| Author | Content |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
October 18, 2009
06:40 PM Post #7183479
| This has been the most frustrating plant that I have ever grown. I got one of these from my grandpa's funeral when I lived in North Dakota and it did fine until I moved to Arizona. It started to decline so I repotted it hoping that would help. It just continued to decline until it was nothing but green canes with one or two leaves at the tip. Every time a new leaf came out it would soon die. I finally threw the whole thing in the compost heap. Well, this year we got a gift plant from a visitor and it looked so healthy. Shortly after that, however, it began to decline and now it is looking the same as the last one I had. If anybody has any luck with this plant, particularly in Arizona, I would gladly like some advice on what I'm doing wrong. Any suggestions are welcome. I would like to save this gift.
Thanks
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
October 18, 2009
06:41 PM Post #7183484
| I forgot to say that I recently did flush the soil thoroughly to get rid of salt buildup. |
Calif_Sue
San Jose, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 18, 2009
07:00 PM Post #7183559
| How often do you water it? They require moist soil so should not be allowed to dry out, water perhaps twice a week. It also needs a good amount of humidity so mist regularly or keep on a humidity tray.
Most Dieffenbachias lose their lower leaves as they age. If the leaves are young, dry air or drafts are probably to blame. Also, anything below 60 degrees will cause the plant to suffer and possibly die. They are happy in anything from bright, indirect light to partial shade. Keep out of direct sunlight though as the leaves burn easily.
Be careful when handling it, the sap can cause mild skin irritation so be sure to wash hands after wards.. Also keep away from children and pets.
|
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
October 18, 2009
07:06 PM Post #7183584
| QC--My first thought, as always, was-----
When you re-potted it, did you plant the plant deeper that it was growing?
By that I mean--NEVER EVER add any extra soil on top of the plant as you re-pot it. Always leave it at the level it was growing before!
The plant in the picture looks like it is trying to grow new leaves. Might make it!
Please check how deep it is potted...
Gita |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 18, 2009
07:17 PM Post #7183636
| and get it out of the light...the spot you have it in seems to get alot of light from the picture and they prefer very shady conditions, something I actually lack in everyroom of my house, but move it into a shadier spot |
Calif_Sue
San Jose, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 18, 2009
07:21 PM Post #7183655
| They prefer to be within 5 to 8 feet of a window |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
October 18, 2009
07:22 PM Post #7183661
| trina--
That seems contradictory to what several other people have said...
Philos DO like bright, indirect light. Again--you may be confusing the "Philodendron" with the low-light "Pothos"--which is in HB's and commonly called the same name...NOT! |
Calif_Sue
San Jose, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 18, 2009
07:25 PM Post #7183681
| This is a Dieffenbachia, not a philo, although both in the Araceae family.
This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 4:28 PM |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 18, 2009
09:56 PM Post #7184342
| all I know is if my difenbachia (sp) comes with 10 feet of a window the leaves turn brown and drops off, my pothos doesn't care dark or light. direct sun or no sun it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and the philo likes right in the sun but not the difenbachia (sp) |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
October 18, 2009
10:16 PM Post #7184424
| Calif_sue--
OOOPS!!! Got my Posts mixed up! Someone on another Post was asking about her Philodendron...
I sure DO know the difference!
Sorry! Gita |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
October 19, 2009
12:47 AM Post #7184927
| Thanks all for your replies. First to address your questions and suggestions.
1) When I repotted it was planted at the same depth as originally.
2) It is kept moist getting watered at the very minimum once a week.
3) It is in a pretty shady spot no closer than 9 ft. from the window. When I took the picture the late afternoon sun just happened to be coming through the blinds at the moment but it generally receives almost no direct sun (I think it is in this amount of light for no more than 20 minutes a day) and very little bright light throughout the day. In fact I would say that the room is quite dim most of the day.
I think the most likely possibility at this time would be the lack of humidity. I actually was thinking about that. If you notice in my original post I said that I had no problems with this plant until I moved to Arizona. The humidity is much higher in North Dakota than here so that may explain some of it's unhappiness. It seems to me though that it is a little more unhappy than a lack of humidity would cause. I am not a beginner when it comes to growing things so that is why it is so frustrating for me to have so much trouble with this plant. Keep the ideas coming. |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
02:19 AM Post #7185090
| honestly I think this plant is like a cat your never gonna get it to do what you want when you want it to. I got mine from my grandfathers funeral...now for an admitted plant addict with over 600 (yes I feel shame) houseplants this plant should have been a piece of cake. but noooooooo I had yellow leaves, brown leaves, and yes even leaves that turned pure white, all at the same time! HOW soes that happen? I fittlefarted around trying everything thing I could think of until I was ready to cry...my plant even fainted how does this happen?
so finally I got fed up and dumped it in an antique high chair in the livingroom where it gets absolutely no direct light only semi bright reflected light. my spills a half a cup of coffee in it everyday cause he's not fully awake and the new kitty sleeps in it every night and it is suddenly happy |
Calif_Sue
San Jose, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
02:58 AM Post #7185124
| Ah, now see, you need a kitty to sleep in it! Forgot to mention that. 
