in this article we will talk about how to propagate this plant, how to care for it, and what conditions it needs. The stem of dieffenbachia is similar to a tree trunk, and the top is a lush crown of variegated leaves. Having decided to keep this beauty, it is important to remember that an adult dieffenbachia reaches two meters in height. It is better, of course, not to allow such growth, since the plant will not be particularly beautiful: the stem will become almost bare, the leaves will remain only at the very top. Agree, here we are no longer talking about attractiveness. But it is the appearance that has allowed dieffenbachia to serve as a decoration of any interior for the past 150 years. It can be seen in a private house, and in an office, and in government agencies. However, this plant has a rather capricious character, and not everyone gets to see how dieffenbachia blooms. To ensure that the plant does not lose its marketable appearance, it is recommended to renew it every three years.
House types of diffenbachia
Experts count about 50 species of thisplants. Of course, not all varieties are used as indoor flowers. Only 5-6 species are considered decorative, and they are the ones that can be found in city apartments and offices. Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of these species.
- Dieffenbachia maculata or Dieffenbachia picta
A species also known as spotted.The plant stem and leaf blades are large, reaching about half a meter in length and about 15 centimeters in width. The leaf shape narrows towards the top and becomes slightly pointed, and on its surface there are lateral veins. Usually there are about 15 of them. The plant blooms in the form of a cob, after flowering red-orange berries appear.
- Dieffenbachia bausei
A plant with yellow-green leaves. Their length is 35 centimeters. On the surface of the leaf you can see a marble pattern with white dots.
- Diefenbachia oerstedii
Characterized by a heart-shaped leaf with a well-defined midrib, this plant has green leaves whose surface is covered with white spots.
- Dieffenbachia seguina or Dieffenbachia amoena
Also known as Dieffenbachia amabilis. This variety is somewhat similar to the spotted variety, but the leaves of the former are slightly wider and longer. The leaf of the plant has about 12 veins.
General Conditions of Diffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is a light-loving plant, howeverAvoid direct sunlight, otherwise you may get a burn. Daily care of the plant consists of spraying the leaves. When the temperature drops below 18 degrees, you should abandon this procedure in favor of wiping the leaves with a damp cloth. The plant loves fresh air, but you should not surprise it with drafts. In winter, the room temperature should be at least 17 degrees. In general, this plant tolerates temperature fluctuations from 17 to 25 degrees Celsius quite well. As soil for dieffenbachia, either a ready-made mixture from the store or self-prepared soil consisting of turf soil, brick chips and charcoal is suitable. A mixture of leaf soil, turf, peat and sand is considered optimal. The proportions should be as follows: four parts of turf soil to one part of each other component of the mixture. Do not forget that complex fertilizers are needed for good growth. It is preferable to use nitrogen-containing organic matter.
Reproduction of the diffenbachia
So how does this indoor flower reproduce?Everything is very simple here. To get a new plant, you do not need to make supernatural efforts. To propagate dieffenbachia, take the upper stem cuttings, which are rooted in water, sand or sphagnum. You can also use a mixture that consists of one part sand and the same amount of peat. There are a number of conditions that are mandatory for the successful rooting of dieffenbachia:
- Frequent wiping with a damp cloth or spraying;
- The plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight;
- The temperature of the soil in which the flower grows should not be less than 21 degrees;
- It is desirable that the temperature regime remains within 21-23 degrees;
- Obligatory hothouse conditions: cover the shoots with a film or glass for early rooting.
As soon as roots 2-3 long appearcentimeters, the plant can be transplanted into a pot. If you decide to root dieffenbachia in sand or moss, it is preferable to feed it with mineral fertilizers. If the roots have grown well, you can transplant the plant together with the substrate. There is another way to propagate dieffenbachia - cuttings. In this case, the stem is cut into cuttings. The length of each is 15-20 centimeters. In order to prevent rotting, the cuts must be treated with charcoal or sulfur. To continue propagation, the cuttings are laid horizontally and one part is pressed to the substrate so that it is almost covered with soil. Reproduction by this method cannot be called fast: it will take at least six months to get a full-fledged plant. All this time, it is important to monitor the process, since propagation by parts of the stem occurs reluctantly - cuttings often rot. As soon as the buds and leaves appear, you need to add soil to the base and transplant the shoots into pots. At this point, propagation can be considered successful. The plant should be replanted as carefully as possible, observing a number of conditions. It is best to replant in the spring. Choose a new pot in accordance with the size of the flower, ideally it should be 1-2 sizes larger than the previous one. In order not to damage the roots of the plant, it must be replanted using the transshipment method, without removing the old earthen lump from the root system. In this case, dieffenbachia will take root much faster. Now you know how dieffenbachias are propagated. We hope that our article will help you grow a beautiful and healthy plant that will delight its owners with lush greenery.
