Dumb cane care guide

Dumb cane has big, oval leaves splashed with cream, white, and green on thick, cane-like stems. It is easy to grow and fills a corner fast. Its name comes from what the sap does to a mouth: it swells and burns until talking gets hard. Keep it away from pets and small children.

Light

Give it medium light or bright, indirect light, such as a spot near an east window or a few feet back from a south or west window.

In low light, the canes stretch and the leaves lose their pattern. Direct sun scorches the leaves.

Turn the pot every week or two. It leans toward the light.

Water

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

Yellow lower leaves with wet soil mean too much water. Droopy leaves with dry soil mean too little. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite.

Repot every year or two in spring, one size up. Wear gloves. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F). Cold drafts below 15°C (60°F) make the lower leaves yellow and drop.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Wear gloves and wash your hands after. The sap burns skin, eyes, and mouths.

Dumb cane grows tall and bare at the bottom over time. Cut a leggy cane back to 15 cm (6 in) tall in spring or summer. New shoots grow from the stump. Root the top to make a new plant.

Propagation

• Top cuttings. Cut the top 15 cm (6 in) of a cane with some leaves. Set it in water or damp mix. Roots grow in three to six weeks.
• Cane pieces. Cut a bare cane into pieces 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long, each with a node. Lay them on their side, half buried in damp mix. New shoots grow from the nodes.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellow lower leaves, one at a time	Normal aging
Many yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Tall, bare canes	Normal. Cut it back.
Brown, crispy edges	Dry air or dry soil
Pattern fading	Not enough light
Leaves drop in winter	Cold drafts

Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale can show up. Check under the leaves. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays wet too long. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists dieffenbachia as toxic to cats and dogs. It contains calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing causes intense mouth pain, swelling, drooling, and trouble swallowing. Keep it well out of reach of pets and small children. Call your vet if a pet chews it.

Varieties

• ‘Camille’ has creamy leaves with green edges.
• ‘Tropic Snow’ has large leaves with cream and white centers.
• ‘Compacta’ stays small and bushy.
• ‘Reflector’ has dark green leaves with a pale center.
• ‘Tiki’ has silvery leaves with green and white speckles.