Just don't let them chew the leaves, there's a reason it's called 'Dumb Cane" (no, not because it's too dumb to know it should be doing better with the care given) |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
12:44 PM Post #7186380
| my kitty Chocolate here hasn't been interested in eating any of them, just content to sit in the pots...the chupacabra on the other hand has so far managed to eradicated 2 EE's, all 4 of my brugs, 2 datura's, an 5' tall philodendron, and half of an oleander, and hasn't even coughed! evil plant destroyer is what she is! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
03:14 PM Post #7186937
| I have a couple of Dieffenbachia's, and they seem to thrive on neglect and mine stay on the dry side ... not bone dry but they do get dry. We have nothing but humidity here in Florida so there is enough moisture in the air to keep them happy. I agree, no direct sun which will burn the foliage, but my plants seem to do well in bright light.
From looking at your photo, the soil looks a bit heavy and wet to me, but that could be my old eyes! When you received your plant did you remove it from the pot to take a look at the roots? When re-potting, I only go up one size if necessary, otherwise I just prune away any dead looking roots and repot in the same container with fresh potting medium. I think a well draining potting medium is welcomed by Dieff's ... but I've found for me and my growing conditions, everything does better in a light, well draining mix. Years ago I couldn't keep a plant alive because I used a heavy soil and thought they were always in need of watering, LOL. Then there was a phase of a few years where I was working very long hours and didn't have time to water them so much and they seemed much happier.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
03:26 PM Post #7186986
| Here's the thread back from 2007 when I chopped up my ugly Dumb Cane: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/768639/
This is a photo I just went out and took of that same plant today. I've taken cuttings a few times from this one. She's looking a bit pitiful because we had temp's drop to the mid 40's last night, but this plant has survived a lot of abuse over the years. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
04:00 PM Post #7187121
| that's definately a different color than mine! But I saw a lot of plants in your pic I liked! LOL |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:07 PM Post #7187153
| plantladylin,
What is the little Dracaena to the left of your Dieffenbachia in the most recent photo? I have two of them. I had them for nearly a year, they lived on end tables on either side of one of my sofas. I was told they need "just enough light to read by". Is this correct? They seemed to thrive for a long time.. Now they aren't as happy and the only thing I did was remove the gnats and larvae from them.. |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
October 19, 2009
04:12 PM Post #7187170
| If I may guess--it is a compact Jeanette Craig Dracena--often used in dish gardens...
Just as a side-note--plants that are all green require less light than a variegated version of the same plant. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
04:20 PM Post #7187207
| Gita:
QCHammy's plant in question is a Dieffenbachia. I've heard of Dracaena fragrans compacta 'Janet Craig': http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56851/ but not a Dieffenbachia by that name.
I have some variegated plants that do well in low light situations and others that like very bright light, I guess it just depends on the plant. |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:22 PM Post #7187214
| I have a Janet Craig that is a much darker deeper green, and the leaves are a bit wider. I think it is a very dainty plant, matter how big it gets. It just seems so feminine to me... Quite pretty!!
This other dracaena very looks different. Though I realize it could be a different variety. |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:27 PM Post #7187236
| Gitagal was actually replying to my question.. . I was referring to the Dracaena, that is to the left of the Dieffenbachia in the photo... Its small and to the left. Definitely a dracaena of some sort. |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:29 PM Post #7187245
| plantladylin,
its at the very front left corner of the last photo of your Dieffenbachia. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
04:41 PM Post #7187288
| LOL, and it was in my photo! I had forgotten I even had that plant. It's isn't looking it's best either, from being shoved behind others in the corner!
Geesh, I am a terrible plant mommy. This thing has been planted in this glass cylinder type jar for awhile. It looks horrible ... full of water from the rain! I will dump it out and give it a proper re-potting.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
04:44 PM Post #7187304
| I found another Dracaena compacta shoved behind a chair on the deck too. It looks in a little better shape but still needs some help as well. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
04:44 PM Post #7187310
| I'd love to be able to grow a dracaena to look as good as a couple of these: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=dracaena c... |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:45 PM Post #7187315
| Aw Man!!! Still not the right plant.. Its in the last photo of the diff, and it is in the front left corner.. --- its leaves are not as wide and the color is not nearly that dark.
The plant you just posted does look to be a Janet Craig Dracaena. |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
04:47 PM Post #7187325
| I like Draecena's here's 1 of mine 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:48 PM Post #7187329
| or is that some sort of grass and my poor little draceana, just looks like a laid of clump of grass.. Oh My, talk about a bad plant mommy!! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
04:49 PM Post #7187334
| the one in the front left corner looks like a red margined draecena |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:50 PM Post #7187344
| Trina, Yours is gorgeous and looks healthy!! |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
04:51 PM Post #7187349
| Nice one Trina! I have a couple of D. marginata 'Tricolor' ... one is planted on the side of the house and I think I have a couple of little ones in pots. |
daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)
October 19, 2009
04:51 PM Post #7187350
| Oh, I think that is what it was called!!! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
05:58 PM Post #7187576
| you know that monster has gotten bigger since then!
And I have 'Janet Craig', Lemon Lime, Spike and a few others, kitty likes to lay in those too!
Of all things guess what I got in the mail today? I 3" diameter 15" long piece of dumbcane wth a tag that said Suprise no return address...I'll give it a drink for tonight and pot it up tomorrow...here we go again! |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
06:55 PM Post #7187764
| Wow, what a nice gesture of someone to do that! