Dieffenbachia disease. Dieffenbachia - on the leaves of the disease, pests, spots

Dieffenbachia belongs to the evergreen plants of the aroid family. A very showy but difficult flower to grow. Without proper care, it quickly loses its decorative effect. The natural habitat is the tropical climate of South America.

plant description

Large plants with strong stems. Depending on the variety, the size, color of the leaves vary. There are species with plain and variegated leaves. Some varieties are bushy. Lateral shoots grow both from the base and at the top of the stem.

The leaves are large, oblong-oval. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. Dieffenbachia grows quickly. In favorable conditions, a new young leaf appears every week. Sizes vary by variety and care. There are medium and tall varieties. Medium-sized grow up to a meter, tall - up to two.

Popular varieties

In total, there are more than 50 types of dieffenbachia. Among them there are natural varieties and varieties bred artificially by breeders.

• Dieffenbachia Baragudin. The variety is interesting for its unusual color. The leaves are dark with single white spots of various shapes. The petioles and the main vein of the leaves are white.
• Dieffenbachia Leopold. The leaves are elliptical, wide, dark in color, sitting on a short stem. Purple spots stand out on pale petioles. The midribs of the leaves are white.
• Dieffenbachia spotted. The stems are tall - up to a meter. The leaves are large, attached to the stem with long petioles. Form - lanceolate or oblong-elongated, pointed at the top. Light spots stand out clearly on a green background.
• Dieffenbachia Seguin. In appearance, it resembles a variegated dieffenbachia. The difference is that the leaves are wider, there are fewer spots, the lateral veins are less common.
• Dieffenbachia is lovely. Unpretentious variety - resistant to shading and dry air. Tall variety - the height of the stem reaches one and a half meters, the leaves are up to half a meter long. The leaves are dark with white stripes.

Caring for dieffenbachia and creating the “right” microclimate

This is a tropical plant, so growing dieffenbachia at home requires creating a favorable microclimate. Without constant care, the plant loses its decorative effect.

• Lighting. For variegated varieties (with variegated leaves), you need an abundance of diffused light. Direct sun exposure is completely excluded. In low light, the color characteristic of the variety is lost, and the decorative effect is reduced. Varieties with dark monophonic leaves endure light partial shade. It is allowed to place them in the corner of the room, subject to full artificial lighting.
• Temperature. Dieffenbachia needs a constant temperature regime. She can't stand temperature fluctuations. In summer, it is maintained at a level of 21˚С to 25˚С. In winter, a little lower - from 18˚С to 20˚С.
• Watering. It is recommended to water dieffenbachia with warm softened water two days after the soil surface has dried. In the warm season, water abundantly, but do not bring the soil to waterlogging.
• Humidity. Spraying is beneficial. If the air is dry, dieffenbachia is sprayed daily. Young plants are periodically bathed under a warm shower, adults are wiped with a damp soft cloth.
• Top dressing. In the warm period, top dressing is applied three times a month. Use complexes for decorative and deciduous crops, the dosage is halved. Periodically make a small amount of lime. Organics are rarely fed, in moderation - an excess of organic matter leads to a smoothing of the characteristic color.
• Transfer. If the root system no longer fits in a pot, dieffenbachia should be transplanted. The optimal time for transplantation is spring. Young plants sometimes have to be transplanted twice a year. It is better not to disturb the root system. Dieffenbachia is transplanted by transshipment into a new larger pot.
• The soil. Moisture-permeable and permeable soils with low acidity are used. The soil mixture is made up of peat, sand, hardwood, turf. Universal soils are improved by adding sand, perlite, crushed charcoal. An important condition for full development is high-quality drainage.
• Pruning. Dieffenbachia requires periodic rejuvenation - as it grows, the lower part of the stem becomes bare. The top is cut to a bare stem, washed from milky juice and rooted.

Reproduction features

It is almost impossible to get seeds on your own, therefore, vegetative propagation methods are used mainly. Cuttings are carried out at any time of the year.

cuttings

Description. For propagation of dieffenbachia by cuttings, the apical and stem parts are used. It is easiest to root them in an impromptu greenhouse with bottom heating.

1. After cutting off the top to rejuvenate dieffenbachia, the stump remaining in the pot continues to be watered.
2. With timely watering and top dressing, it will give side shoots, which can also be used for rooting.
3. Cuttings are rooted in water, sand, sand-peat mixture, sphagnum.
4. The main conditions for successful rooting are moderate temperatures of 21–24 ° C, bright diffused light, and regular spraying.

Description. In practice, air layering is rarely used. In this case, you can damage the mother plant and not get the result.

1. Small cuts are made on the stem, covered with wet sphagnum and wrapped with opaque polyethylene.
2. After the roots appear, the stem along with the film is cut off.
3. After cutting, the film is removed, the layers, together with moss, are planted in a light substrate.

Possible difficulties

Since it is not very easy to care for dieffenbachia in a pot, beginner growers often face difficulties. The most common growing problems are shown in the table.

Table - Diffenbachia cultivation difficulties

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Diseases of flower crops

• Anthurium diseases
• Balsam diseases
• Begonia diseases
• Gerbera diseases
• Diseases of hydrangeas (hydrangeas)
• Dieffenbachia diseases
• Kalanchoe diseases
• Diseases of calla lilies (zantedechia)
• Diseases of calceolaria
• Pelargonium diseases
• Primrose diseases
• Diseases of cyclamen
• cactus diseases
• Citrus diseases

Dieffenbachia diseases

article date: 11.01.2012

Dieffenbachia leaf spot.

Dieffenbachia leaf spot is caused by a fungus Phaeosphaeria eustoma(Fuckel) L. Holm.

Signs of the disease. The lower, older leaves are damaged most severely, especially along the edge. Small round spots appear on the leaf blade of plants, growing as the disease progresses. The spots have a brown center and an orange border.

The pathogen persists on the remains of infected plants and is transmitted through water.
Plants that are at high humidity and elevated temperatures are more severely damaged.

Control measures. Maintaining optimal modes of air humidity and temperature of the content. When signs of the disease appear, treatment with systemic fungicides is carried out.

Fusarium dieffenbachia.

Fusarium in dieffenbachia is caused by a fungus Fusarium solani(Mart.) Sacc.

Signs of the disease. On the root neck and on the roots of the plant, elongated, depressed spots of dark shades appear. As a result of damage to the stems, yellowing and wilting of plants occurs. In the case of high humidity of the substrate and air, the damaged areas are covered with light pink mycelium of the fungus.

The pathogen is able to persist in the soil for a long time, and it is very resistant to external influences.

The spread of the disease occurs with infected soil, as well as when the roots of a diseased and healthy plant come into contact. Plants that have a lack of potassium in the substrate, as well as overdried ones, are especially susceptible to the disease.

Control measures. Use of quality substrates. When grafting, only healthy material is used; it is recommended to immerse the cuttings in a fungicide solution for about 15 minutes for disinfection. For preventive purposes, spraying with biological fungicides is carried out, for example, Trichodermin (Gliocladin). If a disease is detected, plants are treated with systemic fungicides, for example, such as Rovral, Fundazol.

Dieffenbachia anthracnose.

Anthracnose in dieffenbachia causes a fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides(Penz.) Penz. and Sacc.

Signs of the disease. Quite large spots appear on the leaves along the edge of the leaf blade. As the disease develops, the leaf dries out, as the spots spread to the entire surface of the leaf.
The pathogen persists in infected plant debris.

Plants kept at high air temperature and high humidity are especially susceptible to the disease. Also, the disease is promoted by waterlogging of the substrate.

Control measures. Content taking into account the characteristics of growing plants. When signs of a disease appear, treatment is carried out with systemic fungicides, for example, such as Vitaros, Fundazol.

Dieffenbachia root rot.

The causative agents of Dieffenbachia root rot are species of fungi from the genera Python And Phytophthora .

Signs of the disease. Withering of the plant, followed by its death. Depressed dark areas appear on the root neck and on the roots of plants; as the disease progresses, they cover the entire tissue, and in this place the plant rots, breaks and lodges. The mycelium of the fungus of a light gray color develops on the spots.

The pathogen persists in the soil, from where the infection of plants occurs.

Excess fertilizer in the substrate, lack of lighting, poor ventilation, excessive watering, substrates that are too wet, high temperatures - all these factors lead to the fact that the plant is more susceptible to pathogen damage. The difference in the temperature of the substrate and air, exceeding 6-8 ° C, also contributes to the development of rot.

