Check her weekly and if the top two inches of soil feel dry it’s time for a drink. She won’t need as much in winter.
She likes a good amount of light throughout the day, but ideally not direct sunlight - it will burn those majestic leaves.
She absorbs a lot of moisture from the air through her leaves. Regular misting or a spot in a humid bathroom will help Bindi stay fresh and healthy.
Botanical name
Dieffenbachia ‘Cayman’
Nickname
Dumb cane
Plant type
Indoor evergreen
Plant height (including pot)
40-50cm
Pet/baby safe
Toxic if eaten
Nursery pot size
21cm
Everything about the dumb cane, or dieffenbachia, is dramatic. Native to the tropics of Central and South America, it has impressive leaves. Even the way it grows is showy, new leaves curling up from the central stem before they unfurl. Dieffenbachia ‘Cayman’, has particularly unusual leaves. Look closely and you’ll spot that they have unusual markings and a scaly ridge, a bit like the spine of a crocodile.
The diefenbacchia’s common name, dumb cane, comes from the fact that the liquid that drips from its leaves can cause a temporary loss of speech if eaten. For that reason this plant is not recommended for homes with small children. This is a grown up plant for grown up homes.
It’s used to growing in humid conditions in dappled forests, so it loves lots of moisture in the air and a lot of bright, indirect light. It will also appreciate a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month in spring and summer. With the right conditions, it will grow quickly to become a really impressive houseplant.
Did you know?
The dumb cane was given its scientific name, dieffenbachia, in the 1800s by Heinrich Wilhelm Scott, director of the Viennese Botanical Gardens, to honour his head gardener, Joseph Dieffenbach.
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