I love being surrounded by plants all year round, and that’s one reason why I have a large collection of houseplants. I like to grow a variety of plants, but I especially appreciate easy to grow houseplants. Well guess what, the dumb cane houseplant (Dieffenbachia) is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors!
What’s With The Name?
Dumb cane is a really weird name, right? Well, there’s a reason for that funny name! The dumb cane got it’s name because there is a chemical in the sap that can cause temporary loss of speech if any part of the plant is chewed or eaten.
If you have pets or small children around, then it’s best to treat dumb cane as you would any other poisonous house plants, and keep it out of reach.
Dumb cane make excellent low light house plants
Caring For Your Dumb Cane Houseplant
It’s no mystery why dumb cane plants are one of the most common houseplants you see for sale at garden centers and big box stores. They are pretty tolerant of any indoor environment, and are super easy to care for (they practically take care of themselves).
Dumb cane plants can live for many years, and some varieties can grow to be several feet tall, creating a very large, stunning floor plants.
Dumb cane houseplant care and growing tips
Water
The number one cause of dumb cane houseplant death is overwatering!! <dramatic pause> Ok, ok, I just made that up to sound cool, I don’t know if there are any actual stats about the causes of dumb cane death. But overwatering really is the main thing you need to worry about when growing this plant (although they are pretty forgiving about being overwatered now and then).
Just make sure you check the soil before watering by sticking your finger about an inch into the dirt. If it’s dry, then it’s time to water the plant. If it’s wet, wait to water it. You could also use a soil moisture gauge to help you monitor the moisture level and ensure you’re watering the plant at the right time.
Dumb cane ‘Camille’
Light
Dumb cane are perfect low light house plants because they actually don’t like it when they get too much light, especially direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause their leaves to fade or burn.
On the other hand, if the room they’re growing in is too dark, then they will start to grow tall and leggy. If you don’t have a bright room to grow your dumb cane, then you could add a small grow light to help keep the plant from growing leggy.
It also helps to rotate the plant once and a while so it doesn’t reach toward the light. (like this neglected one that was growing in my dark kitchen…oops!)
It’s common for dumb cane to grow tall and leggy over time
Soil
Dumb cane houseplants aren’t super fussy about the type of soil they’re grown in. Any general purpose potting soil will work just fine.
However, if you’re a person who tends to give your houseplants TOO much love in the form of water… then you’re better off using a well draining soil mix for them. Simply add some perlite or pumice to regular potting soil to help with drainage.
If you tend to overwater, make sure you grow your dumb cane in a pot that has drainage holes, and never allow the pot to soak in water.
Related Post: Tips For Repotting Houseplants
Fertilizer
Another great thing about easy to grow indoor plants like dumb cane is that they can grow just fine without fertilizer. But, like any houseplant, a dumb cane plant will definitely benefit from a being fertilized.
I recommend using an organic houseplant fertilizer rather than using chemical ones. I use compost tea, which you can get in liquid form or buy compost tea bags and brew your own. You can also give your plant a foliar spray using compost tea, just put it in a spray bottle and spray the leaves of the plant – they will also love the added humidity!
Only fertilize during the summer months (their active growing season). They go into a dormant state during winter, so it’s best to let them rest.
Dumb cane are house plants that clean air
Houseplant Pests
It’s rare for a healthy dumb cane houseplant to have problems with insect pests, but sometimes spider mites, aphids or mealy bugs can attack the plant.
Organic neem oil is a natural insecticide that is very effective at controlling these houseplant pests. A soapy water spray is also very good for controlling pests like spider mites and aphids. I use a mixture of 1 tsp mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water.
Never use chemical pesticides on houseplant pests because they can build up a resistance to chemicals, making pest problems worse. Plus, who wants to spray toxic chemicals in their house? Not me! Learn all about how to get rid of houseplant bugs naturally here.