Control measures. The use of high-quality well-aerated substrates of a neutral reaction, proper agricultural technology, fertilizing with fertilizers with a high content of potassium. In the event of signs of a disease, watering is stopped, the substrate is partially changed to a new, dry one, treatment is carried out with systemic fungicides, for example, such as Profit Gold, Ridomil Gold, Previkur.

Dieffenbachia bacteriosis.

Bacteriosis in Dieffenbachia is caused by bacterial species Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora(Jones) Bergey et al And Erwinia chrisantemi Barras et al.

Signs of the disease. On the stems of the plant, both above and below the soil, watery spots appear with a sharply defined edge. After the spots become brown or gray. Watery spots also appear on the leaves, acquiring a light brown color and having a yellow border.

The pathogen is stored in the remains of infected plants until they are completely decomposed, transmitted with cuttings, with mechanical damage. The pathogen develops especially actively in conditions of high humidity and temperature, with an excess of nutrients in the soil. Oppressed plants are more severely damaged by this disease.

Control measures. Compliance with the regime of agricultural technology, the destruction of diseased plants, the use of clean tools for cutting plants.

Bronzing Dieffenbachia.

The causative agent of viral bronzeness in Dieffenbachia is Tomato spotted wilt virus .

Signs of the disease. In a plant, concentric circles, annular spots, yellowish arcs appear on its leaves. As the disease progresses, the leaves wither, symptoms of a burn appear, and unilateral necrosis of the leaves on the infected side of the stem is possible in the stems. aLeaves remain hanging on the plant. The plant slows down growth processes.

The pathogen is carried by pests. In particular, various species from the genus thrips.

Control measures. Timely treatment with insecticidal preparations.

Dieffenbachia mosaic.

Viral mosaic in dieffenbachia causes Dasheen mosaic virus .

Signs of the disease. The growth processes of the plant slow down, mosaic spotting appears on the leaves.

The pathogen persists in infected plants, transmitted by insect pests, mainly aphids, also with cuttings from diseased plants.

Control measures. Use for propagation of healthy plants, timely spraying of plants with insecticidal preparations.

In our article on dieffenbachia, you can familiarize yourself with its cultivation, various types.

If you have problems with your dieffenbachia, and you yourself cannot determine what is wrong with it, you can always contact us for help on our flower forum.

Article prepared by: Marina and Alexander Mityaev

Materials used in the article:

Yordanka Stanchea, Bojan Rosnev. Atlas of diseases of agricultural crops, volume 5. Diseases of ornamental and forest crops. Pensoft. Sofia-Moscow 2005

Dieffenbachia ailments: how to help cope with them.

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia lat.) is an evergreen tropical plant, its homeland is the humid forests of Central and South America.

Dieffenbachia is able to reach two meters in height, the leaves are large, wide, variegated.

With good, competent care, Dieffenbachia pleases with its exotic beauty, the flower develops well, it constantly has new leaves. But what to do if your "green household" is sick?

Most often, flower growers growing Dieffenbachia are faced with the fact that her leaves begin to turn yellow, dry and curl, there are other problems - the flower grows poorly, becomes lethargic.

What is the reason for the malaise: improper home care or pest attack? Let's consider all the "sores" of Dieffenbachia in more detail and try to determine the cause of their occurrence and methods of treatment.

Dieffenbachia diseases and their treatment

How to help a tropical beauty?

1. Dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow, reasons, what to do? Solution to the problem:
   • low air humidity. Dieffenbachia, not getting enough moisture from the air, also begins to turn yellow, so in winter it should be kept away from central heating batteries or buy a humidifier;
   • direct sunlight, light should be enough;

It is necessary to check whether the roots of the flower have really begun to rot. To do this, remove the plant from the pot, inspect the root system, remove the rot and affected areas of the root, transplant the flower into another smaller container, following the planting rules (drainage 1/3 pot, 2/3 soil mixed with sand and peat)

low air temperature. Dieffenbachia is a tropical resident, she loves heat, so the temperature in the room should not fall below 22 degrees;

drafts, which the flower does not like very much, so it is better to keep Dieffenbachia away from the balcony door and vents;

Dieffenbachia dries and its leaves fall, the tips of the leaves dry and wither, causes and solutions to the problem:

• fungal infections (atracnose, leaf spot), fungal spores (leaf spot) the plant can get with irrigation water, dry brown spots appear on the edges of the leaves, gradually spreading over the entire surface of the leaf, it becomes lethargic, lifeless.

  Atracnosis is provoked by excessively high room temperature, dry air, in some cases, waterlogged soil (excessive watering), to get rid of this trouble, it is enough to normalize the temperature and watering conditions, the affected leaves can be treated with a common fungicide to prevent infection of other leaves;

• drafts, low air temperature can also lead to drying and falling of leaves, to eliminate the problem of Dieffenbachia, it is necessary to provide a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• the plant ages, the lower leaves dry, fall off, this is a natural process. It is necessary to rejuvenate it by cuttings. To do this, the bare trunk of Dieffenbachia must be cut into cuttings, leaving only a small part of the stem in the pot, which will soon give a new shoot and Dieffenbachia will continue to grow;

  To combat Fusarium, the flower must be transplanted into another pot, after removing the rot from the roots and treating the affected areas with a fungicide;

• root rot, which appears with excessively fertilized and moistened soil. Rot first affects the root system, then gradually affects the trunk, the flower withers and dies. It is necessary to transplant Dieffenbachia, having previously treated the roots with a fungicide and limit watering;
• waterlogging in combination with low air temperature, in this case it is necessary to provide the plant with a comfortable temperature, limit watering.

Dieffenbachia leaves curl or do not unfold as they grow. Causes and solution of the problem:

• watering with cold water, it is advisable to defend the water for irrigation for at least 24 hours;
• drafts and low room temperature;
• pest attack.

Dieffenbachia does not grow, causes and solutions to the problem:

• viral lesions (bronze and viral mosaic), usually carried by insects, yellow round spots (bronze) or a mosaic of spots (viral mosaic) appear on the leaves of the plant, Dieffenbachia wilts, stops developing. It is almost impossible to cope with such a problem, the flower must be destroyed;
• there is not enough light. It is necessary to move the flower to a brighter room, but at the same time remember that the flower does not tolerate direct sunlight;
• insufficient watering. The soil in the pot should always be slightly damp;
• lack of fertilizer in the soil. The lack of fertilizers, as well as their excess, negatively affects the growth and development of Dieffenbachia, fertilizer must be used strictly according to the instructions indicated on the package;

Dieffenbachia is crying, causes and solutions to the problem:

• excess watering. The flower protects itself from excess moisture in the soil, a similar phenomenon can be observed before rain, the plant opens channels for moisture to escape, preparing for an excess of water.

In the photo below you will see the symptoms of the disease in Dieffenbachia:

Pests. Methods of dealing with them

Despite its poisonous nature, Dieffenbachia is susceptible to pest attacks that cause significant harm to it.

The most commonly affected are spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects. The method of dealing with each species is the same: it is necessary to wash the leaves and the stem of the flower with a sponge moistened with soapy water (which must later be washed off under running warm water) and treat Dieffenbachia with an insecticide solution (karbofos, 15 drops per 1 liter of water).

• scale insect - a small insect, with a hard wax body, it can usually be found on the inside of the leaf, the affected sheets turn pale and fall off;
• the mealybug got its name from secretions that look like shreds of fluff, it infects the leaves, Dieffenbachia begins to turn yellow and fall off, the flower dies;
• spider mite, the presence of which can be determined by the presence of cobwebs on the trunk, the leaves of the flower become lethargic and lifeless;
• aphid - an insect that has a dark green color, it can be seen on the inside of the leaves, the aphid is dangerous because it is able to suck out the intercellular fluid, weakening the plant and is a carrier of diseases;
• thrips - small beetles that suck the juice from the plant, which leads to twisting and drying of the leaves.

Conclusion

Here is all the information about the most common diseases and problems of Dieffenbachia. Of course, it is possible that none of the above may happen to your plant, but: “forewarned is forearmed”, take this article into service and then you can save your favorite Dieffenbachia in any situation.

