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Dieffenbachia seguineis the perfecthouseplant for beginners.
This tropical beauty has large, variegated, paddle-shaped foliage.
The patternation varies but tends to feature cream, white, and yellow patches.
Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images
Its also very adaptable, forgiving, and low-maintenance.
Dieffenbachia seguine likes bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil.
This most closely mimics the filtered light on the rainforest floor of its native habitats.
Some homeowners pick thisplant for low-light locations, like bathrooms.
Soil
Aloamy potting soilis the dieffenbachia seguines preference.
This provides a great balance of nutrients, aeration and moisture retention.
However, it will do fine in most mixes, provided it is well-draining.
Root rot can set in if the soil doesnt drain quickly.
Water
The trickiest part of the dieffenbachia seguines care is getting it right with watering.
Aim to keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy.
Letting the soil stay soggy quickly leads toroot rot.
The watering frequency depends on the plant size and your home conditions.
You might water large plants as often as a couple of times a week during the growing season.
In the winter, when growth slows, cut back on watering frequency.
They can handle temperatures as low as 55F but prefer temperatures of around 65 degrees to 75F.
The dieffenbachia seguine is more tolerant of drier air than some tropical species.
Fertilizer
Dieffenbachia seguine are fast-growers that appreciate regular feeding during the growing season.
Dont panic if your mature plant starts dropping some leaves at the base of the stems.
This is a natural part of aging, and the stems are chunky and striking.
This helps prevent the plant from falling over and encourages a more attractive form.
They typically need repotting once every year or two in early spring.
When repotting, select a pot that’s around two inches bigger in diameter than the existing one.
Gently tease the plant from its existing pot and gently knock as much old soil away from the roots.
Repot using a fresh, nutrient-rich, well-draining loamy potting mix.
Always wear gloves during the repotting process to minimize the risk of the toxic sap causing skin irritation.
Watch out forspider mites,aphids,mealybugsandscale.
However, selecting healthy-looking plants and providing appropriate care means diseases are rare.
you could often keep your plant by tweaking its watering schedule or environment before its too late.
Yellow Leaves
If your dieffenbachia seguineleaves are turning yellow, youll have to do some detective work.
Sometimes its just part of the natural aging process, but this discoloration shouldnt happen with new leaves.
Stretching can also result from overwatering or the plant being rootbound.
It can also be a result of the plant being too cold.
Move the plant to a position where it receives more bright but indirect light.
Dieffenbachia seguine prefers a position where it will receive bright, indirect light.
Too much direct sun can fade variegation and result in curling,browning leaves.
This species cant tolerate temperatures below 55F.
Your dieffenbachia sanguine might survive in a full sun position, but it wont look good.
Intense, direct light typically results in foliage discoloration, crisping, and drooping.
You might also start to see burn marks and fading variegation.
Your plant will likely eventually die because of the stress it is under.
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Extension Office
Dieffenbachia Seguine.
Oxford University Plants 400.
