It is no coincidence that Dieffenbachia has been cultivated as a houseplant for more than 150 years. With high decorative leaves and the ability to quickly build up a large volume of greenery, it is unpretentious. It requires minimal maintenance and reproduces very easily and simply.
History and description of Dieffenbachia
The flower is named after the main gardener, who in the 19th century served at the imperial court in Vienna - Joseph Diefenbach. He was one of the first to appreciate the decorativeness of this plant and began to use it for landscaping gardens and residences. The main decoration of Dieffenbachia is large oval leaves with a white-green pattern. Varieties with one stem and bush are bred. Tall species form a thick, juicy trunk up to two meters high.
The juicy trunk of Dieffenbachia is crowned with a hat of decorative leaves
In adult dieffenbachia, the stems become bare over time, the leaves remain only on the tops. However, the old flower can give a new life. Surprisingly, cuttings cut from a powerful trunk, a few centimeters thick, easily give roots in ordinary water or wet soil. Dieffenbachia can be cut into its component parts (shoots, cuttings, apex, root with hemp), a new plant will grow from each. The main thing is that these parts had sleeping kidneys.
Dieffenbachia juice is toxic, causes skin irritation and burns of the mucous membranes. Indoor flower should be kept away from children and pets. For cutting cuttings and other work, it is necessary to wear gloves, and then wash the tools (scissors or knife) and hands.
Rules and methods of reproduction at home (with photo)
Cuttings apical and stem in water (step by step instructions)
The method is good for tall dieffenbachia with an elongated and bare stalk.
The flower has lost its decorativeness, but it can also serve as an excellent planting material.
From such an old and unappealing plant you can grow several young and beautiful. Take a sharp knife and cut off the crown with a piece of the trunk. At least 1-2 internodes should remain on it. Do the cut in one motion so that there are no burrs.
Tools for cutting shoots (knife, scissors) must be disinfected with boiling water or alcohol. So, you eliminate the risk of infection through wounds by diseases, for example, gray rot.
Cut off the top with part of the trunk
Divide the remaining stem into cuttings so that each can be lowered into the water by 2-3 knots, and part of the stem about the same size remains on top.
Cut the remaining stem into cuttings
On the cuttings there should be sleeping kidneys, it is from them that roots and young shoots will appear.
A sleeping kidney is not over every node
Remember where the stem cuttings have the top to properly position them for rooting, and also in what order they are taken. The farther from the crown, the coarser the tissue, and the longer the roots will grow. Do not cut the trunk to the ground, leave a stump in a pot and continue to care.
Leave a stump of it, too, a new dieffenbachia will grow
Soon a young shoot will grow out of it.
Young dieffenbachia grew out of old hemp
Transfer the cuttings and top of the head for several hours (up to a day) to a dry place in the apartment to dry the sections.
Slices must be allowed to dry.
Now you can put the crown and cuttings in jars of water.
For a big top you need a big can
Roots will appear in 1-6 weeks. This period depends on the season and the quality of the cuttings. In particular, in winter, Dieffenbachia, like all living things, develops reluctantly. To prevent the cuttings from rotting over such a long period, add activated charcoal to the water (1 tablet per glass of water). In addition, change the water 1-2 times a week. Wrap a transparent container with cloth, paper or put inside an opaque one. For example, a jar can be placed in a flower pot larger than its size. Keep on a windowsill where there is no direct sunlight.
Stem cuttings gave roots
It is interesting that not only roots, but also young shoots with leaves have time to grow on parts of a completely bare stem. This is possible in the presence of two or more sleeping buds: roots appear from the lower, shoots from the upper. Now the plants are ready for planting in pots.
Rooted cuttings can be planted in one spacious pot
Use ready-made primer for indoor flowers with decorative leaves. Deepen the stem cuttings, leaving small stumps with young shoots on top. The top of the head has a growth point, so all leaves and a short stem of 1-2 internodes should remain on the surface.
The crown of the old dieffenbachia turned into a young plant
Propagation by root shoots in water and soil
Low-growing dieffenbachia grow in a lush bush or form curly lashes.
Low dieffenbachia gives many root shoots that can be cut into cuttings
To propagate such a flower, cut the shoots near the ground.
For propagation, take the entire root shoot
Divide the cut lashes with scissors into the tops and fragments of the stem. Each part should have 2-3 nodes and sleeping kidneys.
Divide each shoot to the top and stalk without leaves
Both apical and stem cuttings can be rooted in water according to the technology already described. But for medium-sized planting material, there are more interesting ways.
Propagation by stem cuttings located horizontally:
- Make a soil mixture of peat and sand 1: 1. Instead of sand, vermiculite or perlite is suitable. The soil should be much looser than the one in which grown Dieffenbachia grow.
- Take the parts of the shoots left without tops, that is, stem cuttings without leaves. Lay on top of moist soil horizontally.
- Then in front of you are three options for planting: deepen the cuttings by half, fill up with a whole thin layer of earth or leave them lying on the surface. At the same time, at least one sleeping kidney should be in contact with a moist and loose substrate. When choosing the degree of immersion, keep in mind that a stalk completely covered with soil can rot with excessive moisture, and dry on the surface if it is insufficient.
- Place on a window under diffused sunlight.
- Loosen and moisten the soil, you can cover the pot with a plastic bag and periodically ventilate.
Horizontal rooting succeeded - young shoots appeared
The classic method of propagation by the tops and stem cuttings:
- Prepare loose soil.
- Tear down the cuttings in the shade for at least 4 hours, you can day.
- Moisten the soil and vertically deepen the cuttings into it for 1-2 knots.
- Place under diffused sunlight.
- Keep the soil moist, loosen between waterings.
Rooting cuttings in the ground
Cuttings with leaflets take root more difficult, because they have no roots, there is nothing to extract water, and evaporation through the leaves. Therefore, apical cuttings during rooting often spray on the leaves.
Video: two ways of rooting shoots: in water and horizontal in the ground
Leaf propagation
Only a leaf of Dieffenbachia does not multiply, you need a piece of the stem with a sleeping kidney. The method is no different from the classic. It can be used, for example, in the case when there is no desire to root the large crown of tall Dieffenbachia. Cut it into fragments with one sheet and try to root it in the ground.
Single leaf rooting cuttings
The method has a significant drawback: a small stalk without roots cannot provide water and nutrition to a large leaf. This option is inefficient and risky. It is good only as an experiment when there is a lot of other planting material.
Bush division
It is already clear from the name that only bush dieffenbachia can be propagated in this way.
Bush dieffenbachia with root layers
- In the spring, during a planned transplant, take it out of the pot.
- Shake off the ground and gently with a sharp knife divide into separate plants with roots.
- Sprinkle sliced areas with crushed charcoal.
- Seat dividers in different pots.
Video: Breeding bush dieffenbachia
Table: Dieffenbachia reproduction problems, prevention and solution
| Problem | Cause | How to warn and decide |
| Leaves of the cuttings wither and fall off | The plant itself discards excess leaves, since there are still no roots, there is not enough moisture, and its leaves evaporate very much | Spray the leaves more often. Even if they all fall off - it's not scary. When the roots appear, then new shoots and leaves will grow. |
| Very long roots do not form in the water. Cuttings in the ground do not take root and do not grow. |
|
|
| Cuttings rot in water |
|
|
| Cuttings rot in the ground |
|
|
The main methods of propagation of Dieffenbachia are with stem and apical cuttings, that is, parts of a plant with and without leaves. Each method has its own subtleties. So, the tops with leaves need more moisture, you have to spray or arrange greenhouses. Cuttings without leaves take root faster and easier. And if there is absolutely no time to deal with flowers - just cut off the old plant, a new dieffenbachia will grow from the hemp.