Useful video

In the video below, you will get acquainted with tips for caring for Dieffenbachia and how to treat her diseases:

Dieffenbachia diseases: how to help a tropical beauty

Fans of lush houseplants often admire Dieffenbachia, a guest of their American rainforests. This cute flower can grow up to 2 meters in height, decorating a living space. Wide green leaf plates are decorated with variegated patterns, from which it is impossible to look away. They amaze the imagination, but unfortunately, various Dieffenbachia diseases bring a lot of grief to their masters.

Reasonable care of the plant contributes to the successful development of dieffenbachia, as a result of which new leaves appear on it regularly. What to do if a tropical beauty gets sick? How to help the silent "household"? First of all, it is important to gain knowledge, and only then take action.

According to experts, dieffenbachia is considered a poisonous plant. When it comes into contact with the mucous part of the body, its juice causes irritation and even allergies. It is especially dangerous for children.

Dieffenbachia diseases: general information

Quite often, lovers of indoor flowers notice how the leaves of a tropical beauty turn yellow. The first thing that comes to mind is the wrong care. But this happens even to the most dedicated flower growers. Dieffenbachia diseases occur for various reasons, the main thing is to start treatment on time.

Another problem of the plant is the drying and falling of the lower leaf plates. Since they are the main decoration of the flower, it is not very pleasant to watch their loss. In some cases, the cause is the natural process of plant development, which even the most competent grower cannot stop. But if young plates fall off, it is worth thinking about the possible dieffenbachia disease and methods of timely treatment.

A rather unpleasant sight when a beloved flower lowers its once lush leaves and takes on a miserable appearance. Dieffenbachia wilts for various reasons, but this appearance is a call to action. In addition, brown spots, drops of unknown origin, or even non-opening leaves may appear on the plant. Let us consider in detail the possible causes and methods of treating dieffenbachia diseases.

If small children live in the house, an exotic flower can be planted in the office. Such a cute "neighbor" will decorate the room with lush greenery and will always be a reason for joy.

Brown spots on the leaves: causes and methods of struggle

In one wise book, the simple truth is written that all living things suffer from diseases. We observe the veracity of these words every day. Unfortunately, plants also get sick and the tropical beauty is no exception. Studies show that it is prone to fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. One of them appears when brown spots form on the leaves of diffebachia, around which there is an orange border. Over time, they spread to the entire leaf, as a result of which it dies.

The main causes of the disease are caused by such factors:

• high room temperature;
• humidity fluctuations;
• over watering the plant.

If the rules of care are followed and the listed points are not observed, then the plant is affected by a serious disease:

With such problems, brown spots appear on the leaves, framed by a dark line. A fungicide solution will help get rid of the disease, which should be sprayed on the infected plant.

In order for dieffenbachia to receive enough moisture from the air, it must be “settle” away from direct sunlight, and in the cold season, from central heating.

The best option for growing dieffenbachia is the eastern side of an apartment or house. Away from the sun that burns its tender leaves.

Sheet plates do not open: a wise solution to the problem

For several decades, dieffenbachia has gained particular popularity. It can be found in the corridors of clinics and hospitals, offices, educational institutions and even train stations. The main reason is simple care, which consists in such activities:

• regular soil moisture;
• spraying of leaf plates;
• growing plants away from drafts;
• room temperature control;
• the right choice of habitat (away from direct sunlight).

Despite this, the plant can get sick. Sometimes it happens that Dieffenbachia leaves do not open, as a result of which its beauty is lost. Often the reason lies in such factors:

• direct sunlight falls on it;
• drafts, which lead to sudden changes in temperature;
• root rot due to excessive moisture;
• low level of humidity in the room;
• lack of useful elements.

Damage to the plant by pests, such as spider mites, mealybugs, aphids or scale insects, should not be excluded. If "enemies" are found, the flower should be treated with soapy water. If that doesn't work, use insecticides.

Dieffenbachia "cries" and does not grow

Often, if the plant is not sick, it is distinguished by lush greenery, intensive growth and bright color of the plates. But as soon as lethargy appears, the color changes and Dieffenbachia does not grow, it's time to sound the alarm. Perhaps the cause was pests or viral diseases carried by insects. As a result, yellow or brown spots form on the leaf plates, which adversely affect the growth of the flower. Coping with the disease can be difficult, so the best way out is to start a new plant, and say goodbye to this.

Sometimes the following factors also influence the growth of dieffenbachia:

• lack of light;
• "drought" on the soil;
• the need for nourishment.

An attentive attitude to the flower and simple actions will help to eliminate problems:

• moving to another location;
• regular moistening of the topsoil;
• the use of special fertilizers for dieffenbachia.

Unfortunately, each of us tends to go to extremes. Therefore, excessive watering can lead to rotting of the roots and the appearance of drops on dieffenbachia. Interestingly, in such an extraordinary way, the flower compensates for excess moisture. Such droplets on the leaves are also found during periods of heavy rains. So the plant protects itself from excess fluid.

Another reason for the appearance of wateriness on leaf plates is bacteriosis. At first, small droplets of moisture may not cause concern, but if they are outlined by a visible border, it's time to sound the alarm. Subsequently, the foliage becomes brown and dies. It is better to destroy such a plant in order to prevent the spread of the disease to other indoor flowers.

Beware of dieffenbachia!

Despite its attractiveness, the cute tropical beauty belongs to poisonous plants. The juice secreted by the plant leads to minor damage to the skin. But if it gets on the mucous tissue of the mouth or eyes, a burn occurs. In rare cases, complete intoxication of the body can occur, which manifests itself as follows:

• swelling of the oral tissues and lips;
• profuse salivation;
• frequent breathing;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• temperature rise;
• tearing.

First aid for dieffenbachia burns, and treatment consists of simple steps. First you need to rinse the affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin with running water. In case of pain, a solution of lidocaine is applied to the burn. If the juice gets on the eyeball, then the affected eye is washed with running water for about 20 minutes. Then use Levomycetin drops or furatsilina solution to prevent infection.

Burns received from dieffenbachia juice in the oral cavity are removed due to the rinsing procedure. Clearly expressed pain can be quenched with a solution of novocaine (0.5%). After these actions, it is recommended to drink a glass of cold milk or water. In any case, when a problem arises, it is important not to waste time, but to act.

Why dieffenbachia turns yellow - video

Why Dieffenbachia is sick and does not grow: the leaves turn yellow. Dieffenbachia pests

Healthy dieffenbachia is distinguished by intensive growth and bright leaves of appropriate sizes and colors for the variety. If the plant loses its attractiveness and starts to hurt, this is most often associated with care errors, violations of the temperature or water regime. Let us consider in more detail why dieffenbachia is sick and what measures must be taken to prevent damage to the flower by pests and diseases.

Dieffenbachia pests

Despite the fact that the plants are poisonous, they are quite often affected by pests.

The most common:

Spider mite, a sign of damage to which is the presence of cobwebs in the internodes of trunks, sluggish and falling leaves.

Thrips, small (1-2 mm) bugs that suck the juices from the plant, which leads to stunting, curling and drying of the leaves.

Aphids, numerous colonies of which not only weaken plants by sucking out intercellular fluid, but are also carriers of various diseases.

The appearance of spider mites, thrips and aphids on dieffenbachia is particularly facilitated by dry indoor air (relative humidity below 60%).

Scale insects and false scale insects that suck juice from leaves and stems, leaving characteristic secretions, brown plaques that are difficult to remove. The leaves become discolored, dry and fall off.

Mealybugs, insects 3-6 mm in size, affecting leaves, stems and flowers, which are covered with a white mealy coating. The leaves are deformed and dry out, which can lead to the death of the entire plant.

Measures to combat all of the listed dieffenbachia pests are similar, consisting in their mechanical removal with a sponge and soapy water, followed by rinsing under running warm water, and treating, if necessary, with insecticidal preparations, actellik or karbofos, at a concentration of 15 drops per liter of water.

Dieffenbachia diseases

Most Dieffenbachia diseases belong to the fungal group, of which the most common are:

leaf spot, causing the appearance along the edge of the leaves, primarily the lower, small brown spots with an orange border, gradually capturing the surface of the entire leaf plate. The disease is transmitted with plant debris and water.

Anthracnose, in which sufficiently large spots appear on the edges of the leaf plates, gradually spreading to the entire surface and causing drying and death of the leaf. It is also transmitted through infected parts of plants.

Both diseases provoke high temperature and humidity, waterlogged soil, as control measures it is recommended to optimize the temperature regime and watering, as well as treat the affected specimens with a systemic fungicide, for example, foundationol or Vitaros.

Fusarium, affects the root neck and the root of the flower, where dark depressed elongated spots are formed. Infected Dieffenbachia turns yellow and withers. On the damaged areas, you can see the light pink mycelium of the fungus. The causative agent of the disease remains in the soil for a long time, spreads when diseased and healthy plant roots are touched. The disease is promoted by overdrying and lack of potassium.

For the prevention of fusarium, it is recommended to use high-quality soil, healthy planting material, treated for disinfection with a biological fungicide (for example, hyocladin). When signs of the disease appear, spraying with a systemic fungicide is carried out.

root rot, which manifests itself in the form of dark depressed areas on the neck and roots, gradually capturing the entire tissue and causing decay, and later lodging and death of the plant. The affected areas are covered with light gray mycelium. The disease is transmitted through the soil, it is promoted by an excess of fertilizers and moisture in the soil, lack of ventilation, and high temperatures. If there are signs of damage, watering is limited, the substrate is replaced and treated with a systemic fungicide.

Of the bacterial diseases, we note the Dieffenbachia bacteriosis, in which watery areas with sharply defined boundaries appear on the trunks and leaves. In the future, they become brown or brown. The disease spreads through infected plant residues during mechanical damage, for example, when cuttings. Flowers that are kept at elevated temperature and humidity, with an increased amount of fertilizers in the soil, are more affected. Diseased specimens are destroyed.

Viral diseases include:

Bronzing dieffenbachia, which manifests itself in the appearance of yellow circles, rings and arcs on the surfaces, the affected leaves wither, while remaining hanging on the trunks, often on one infected side.

Viral mosaic, which is characterized by mosaic leaf spot.

Dieffenbachia affected by these diseases does not grow, stops developing, cannot be treated, and must be destroyed to prevent the spread of the virus. The pathogen is transmitted by insects, thrips (bronze) or aphids (mosaic). A preventive measure is insecticide treatment.

Other Problems When Growing Dieffenbachia

In addition to the pests and diseases listed above, dieffenbachia can suffer from improper care and inappropriate conditions. Consider some of the questions that often arise among amateur flower growers.

Why does Dieffenbachia turn yellow? Most often, the cause of this behavior is low air temperature in winter or drafts, as well as a lack of nutrients and watering with hard water. Yellowing of the lower leaves with intensive growth of the top usually signals that the flower needs to be transplanted into a larger pot. Dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow and are affected by root rot.

Why do dieffenbachia leaves curl? This usually occurs when damaged by pests, also when watering with cold water, drafts and low temperatures.

Why does the stem become soft and rot? The reason is waterlogging combined with low air temperature. If the decay is small, you can try to remove it by filling the cut with activated or charcoal, if it is large, cut off the flower, root the top.

Why does Dieffenbachia dry? If the old leaves dry, then this is a natural process; when the decorative effect is lost and the stem is exposed, Dieffenbachia is rejuvenated by cutting and rooting the top. If young leaves dry, the cause may be dry soil, cold air, drafts.

Why do leaf edges turn brown? Most likely, this is caused by the drying of the soil or low temperatures in winter.

Why are the leaves discoloring? The reason is too bright lighting or direct sunlight on the plant.

Why is Dieffenbachia crying? This comes from excessive watering, the flower protects itself from excess moisture in the soil. The same behavior is characteristic of dieffenbachia before rain. As a rainforest dweller, the plant prepares itself for excess water and opens channels to get rid of it.

How to protect dieffenbachia from diseases

fungal diseases

Dieffenbachia, which belongs to tropical ornamental crops, is often subject to fungal diseases. The main reasons are called high humidity and high air temperature in the room, as well as excessive watering. If you notice that Dieffenbachia has stopped growing and developing, has begun to wither, turn yellow, bend to the ground or dry out, reconsider the growing conditions and the care of the indoor flower.

Spores of the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides lead to the development of anthracnose. First, small spots appear on the leaves, which gradually grow and cover the entire surface of the leaf plate. The leaves begin to curl inward or, conversely, unwind outwards. The cuttings die off, causing the leaves to fall off.
Answering the question of what to do if the leaves of dieffenbachia turn yellow, it is recommended first of all to reconsider the conditions in which the ornamental culture grows. Leaves may curl or open incorrectly as a result of inappropriate humidity and high air temperature. Systemic fungicidal preparations will help to effectively cope with anthracnose, in particular, we are talking about Vitaros and Fundazol.

Fusarium is caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium solani and appears as dark depressed spots on the roots and root neck of dieffenbachia. As a result of damage to the root system, the leaves begin to turn yellow, turn in the opposite direction and wither. In this case, the damaged areas are covered with mycelium of the fungus of a pinkish hue. In order to prevent fusarium, you can use "Gliocladin" and "Trichodermin", but with an abundance

leaf spot

The fungus Phaeosphaeria eustoma provokes the development of leaf spot in dieffenbachia. Fungal spores are carried by infected plants and also by water. The main signs of the disease are considered to be small brown drops with bright orange edges on the leaves of an indoor flower.

The disease develops rapidly, the spots increase in size and cover an increasing area of ​​the leaf plate. To cope with leaf spot, you need to maintain the optimum temperature in the room and the humidity that meets the standards. At the first symptoms, it is recommended to treat indoor flowers with "Fundazol" or "Vitaros".

root rot

Root rot pathogens are the fungi Pythium and Phytophthora. It is almost impossible to identify the disease at the initial stage, since the pathogens of the fungal infection affect the root and root neck of dieffenbachia. In the lower part of the trunk, brown spots are formed, covered with pale gray mycelium. As a result of decay, the trunk gradually breaks and the flower begins to fall off.

The main causes of root rot include: contaminated soil, lack of a drainage system, excess moisture in the soil, high air temperature, poor ventilation of the room, lack of lighting, improper fertilization, etc. Many novice growers are interested in how to effectively deal with root rot. In addition to following the dieffenbachia growing technique, it is recommended to partially replace the substrate, feed the flower with potash fertilizers and treat with a systemic fungicide. In this case, "Profit Gold", "Previkur" or "Ridomil Gold" is suitable.

Sometimes dieffenbachia suffers from bacteriosis, which manifests itself in the form of watery spots with clear boundaries of gray or brown. In this case, not only the above-ground, but also the underground part of the plant stem suffers. Over time, gray-brown watery spots begin to appear on the leaves.

The causative agents of bacteriosis are stored in fragments of previously infected plants, and are also transmitted during mechanical damage to indoor flowers.

Unfortunately, bacteriosis refers to bacterial ailments, which are almost impossible to cope with. In case of damage to a houseplant by pathogens of this disease, it is necessary to treat the flower with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid, after removing the damaged leaves and branches. Follow the farming regimen and always work with clean tools.

Video "Dieffenbachia and pests"

In this video you will hear useful tips for caring for dieffenbachia.

Viral diseases

To answer the question of why dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow, one should not exclude the possibility of a viral disease. Even with properly organized care, tropical ornamental crops often suffer from bronze leaves and viral mosaics.

Bronzing of leaves

On the leaves of dieffenbachia, affected by the pathogens of this infection, small annular spots, yellow arcs and concentric circles appear, which begin to grow rapidly in size. Gradually, the leaf plate wilts, signs of unilateral necrosis are observed on the stems, and growth processes slow down. If you do not take emergency measures to save the home flower, the plant will soon die. The bronzeness of the leaves is carried by harmful insects, especially thrips.

Viral mosaic

The Dasheen mosaic virus is the cause of the exotic dieffenbachia disease such as viral mosaic. The main symptoms of this disease include the suspension of growth processes and the presence of mosaic spotting on the surface of the leaves. The disease pathogen is carried by cuttings or insect pests (particularly aphids), and also persists in previously infected houseplants.

And now we will learn how to deal with viral infections, due to which dieffenbachia can turn yellow, wither, drop leaves and rot. In the fight against viruses that quickly infect the stems and leaves of indoor plants, you need to act without delay. Modern insecticidal preparations will come to the rescue, among which Aktara and Fitoverm are very popular among gardeners.

Prevention

Many novice flower growers are often interested in why the lower leaves of Dieffenbachia turn yellow, curl and fall off. According to experts, competent care helps prevent diseases of a houseplant and effectively protects against invasions of insect pests.