Troubleshooting Problems
It’s normal for the lower leaves to turn yellow or brown, and eventually die. Simply trim them off when they appear to keep your dumb cane houseplant looking it’s best.
But if the leaves are curling up, have brown or yellow spotting on them, or the top leaves are dying, then there’s probably something wrong.
The first thing to do is check for houseplant pests, like I described above. A few other things to check for are overwatering and over use of chemical fertilizers.
Troubleshooting common problems
Also, houseplants don’t like extreme temperature changes. If you notice that the leaves on your dumb cane houseplant are suddenly burning or shriveling, and you can’t figure out any other reason for that, then look at the area you have the plant growing.
Is it near a heat source such as a heat vent or fireplace? Is the cold air from the A/C vent blowing directly on your plant? Is it sitting right next to a door during the winter (so it gets a freezing cold blast of air every time the door is opened)? Being too close to cold or hot drafts can cause major damage to the plant, so make sure to keep it away from drafts.
More Indoor Plant Care Guides
- Tropical Houseplant Care Guide: How To Grow Tropical Plants Indoors
- Peace Lily Plant Care Guide
- How To Take Care Of A Money Tree Plant (Pachira aquatica)
- How To Care For Palm Trees Indoors: The Ultimate Palm Plant Care Guide
- 20 Low Light Indoor Plants That Are Easy To Grow
Do you have a dumb cane houseplant? Share your tips for growing them in the comments section below.
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natalia says
i wish mine were so pretty, but I asume I have to plant several in the same pot? mine are leggy and not have so much leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s very common for dumb cane houseplants to grow tall and leggy over time, especially when they aren’t getting enough light. To grow their best, they need bright indirect light. If you want to try pruning your dumb cane plant to make it grow bushier, then you can just pinch out the tops of the new growth, and it will encourage the plant to branch out at the top. Or, if you’re really brave, you can cut the stem of the plant several inches below where the bottom leaves are growing and try propagating the cuttings. The stem should grow new leaves just below the cut too.
Pat says
the new leaves on my dumb cane are not opening……..
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear it. It’s hard to diagnose the problem with your dumb cane without more information. What do the leaves that aren’t opening look like? Are they brown or yellow? Does the plant seem to be suffering in any other way? Have you checked for bugs?
dawn says
Also my problem, new leaves or sprouts are both yellow and brown. I have searched in vain for an answer. No bugs, no over watering, has humidity and low light, no over fertilize. I have virtually nothing left to do….but watch its death.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… I’m not sure what could be causing it. Normally, problems like this are caused by bugs like spider mites or aphids (both of which are super tiny and easily overlooked). But if you’re sure there is absolutely nothing else wrong with your dumb cane plant, then it may have some kind of a disease. I would try pruning off the leaves that won’t open, and see if that triggers new growth.
robert says
I am expirencing the problem of your last example of the yellowing leaf,driving me crazy.
Aware of overwatering and put on calendar when I water.The proof of overwatering that hits home is there is a store in my area that the owner lost lease and there are two Diffs in the
empty store no one has watered these plants for months and they are not in direct sunlight and they are thriving one is at least five feet tall and well rounded.trying to save my plant the Diffs are so beautiful.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh that sounds frustrating, sorry for the troubles you’re having with your dieffenbachia. A good tool that I recommend using to help you with proper watering of your houseplants is a soil moisture gauge. Good luck, and maybe you could see if you can rescue those poor abandoned dieffenbachias and take them home with you! 🙂
Jan says
My plant has both small yellow leaves but a lot
of the leaves are still green but just real. Limp
Just hanging downward and stems that were
upright are now leaning off in different directions.
We recently moved and had no problems it was
by a window with filtered light I now have it by
sliding door which does not open same kind of
light don’t understand.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Do you live in a cold climate? If so, did you cover your dumb cane when you moved it? Bringing houseplants outside during freezing temperatures, even for a short time can cause severe damage to the plant. Also, make sure the door you have it sitting next to isn’t drafty (with freezing cold air). Here’s a post I wrote about houseplants and drafts – Houseplants Don’t Like Drafts
Sara says
What about AC in bedrooms, does it harm the plant too?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great question! It could if your plant is sitting right next to or on top of where the cold air is coming out. I would definitely recommend you keeping your dumb cane away from the cold air coming out of your A/C unit.
Shelby says
Hey there! I am currently experiencing mine being droopy, not sure if It needs to have more soil added, plant food or what I am doing wrong with it.
Amy Andrychowicz says
When a plant droops, that usually means it’s either being over watered or under watered. The first thing to do is check the soil by sticking your finger one inch deep. If it’s wet, then let it dry out more between waterings. If the soil is totally dry, then give your dumb cane a good watering, and try to water it a bit more often. An inexpensive soil moisture gauge is a nice tool to help make sure you’re watering your dumb cane plant properly. If the soil level on the pot is really low, then you can certainly top it off with fresh soil, that won’t hurt anything. But I definitely would not recommend fertilizing it until after you figure out why it’s drooping. Fertilizing an already stressed plant can be fatal to the plant. Good luck!
Tracie sanders says
We have a dumb cane at work that is huge and beautiful, our problem is it’s almost to the ceiling my question is can we just top it off?? We have replanted it in as deep a pot as we can find so the only option I see is to let it lean which is not pretty or cut the top house out if the middle??
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can top a dumb cane, and it will grow back from just below the cut. Then you can propagate the cutting if you want to. If there’s no growth below your cut, it can be a bit risky. But if you propagate the cutting, then you won’t have worry if the bottom half survives. 🙂
Ashley says
My dumb cane Is about 2 ft tall.
I moved into a new house and the climate is more warm.
The leaves on my plant are as perky as they used to be. What could be the cause of the droopy-ness?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Your dumb cane may just be in shock after the move. Plants don’t like to be moved, and it can take some time for them to get used to their new environment. The best thing to do is to leave it alone until it recovers.
J says
Our dumb can has leaves that start to dry out and turn brown. Something we then also have leaves that turn yellow. I would think maybe I’m over watering but don’t understand why domes leaves would be drying up. It’s in an area that gets afternoon light away from the window. Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your dumb cane is sitting in the sun during the afternoon, then that could be the problem. They prefer indirect, bright light, and direct sunlight can burn their leaves.
Sofia says
Hey Amy,
Great post, thank you for all these informations!
I have a problem with my diff too: when I took it home from the store it was all big and bushy then we had a spider mites attack, but it seemed like this plant we saved in time. Later I discovered a big whole in one of the stems so I repotted, taking that one stem away (Looked like something bit into it, or was simply rotting from inside out. Didnt really find out what it was, just dealt with the problem).
Since then, it’s doing okay but not great… the lower leaves slowly turning yellow and die. I thought its some sort of bugs on the leaf but it really looks like just dirt . Some of the leaves on the top have brown edges but I think thats pretty normal – of course would be better without:) – but also due to the really hard tap water we have in Berlin. I try to let the water sit since and water the plants with that.
Also, while the lower leaves yellow and die (I cut them before they fall) there are some new leaves coming up, that are super curled up and also oddly looking.
Hope you can help me maybe 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! It’s normal for the lower leaves on dumb canes to turn brown and eventually die. However, if you’re concerned about it, read the section “Troubleshooting Problems” above for more ideas for what could be causing the brown leaves. The brown edges could be caused by inconsistent watering, over-fertilizing, or maybe even the type of water you’re using. I collect rainwater (or melt snow in the winter) to water my houseplants, and they love it! 😉 As for the new growth… it’s normal for the new leaves to be curled and look a bit odd as they open. If they look green and healthy, and aren’t brown or yellow, then there’s no reason for concern. (P.S. my software doesn’t allow external links in the comments so I removed the wording around those from your comment, but I was able to see your pictures)