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The Dieffenbachia it is a beautiful, showy plant most commonly found in tropical regions such as the West Indies and Mexico.
The large oval leaves are beautiful and the pattern resembles snake leaves.
The foliage displays a pleasing mix of green, white, and yellow, making this plant the best for indoor decorating.
It can easily reach heights of up to 8 feet, but rarely in indoor conditions.
It is commonly called a fool’s cane because of the poisonous sap that causes mouth irritation when ingested, but is not poisonous enough to cause death.
For this reason, it is best to keep them away from curious animals and young children.
There are many varieties of Dieffenbachia available. The most common are the Golden Sunset, Camilla and Amoena plants.
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Why do Dieffenbachia leaves hang down?
Hanging leaves on your Dieffenbachia plant can frustrate you, especially if you don’t know the cause.
Many things can cause foliage to drop, but the most common reasons are overwatering and underwatering.
You can see the following list of problems and their solutions that you can use to keep your Dieffenbachia fresh all the time.
1) underwater
Your plant will definitely show your lack of love if you don’t pay attention to it for a long time.
Long periods of water can cause your Dieffenbachia to show an image of remorse.
The thick, fleshy leaves of dieffenbachia lose most of their turgidity and fall off in a short time.
Solution for submarine:
Dieffenbachia plants are naturally quite drought tolerant. However, poor water planning can cause significant damage to them.
Fortunately, once you know the situation, all effects can be easily restored with a little effort.
Water it well and be careful not to water it too much. A balanced watering routine can help your Dieffenbachia regain its strength in no time.
Only water when the topsoil looks slightly dry. Watering twice a week is enough. No additional precautions are required.
2) excess water
Dieffenbachias are one of those plants that won’t let you sleep if you overwater them. Overwatering smothers the plant by limiting the breathing space between the roots.
This waterlogging can completely destroy the roots, and with them the whole plant, if not taken care of.
Without sufficient water supply, the leaves begin to fall off and even turn yellow, giving a very unsightly appearance.
This whole situation makes the plant vulnerable to attack by fungal and bacterial infections.
Solution for too much water:
You should closely monitor the watering of your Dieffenbachia. If the soil looks wet, hold back the water.
It is best to water the plant when the topsoil is completely dry. Over time, you can easily gauge waterlogging by simply checking the moisture with your fingertips.
Otherwise, you can also judge just by feeling the weight of the pot when lifting it.
Also, make sure the pot has a drainage hole to allow it to breathe if you accidentally step on water. This can help compensate for your occasional mistakes.
3) Nutritional deficiencies
Drooping and yellowing leaves of Dieffenbachia may also be due to insufficient supply of nutrients to the plant.
The most common ones that become deficient are nitrogen and phosphorus.
Lack of these 2 essential macronutrients causes “chlorosisleaves These are usually caused by acidic soils or poor fertilization.
Solution to nutritional deficiencies:
Solving this problem is not bad at all. You only have to supply the deficient nutrients to compensate for the loss.
To do this, you must apply a well-balanced method indoor plant fertilizer once every three or four weeks.
This ensures active growth and rejuvenates your plant. The leaves will turn green again in a few days. If not, there must be a problem elsewhere.
4) Exposure to hot or cold drafts:
Extreme temperatures can also damage your Dieffenbachia’s outlook. These plants prefer an average house temperature between 17 and 27°C (62 and 80°F).
If you regularly change the position of the plant, the leaves will certainly fall off. The temperature should not drop below 55 degrees.
The solution Exposure to hot or cold drafts:
To overcome this problem, it is necessary to have a general idea of the temperature in the different rooms of your home.
Then you can choose the place with the best temperature to place your Dieffenbachia. Care must be taken not to place the plant where drafts could affect it.
Keep the plant away from heating vents and air conditioners to prevent hot or cold air from causing damage.
Placing the plant near a window with adequate indirect sunlight can usually remedy most of your headaches.
5) Pest attacks
The most common pests that attack Dieffenbachia are aphids and spider mites. These insects like to feed on plant sap.
They strip the plant of all its riches and leave it to rot. Leaves turn yellow and go limp shortly after infestation.
Solution for pest attacks:
You should closely monitor your plant to see if it is attacked by pests or not. Failure to detect the disease early can eventually lead to the death of your plant.
It is best to first use biological means to repel pests. A weekly spray of a neem oil blend can do wonders for your plant.
Using a soapy water spray bottle is also a great way to reduce pests naturally. Only use chemical pesticides if the infestation is beyond the control of these homemade solutions.
You may also need to spray them on your other plants if the infestation is widespread. In such cases, strict measures must be taken.
Otherwise, you will have to get rid of the plant due to its irreparable condition.
6) Incorrect sunshine
Dieffenbachia plants grow well in direct sunlight. Naturally, they are found under the dense canopies of tropical trees that filter most of the light that reaches them.
If placed in direct sunlight, it can scorch the leaves and cause irreparable damage to the plant.
The leaves lose their pigmentation and give a sad picture after this bad treatment.
Solution for insufficient sunlight:
To avoid this problem, place your plant in an area that receives plenty of sunlight during the day.
Do not place it directly in the path of the sun. Placing it in areas with little sunlight can also stunt its growth.
To manage this, you need to strike a good balance. You should change the position of your Dieffenbachia in different seasons to make sure this problem does not arise.
If you like this article, check out our article on the common dieffenbachia problems and how to fix them.
How to take care of your Dieffenbachia?
Caring for the Dieffenbachia plant is not so difficult. As mentioned, these plants are very low maintenance and can survive even with a little attention.
Shiny leaves can brighten up any corner of your home.
Soil requirements:
This plant prefers to grow in well-drained soil, so it’s best to use the right mix. They thrive in standard sized pots as they can easily reach heights of up to 5 feet.
Dieffenbachia works best when the mix consists of peat moss, potting soil and perlite.
The right ratio of these media can also help boost your plant’s growth. Moreover, there are no special wishes.
Fertilizer Requirements:
You can fertilize it every two weeks during the growing seasons, i.e. early spring and summer.
Cut:
It also needs to be pruned to keep your plant in top shape. Use sterile scissors to do this and remove old yellow leaves from the bottom of the plant every year.
Humidity:
Since these plants are tropical, they naturally need moderate to high humidity to grow well.
Regular misting is essential for Dieffenbachias. If you can’t mist regularly, you can do so with a humidifier or a humidity tray under the pot.
Final Thoughts: How to Stop Dieffenbachia Leaves from Hanging Down?
I’m sure all of this information will help you solve any problem with your dieffenbachia plant.
You just need to know what the main problem is causing your dieffenbachia leaves to drop.
Once you identify it, you’ll be ready to rejuvenate your plant in no time.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to fix dieffenbachia leaves from curling?
Top 10 Common Fatsia Japonica Problems
Top 15 Houseplants With Red And Green Leaves
About the Author:
Saad Anzar
Saad is an avid gardener and a great lover of plants, animals, photography and people. Currently, his focus is on indoor plant photography and captioning beautiful landscapes. Write and rewrite feature articles on nature and science.