The main conditions for growing Dieffenbachia include:

• compliance with the optimal temperature regime depending on the season and humidity level (+15…+20 °C);
• regular watering and daily spraying of the aerial part of the plant with settled water;
• during the period of active growth, top dressing with mineral fertilizers in liquid form is required (1 time in 10 days).

If you follow the simple rules for caring for an indoor flower, you can grow a luxurious and healthy plant.

Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Low shrubs. Plants form small straight fleshy trunks. Leaves entire, oval or oblong, ovate. The petiole is thick and vaginal up to half the length. Inflorescence - cob. Flowers small, sessile. Cover is yellowish-green. Many species are poisonous.

General information about the plant Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia aroid family.

Number: 30 kinds.

Place of origin: trope. forests of Central and South America.

Usage: decorative foliage.

Plant dimensions: up to 2 m in height.

Growth: fast.

Bloom: seldom.

Varieties of Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Dieffenbachia lovely (Dieffenbachia amoena)

Semishrub 100-150 cm tall with large, 50 cm long, broadly oval leaves pointed at the ends, on the plates of which spots of various shapes and strokes of white or yellowish color are scattered. Old leaves die off with age, the stem becomes bare, and the plant becomes like a false palm. The flowers are greenish white and appear in spring and summer.

Dieffenbachia Bausei (Dieffenbachia bausei)

Leaves are 15-30 cm long and 10-15 cm wide, yellowish green, with dark green spots and single white spots all over. Petiole 10-20 cm long, grooved and scissor-shaped for 2/3 of its length. Cob up to 30 cm long.

Dieffenbachia barakvena (Dieffenbachia baraqtiiniana)

The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, white-spotted, with a white midrib above. Petiole whitish.

Diefenbachia moistened (Dieffenbachia irrorata)

Leaves with yellow spots. Petiole with small white spots. Grows in tropical rainforests in Brazil.

Diefenbachia (Dieffenbachia julius)

The leaves are young, creamy green, with a dark green midrib and dark green margins (darker in older leaves).

Dieffenbachia broad-leaved (Dieffenbachia latimatiсulata)

The trunk is strong, short. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, 30-40 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, dark green-bluish, with large white spots in numerous small dots between small veins. Petiole 10-12 cm long. Cob 15 cm long. Grows in tropical rainforests in Colombia.

Diefenbachia stained (Dieffenbachia liturata)

The leaves are elliptical-oblong, obtuse, dark green, with a yellow border around the edges. Brazil.

Dieffenbachia macrophylla (Dieffenbachia macrophylla)

The trunk is strong, up to 1 m tall, dark green. Leaves oblong-ovate to broadly ovate, 40-60 cm long and 20-40 cm wide, finely heart-shaped or rounded at the base, almost leathery, with a thick midrib. Stem juice with an unpleasant odor. It lives in shady places in Peru.

Dieffenbachia spotted (Dieffenbachia maculata)

The trunk is strong, up to 1 m high. The leaves are broadly elliptical, with a heart-shaped base, green (various in size and number of white spots and stripes), 30-60 cm long. Petiole 10-20 cm long, broadly belt-like grooved in the lower part, light green, spotted. It grows in tropical rainforests in lowlands, in shady places in Central and South America.

Dieffenbachia magnifica (Dieffenbachia magnifica)

The leaves between the veins are light green, with white spots. Petiole with white dots. Found in humid habitats in Venezuela.

Dieffenbachia noble (Dieffenbachia nobilis)

The leaves are elliptical, dark green, in emerald green spots. Found in tropical rainforests in Brazil.

Dieffenbachia variegated (Dieffenbachia picta)

Dieffenbachia painted (Dieffenbachia picturata)

The leaves are dark green, with white spots between the veins. Venezuela.

Dieffenbachia seguine (Dieffenbachia seguine)

The trunk is strong, green. The leaves are ovate, up to 50 cm long, rounded or almost heart-shaped at the base, tapering sharply at the apex. The petiole of the lower leaves is flat, scissor-shaped to the middle, the petiole of the upper leaves is scissor-shaped greenish, with white spots or stripes. Cob up to 25 cm long. Grows in tropical rainforests in Brazil.

Care and maintenance of Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Temperature in summer 20 - 25
Temperature in winter 20 - 25

Lighting Diffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Shading in summer, good lighting in winter. In a too dark place, the leaves become smaller, and the plant loses its decorative appeal. It will grow well under the protection of a tulle curtain near an east or west window.

Watering Diffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Abundant from spring to autumn, moderate in winter. The soil is kept slightly moist at all times, but should not be too damp. When watering with too hard water, the tips of the leaves turn brown.

Reproduction Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Trunk trimmings of 5-7 cm, which are rooted with soil heating at 30 °. Some forms give child shoots that are cut and rooted. To rejuvenate the plant, the top with part of the trunk is cut off, it takes root well.

Air humidity: Likes very humid air, regular spraying and washing of leaves is required. Before spraying, make sure that the room is warm and there is no "blowing" from where, otherwise you can harm the plant. If the room is about 18 ° C, it is better not to spray, but simply wipe periodically with a damp sponge.

Transfer: Every year in the spring - better at the end of April. The soil is a mixture of turf (4 parts), leaf (1 part), peat (1 part) and sand (1 part). Dieffenbachia are fast-growing plants, but due to the fact that the plants grow quite large, transplanting is difficult, in this case it can be advised to replace the top layer of the earth with a very nutritious earth. It would be nice to add some charcoal to the soil.

Top dressing: In the period from May to August, top dressing with complex fertilizer, every two weeks. Do not feed in autumn and winter. With a lack of nutrients, the trunk from below is exposed much faster.

Undercut: does not need, when pulling the plant, the top can be pinched.

Pests and diseases of Dieffenbachia - Diffenbachia

Brown edges of the leaves - insufficient watering, up to a strong drying of the soil, or exposure to cold air. Dry, brown tips of the leaves - due to insufficiently humid air, all the same, dieffenbachia is a plant of tropical rainforests. It is necessary to increase the humidity around the plant. It can also be caused by a lack of nutrients in the soil. Remember when you transplanted the plant and in what land. Another reason is too hard water. The lower leaves turn yellow and curl up - drafts or low temperatures in winter, watering with cold water. Leaves dying - too low temperature, dry air or drafts. The lower old leaves always die off over time, exposing the stem. Loss of color - too intense sunlight. The base of the stem is soft and acquires a brownish tint - rotting of the stem due to waterlogging of the soil, especially if the temperature is low. If the decay is large, then cut and root the top, discard the rest of the plant.

Most often Dieffenbachia are attacked:

Scales and false scales: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, suck out cell sap. Leaves lose color, dry and fall off. Control measures. For mechanical cleaning of pests, the leaves are wiped with a soapy sponge. Then spray the plant with a 0.15% actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Spider mite: appears when the air is too dry - cobwebs appear on the stems in the internodes, the leaves become lethargic and fall off. Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash under a warm shower. Spray regularly. With a very severe lesion, dieffenbachia is sprayed with a 0.15% actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water). Mealybugs: Affect leaves, shoots, if present, then flowers. The leaves are twisted, dry and fall off, the plant dies. Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash under a warm shower. Spray regularly. With a very strong lesion, the plant can be sprayed with a 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Read more about pests of indoor plants in the section "pests"

Dieffenbachia, ceiling height, growing in a bucket, excellent color and leaf freshness, no damage or problems. The secret of success is periodic rubbing of the leaves with a damp sponge and regular spraying, annual top dressing with rotted cow dung or top dressing with giant fertilizer.

In general, it has been observed that dieffenbachia respond well to fertilizing with organic fertilizers containing nitrogen. From this, the leaves of the plant become large, and acquire a darker color, which does not harm the plant at all. Care Features Care Features: Wipe the leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

Does not tolerate drafts.

The lower leaves turn yellow and curl up - low temperature or drafts.

Browning of foliage along the edges from stagnant water.

Dieffenbachia care is common to all aroids. The only difference is that it does not tolerate lime, so water for irrigation and spraying should be well settled and always warm (not lower than room temperature).

Lighting - from bright to semi-dark, direct sunlight is unacceptable. It can even be placed in the back of the room with additional artificial lighting. In summer, you can take it out into the open air. In addition to spraying, it is recommended to wipe the leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

In spring and summer, every ten days, and in autumn and winter, once a month, the plant is fed with organic or lime-free mineral fertilizers. Please note that the form of dieffenbachia with white leaves turns green in low light and a large amount of nitrogen in the soil. Therefore, for such plants, it is better not to use organic fertilizers at all, and to reduce the dose of mineral fertilizers by half.

Pests:
Mealybug
spider mite
Shields and false shields

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia) is a tropical evergreen plant up to two meters high, with large variegated leaves up to half a meter long, whose birthplace is South America. With proper care, the plant grows well, produces new leaves and pleases the eye with its bizarre appearance. But, like all exotic plants, Dieffenbachia is susceptible to various diseases. In this article, we will study the main types and methods of treating dieffenbachia diseases.

fungal diseases

Dieffenbachia is most often susceptible to fungal diseases, the root cause of which is high air temperature, excessive watering or humidity of the room in which it grows. As a preventive measure for the appearance of fungus during plant transplantation, only high-quality soil should be used. Consider the following types of Dieffenbachia fungal diseases: anthracnose, fusarium, root rot and leaf spot.

Did you know? The plant is named after the gardener of the Imperial Palace in Vienna - Josef Dieffenbach.

How to cure dieffenbachia from anthracnose

The fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes Dieffenbachia anthracnose, which manifests itself in spots on the leaves, which eventually cover the entire leaf plate, after which the entire leaf dries out. The cause of this disease is considered to be too high a temperature in a room with high humidity and excessive watering. Dead parts of the plant are infected with anthracnose, they must be destroyed. Dieffenbachia for the treatment of this disease must be urgently treated with fungicidal preparations - "Vitaros" or "Fundazol" according to their instructions.
It should also be noted that when spraying Dieffenbachia, water that has fallen between the stem and petiole can cause leaf rotting.

Prevention and treatment of fusarium

The fungus Fusarium solani causes Fusarium, which manifests itself as depressed dark spots on the roots and root collar of Dieffenbachia. A plant affected by Fusarium withers, and the leaves turn yellow. If the humidity of the air and soil is too high, the plant is covered with pink mushroom mycelium. The causative agent of the disease is resistant to adverse factors, and can successfully survive in contaminated soil for a long time. Fusarium is treated by treating the plant with "Fundazol", "Rovral".

As a preventive measure for fusarium, high-quality healthy substrates are used; during reproduction, they do not allow planting an infected cutting. Planting material can be kept in a fungicidal solution for a quarter of an hour for additional disinfection. For prevention, spraying with Gliocladin is sometimes used.

Important! Dieffenbachia juice contains poisonous substances that cause swelling of the mouth and blindness when ingested in the mouth and eyes, respectively. Moreover, children and animals are more susceptible to the effects of poison.

The fungus Phaeosphaeria eustoma causes leaf spot in Dieffenbachia, which appears as brown round spots with an orange border. Older leaves are most susceptible to disease. The plant gets sick in a hot room with high humidity. The causative agent of the disease persists on fragments of infected plants and can be transmitted by water. If spotting is detected, Dieffenbachia should be placed in suitable growing conditions and treated with Vitaros or Fundazol.

Dieffenbachia root rot

The fungi Pythium and Phytophthora cause root rot, it manifests itself as depressed dark areas on the roots and root collars of the plant, over time, the stem rots in Dieffenbachia, breaks and falls. The spots may be covered with pale gray mycelium. The causative agent of the disease persists in the soil. A highly waterlogged plant becomes ill with root rot, and the high air temperature in the room where dieffenbachia grows also contributes to the disease. To prevent the disease, the grower should use aerated neutral substrates and potash fertilizers. If a disease is detected, part of the substrate is replaced, watering is stopped and the plant is treated with Previkur or Profit Gold.

Did you know? A broken plant can be easily turned into a cutting by placing part of the stem in water.

Bacteriosis and dieffenbachia

The bacteria Erwinia carotovora Bergey and Erwinia chrisantemi cause bacteriosis in dieffenbachia, which manifests itself on the stem as watery areas with clear edges, with time the spots become brown or gray in color, and the leaves cover light watery spots with a yellow border. The causative agent of the disease persists in fragments of infected plants, can be transmitted by mechanical damage to the plant, and is activated at high humidity and high temperatures, with excessively fertilized soil. When transplanting dieffenbachia, the rules of agricultural technology must be observed; plants heavily affected by bacteriosis must be destroyed. As a treatment, spraying and watering Dieffenbachia with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid is effective.

How to deal with Dieffenbachia viral diseases

A fairly large proportion of diseases belong to the group of viral diseases, of which the bronze leaves and viral mosaic are common. Consider how to cure dieffenbachia from these diseases.

The Tomato spotted virus causes leaf bronzeness in dieffenbachia, which appears on the leaves in circles, rings or arcs of yellow, withering, hanging over time. After the defeat of bronze, dieffenbachia does not grow. The causative agent of the disease is carried by fringed-winged insects, or thrips, whose length is 0.5-2 mm. The disease is successfully treated by treatment with "Aktara", "Aktofit" and "Fitoverm".

Latin name: Dieffenbachia

Family: Araceae (Araceae)

Homeland: South and Central America

Interesting information about the spectacular, docile and successful dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia) - a genus consisting of thirty species of picturesque evergreen shrubs and herbaceous rhizomatous plants, belongs to the huge Aroid family (Araceae).

No one will argue that the dieffenbachia flower is the most common indoor plant. The presence of this green beauty sets its bright accent in industrial premises, supermarkets, clinics, kindergartens, and also they perfectly plant living rooms, verandas, balconies. And, for sure, every flower lover had the honor of growing this miracle of room flora at home.

Why did this flower attract the attention of amateur flower growers?

The splendor and expressiveness of dieffenbachia comes from the motley large leaves of an oblong and symmetrical shape, planted on thick succulent stems resembling tree trunks. The leaves are the highlight of the plant. The unique attractiveness, unparalleled in the world of plants, is given to the foliage by amazing patterns painted with spots, specks and stripes of different shades from dark green to light, absolutely white. Dieffenbachia its flowering at home is almost impossible to see. Small pale flowers collected in dense bracts - cobs can only be admired in the wild.

The homeland of the Dieffenbachia plant is the tropical forests of Central and South America, where it is accustomed to shady conditions, but this does not prevent it from being a very light-loving plant.

This beautiful plant was discovered and described in the nineteenth century and named by the famous Austrian naturalist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in honor of Joseph Dieffenbach, the chief caretaker of the imperial botanical garden at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. And so the Victorian period became the prosperity of dieffenbachia - a greenhouse plant. We have this beauty appeared and became popular a century later.

Dieffenbachia's closest relatives can be called syngonium And Zamioculcas.

Dieffenbachia species and its varieties

Dieffenbachia spotted (Dieffenbachiamaculata) also called her dieffenbachia painted (Dieffenbachia picta).

The most common decoration of residential premises, spacious halls, corridors is spotted dieffenbachia. It forms one or more large stems, which are decorated with oval, large glossy leaves up to half a meter in length, and the width of these giants is 12 cm. Depending on the variety of spotted diffebachia, various colors and patterns on the leaves vary. In height, the dieffenbachia plant grows up to one meter.

Dieffenbachia Leopold (Dieffenbachia Leopoldii)

Costa Rica is considered to be native. Refined and delicate dieffenbachia Leopold has a short and juicy five centimeter stem. Dark green, elliptical in shape, with a light central vein, very beautiful large leaves have a symmetrical arrangement. The size of the leaves reach up to 35 cm in length and up to 15 cm in width. And they are presented on pale green petioles with bright green spots. With good care, the plant will thank with flowers collected in an ear up to nine centimeters in size, surrounded by a green-cream up to 17 cm long bract.

This type of dieffenbachia can decorate not only a living space, but also improve the landscape of courtyards and cottages.

Dieffenbachia Seguina (Dieffenbachia Seguina)

Came to us from the tropical rainforests of Brazil. Appearance looks a bit like dieffenbachia spotted. The difference is only in the shape of the leaf - it is wider and less colored with spots. Blooming Dieffenbachia Seguin is represented by a large twenty-five centimeter ear.

Dieffenbachia lovely (Dieffenbachia Amoena)

It has become the most common type in home floriculture. Its external parameters resemble Dieffenbachia Seguin, but it has much fewer leaves.

The stem of the plant reaches one and a half meters in height. It is decorated with rounded leaves with a light herringbone-like pattern along the sides. Thanks to this, the lovely dieffenbachia looks very attractive and will become an adornment of any interior, provided that there are no sharp temperature fluctuations and drafts.

The spider mite also likes this species. Take care of your lovely beauty.

Dieffenbachia reflector (Dieffenbachia Reflektor)

The most colorful type of dieffenbachia. The plant has very beautiful, rounded shape, with pointed ends, large dark green leaves with a purple tint. They are covered with bright green or yellowish spots and have a pronounced central vein.

Tropical forests are the most suitable natural conditions for this Dieffenbachia variety. In a home environment, it wants high humidity and moderate watering. Does not like hypothermia, is not afraid of direct sunlight within reasonable limits.

There is a similar flower in appearance arrowroot .

Dieffenbachia bush. Taking dieffenbachia spotted as a basis, breeders bred a variety of bush varieties and hybrids of the plant. All of them are very beautiful and differ in size, shape and unique patterns of leaf plates.

Representatives of bushy varieties of Dieffenbachia:

Dieffenbachia Camilla (Dieffenbachia Camilla)

The most hardy bushy variety, very popular in the world of flower lovers. Unusually beautiful leaves of a lanceolate form of a white-cream, greenish or light shade are circled around the edges with a dark green edging.

Dieffenbachia Compacta (Dieffenbachia Compakta)

Miniature and neat, bushy variety. Its height does not exceed forty centimeters. The leaves along the central vein are covered with light speckles.

dieffenbachia home care

Choice of location and temperature

Light-loving dieffenbachia needs a place with bright diffused light, especially variegated varieties. Windows on the northeast or west side may be suitable. Larger specimens are best placed in the region of two meters from a sunny window. In darker areas of the plant's place of residence, it is necessary to use artificial lighting. With a lack of sunlight, the leaves become pale, the stems stretch. Dieffenbachia turns its leaves towards sunlight. Such actions are performed anthurium. Plants must be periodically rotated around its axis in order to avoid its one-sidedness.

The heat-loving dieffenbachia will feel great in the summer months at a room temperature of 20-28 ° C, and in winter the temperature should not fall below 18 ° C. Protect the plant from drafts to avoid shedding leaves.

Watering and humidity

Water the plant with abundantly settled soft water. After all, a large amount of moisture intensively evaporates from the large leaves of Dieffenbachia. To replenish it and create a natural microclimate for our tropical queen during the warm months, we water the flower at least three times a week, plus daily spraying. And in cool weather, watering is reduced to one, two times a week. Moreover, we monitor the condition of the soil, one third of which should be dried up.

The limiting humidity level for dieffenbachia can be considered 55%. At low temperature readings, do not spray the plant. Too low humidity can adversely affect the condition of the flower.

The soil

Transplant and top dressing

Dieffenbachia is transplanted as the root system of the pot is filled. For young specimens, the place of residence must be changed annually, and for older plants once every two to three years. The best time for this procedure will be March or April before the start of active growth. Pots for transplanting are increased in diameter by only one or two centimeters to protect the plant from excessive growth of roots instead of intensive growth of the upper part of the plant, the soil in a shallower container will be less acidic. Drainage is required and should correspond to one quarter of the volume of the pot.

Intensive top dressing in the spring and summer with an interval of once every fourteen days of dieffenbachia will only benefit. An all-purpose soluble fertilizer can be used. There is no need to fertilize the plant in winter.

Dieffenbachia reproduction

Propagating the plant is not difficult.

Having cut off the top, put it in water, waiting for the roots to grow up to two centimeters, we plant it in a pot and get a new beauty dieffenbachia.

The remaining trunk is cut into cuttings 15-20 cm long, always with a dormant bud, dried and put in water for rooting. Cuttings can also be rooted in a sand-peat mixture. After the appearance of the roots, and small leaves of the sprout will appear from the dormant bud, they can be planted in separate pots.

Dieffenbachia diseases and pests

The fat trunk and huge leaves of dieffenbachia can be a concentration of various pests - insects. Spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs can infect the plant. Immediately after the discovery of uninvited guests, we use folk methods of struggle - soapy water, onion, garlic or lemon infusion. The next stage of the struggle will be the use of chemicals Decis, Actellik, Fitoverm, Intaavir according to the instructions.

Dieffenbachia care for her is not difficult, and according to the state of health of the southern beauty, you can immediately determine the errors in its content.

Growing Difficulties:

1. Dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow, and also curl up from drafts at excessively low temperatures, it is also possible to infect the plant with root rot.
2. The stem is stretched, the leaves turn pale and smaller, the clarity of the pattern changes - the plant does not have enough sunlight.
3. Stalk rot at the base can cause overwatering at low temperatures.
4. The leaves dry, the tips and edges of the leaf plates become brown with an overdried earthy coma and dry air in the room. Spray dieffnbachia and water it more often.

Dieffenbachia omens

Very often the question arises: can dieffenbachia be kept at home? There may be two options for this. On the one hand, there is an opinion that the plant is a protector from evil and envious people. When they appear in the house, dieffenbachia can neutralize the influence of negative energy. They also say that dieffenbachia is considered a strong "husband". Dieffenbachia absorbs oxygen and should not be left in the bedroom. This is of course not true. After all, there is scientific evidence that a beautiful plant cleans the air of xylene, formaldehyde and benzene.

From the above, only one thing is clear that every flower lover must decide for himself whether to keep this wonderful plant at home or not.

Dieffenbachia is poisonous or not? Yes. All parts of the plant are toxic.

Follow the safety precautions and you'll be fine. After all, dieffenbachia is very beautiful and worthy to decorate any room. Jatropha the plant is also poisonous.

Plant dieffenbachia (lat. Dieffenbachia) belongs to the genus of evergreen plants of the Aroid family, growing in the tropical zone of the American continent. The dieffenbachia flower was named by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, an Austrian botanist, after Josef Dieffenbach, a senior gardener in the botanical garden at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. In nature, there are about 40 species of dieffenbachia. Indoor dieffenbachia is characterized by rapid growth - some species can reach a height of two or more meters in five years.

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Planting and caring for Dieffenbachia

• Bloom: decorative leafy plant.
• Lighting: bright diffused light for variegated forms, light partial shade for a view with green leaves.
• Temperature: in summer - 20-30 ˚C, in winter - not lower than 15 ˚C.
• Watering: plentiful in summer, moderate in winter.
• Air humidity: increased - 65%. Regular foliar spraying is recommended.
• Top dressing: once every three weeks during the period of active growth with lime-free mineral solutions at a concentration two times weaker than recommended.
• rest period: from September to March.
• Transfer: from February to May, when the pot becomes small for the plant.
• Reproduction: apical and stem cuttings, aerial layering and, in rare cases, seeds.
• Pests: aphids, thrips, scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs.
• Diseases: bacteriosis, root rot, anthracnose, leaf spot, fusarium, leaf bronze and mosaic viruses.
• Properties: The sap of the plant is very poisonous and can cause burns.

Read more about growing Dieffenbachia below.

Dieffenbachia flower - features

For all dieffenbachia, a common feature is a thick, juicy stem, bearing large, oval leaves. The Dieffenbachia leaf is an amazing creation of nature, although breeders have made their own contribution to the creation of many varieties and hybrids with different leaf colors. The growth point of dieffenbachia is usually located at the top of the shoot, although there are species in which dormant points are located at the base of the shoots, and therefore they are able to bush. The inflorescence of representatives of this genus, like other Aroids, is in the form of an ear, but Dieffenbachia rarely blooms at home. And flower growers are not interested in the flowering of dieffenbachia: dieffenbachia flowers attract the eye with the beauty of their large variegated leaves.

- a unique plant. Get acquainted with a number of features that distinguish the Dieffenbachia indoor flower:

• dieffenbachia is poisonous, so pruning and transplanting the plant must be carried out, observing safety measures;
• dieffenbachia grows very quickly - under favorable conditions for it, it releases a new leaf weekly, but as it grows, its trunk becomes bare in the lower part, the plant loses its decorative effect, and it has to be cut off with subsequent rooting;
• dieffenbachia does not tolerate a sharp cold snap and drafts at all and loves moisture very much;
• dieffenbachia does not tolerate lime, so water for irrigation and spraying should be settled or filtered. You can use rain or boiled water.

These not very attractive properties of dieffenbachia, however, do not detract from its indisputable merits, the most important of which is beauty and impressiveness.

Dieffenbachia care at home

How to care for dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia prefers bright diffused light without direct sunlight, and varieties with variegated leaves need more light than plain green ones, otherwise their original color will fade. The best place for this rather large plant is at a distance of a meter or two from a brightly lit window. You can keep dieffenbachia and not so close to the window, but then you have to use additional artificial lighting. The temperature in summer is preferably between 20 and 30 ºC, in winter - not below 15 ºC, and remember - no drafts, or dieffenbachia will start to lose leaves.

Dieffenbachia should be watered abundantly in the warm season, but still the soil in the pot should not resemble liquid mud. In the cold period, watering, respectively, is reduced, but the earthen ball should not dry out even in winter. Dieffenbachia requires high humidity (65%), so spraying and washing the leaves is a must, and the more often you do this, the better Dieffenbachia will feel.

And for watering, and for wiping, and for spraying, you can use only settled or boiled water. Sometimes, however, it is possible to arrange a plant, if it is small in size, with a non-cold shower, but at the same time water should not fall into the ground.

Dieffenbachia care involves seasonal top dressing. Fertilize dieffenbachia, like most other plants, in the spring and summer, applying liquid mineral or organic fertilizers that do not contain lime, once a decade at half the recommended dose. By the way, varieties of Dieffenbachia with white leaves from the nitrogen contained in complex fertilizers lose this varietal property, becoming greenish, so they are not fertilized with organic matter, and mineral dressings are applied every 20 days.

How to transplant dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is transplanted as the pot space is filled with roots, sometimes it has to be done twice a year, and the best time for this procedure is from February to May. The pot is chosen a couple of centimeters in diameter larger than the old one, a decent layer of drainage is placed in it and dieffenbachia is transferred into a new pot with an earthy clod, but cleaned of adhering fragments of the old drainage. Then add the required amount of fresh, slightly acidic loose substrate, consisting of two parts of leafy soil, one part of peat, one part of crushed sphagnum and half of river sand.

How to prune dieffenbachia

Sometimes it is necessary to remove damaged Dieffenbachia leaves that cats like to eat, in addition, if the plant grows too quickly, some measures must also be taken. In such cases, dieffenbachia pruning is used.

First of all, blot the damaged leaf with a napkin so that the poisonous juice does not splash into your eyes when pruning, then cut off the leaf or part of the trunk with a clean knife or blade treated with alcohol for disinfection. Places of cuts should be blotted again with a napkin that will absorb the juice, and treated with crushed charcoal. Pruning should be done with gloves, and the remaining parts of the plant can be used for propagation.

Dieffenbachia - harm or benefit?

If dieffenbachia juice gets on the mucous membrane or skin, it will cause burning, redness, swelling and temporary numbness, as with local anesthesia. And if, God forbid, it ends up in the stomach, then profuse salivation, vomiting and paralysis of the vocal cords will almost certainly follow, so dieffenbachia should be at home out of the reach of children. If trouble occurs, you should immediately rinse your mouth with plenty of water, take activated charcoal and, just in case, consult a doctor.

In the homeland of the plant, it is considered a weed, it is ruthlessly destroyed, making sure that its remains do not get into livestock feed. They made poison for rodents and insects from it and used it as a rod to punish slaves who suffered for a week after the execution. However, indoor dieffenbachia are much less poisonous than their wild sisters.

On the other hand, dieffenbachia is undoubtedly beneficial: NASA data show that this plant, along with ficus and dracaena, cleans the air of toxins such as formaldehyde, trichloroethane, xylene and benzene. Therefore, at home, the best place for dieffenbachia is your kitchen.

Dieffenbachia reproduction

Propagation of dieffenbachia by apical cuttings

This is the easiest way to dispose of an old plant with a bare stem from time to time. How to root dieffenbachia? The cut top, after wetting the poisonous juice on the cut, is placed in water, moss, wet sand or a mixture of sand and peat for rooting. The main thing is to regularly spray the stalk, protect it from direct sunlight and keep it in moderate heat (21-24 ºC). If you root the cutting in water, then let the roots grow to 2-3 cm, and then plant it in the Dieffenbachia substrate in a permanent pot.

Dieffenbachia propagation by stem cuttings

Cut the rest of the plant, that is, the bare trunk sticking out of the pot, into pieces with at least one knot in the middle, leaving only a stump no higher than 10 cm in the pot. cling film and keep at about 25 ºC.

When the parts take root, transplant them to a permanent place in the usual Dieffenbachia substrate. A stump will also come in handy: leave it in a pot, continue to water moderately, and after a while a new shoot will appear from the top node. Wait for 2-3 leaves to appear on it, then cut and plant in soil to root. How many knots remain on the stump, so many new shoots will develop on it.

This is a rather unusual flower, which has an unusual shade of leaves, they are light yellow speckled or have stripes or spots. The plant was named after J.F. Dieffenbach. In the wild, the flower grows in the tropics of South America. There are approximately 30 types of flower. Dieffenbrachia belongs to the aroid family.

Popular types

Care rules

In order for the leaves not to lose their decorative effect, dieffenbachia must be placed in a well-lit place. Let the flower stand on the southern windowsill in spring and winter. At this time, you can still artificially illuminate the flower with fluorescent lamps. But in summer the flower is shaded a little, as it does not like the direct rays of the sun.

It is necessary to constantly water dieffenbachia and spray it daily or limescale will appear on the leaves. Water more water in summer than in winter.

It should be remembered that the hotter the apartment, the more abundant watering is needed.

The plant grows well in summer at 20-22°C, and in winter at an air temperature of 15-18°C, but if the humidity is increased, then it can grow at 30°C. But she does not like stagnant water. Therefore, it is best to spray it with settled water more often. You can put a container with moistened sand near the flower.

Flowers do not tolerate drafts and temperature changes. If you want to ventilate the room, then remove the plant from it, otherwise it will start dropping the lower leaves.

Rinse the flower in the shower every week.

After 10 days, the plant needs to be fed with liquid mineral fertilizers. In winter, they do not feed it, it rests. Loosen the soil periodically.

When and how to transplant?

Since dieffenbachia grows very quickly, it is necessary to transplant it every year in the spring. This is done, trying to ensure that the earth does not crumble from the roots. The new one is chosen slightly larger in diameter than the previous one.

If you buy a larger pot, when planting a plant, the soil where the roots do not reach oxidizes, and dieffenbachia may die

Step-by-step instruction

1. A young plant grows very quickly, because of this it needs to be replanted annually in the spring. First, make the ground from 2 parts of soddy soil, 1 part of peat, 1 part of humus and 0.5 parts of sand.
2. The new pot should be 2 cm larger than the previous one. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
3. Put broken shards, pebbles, expanded clay on the bottom. After pouring a little earth and cross the plant, trying not to destroy the clod of earth. Then pour abundantly with warm, settled water.

How to propagate?

1. In spring and summer, it is necessary to pinch off the top, then root in moistened sand. The stalk is covered with plastic wrap, sometimes aired.
2. Another way is possible - an incision is made on the stem 0.5 cm below the leaf, a wet match is placed there, which is sprinkled with a special powder for rooting plants. Then covered with wet moss, then with a film. After 3-4 months, roots sprout through the moss. It is necessary to cut off the stalk below the roots and plant it in a pot with a diameter of 10-12 cm. The rest of the stem must be divided into parts so that each has 1 sleeping bud. The sections that appear are sprinkled with charcoal and then dried. Then the cuttings are rooted, planting them halfway into the ground, they are covered with a film or a jar.

Pests

To eliminate all these pests, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the plant with a sponge, which must be dipped in soapy water, and then rinse the flower with warm water. If there are a lot of insects, then it is sprayed with insecticides: Karbofos, Actellik. 15 drops of the drug are diluted in 1 liter of water.

Diseases

Why do leaves turn yellow?

The leaves may turn yellow due to too low temperatures in winter. Also, the leaves turn yellow when the room is ventilated, due to a lack of fertilizers and watering with unsoftened water, due to root rot disease.

If the lower leaves turn yellow, and the top is actively growing, then the flower needs to be transplanted into a larger pot.

Do not forget that dieffenbachia is poisonous, if its juice gets on the skin, then inflammation occurs on it. When washing in the shower and other actions with the flower, wear gloves. Let your pets and children stay away from the flower.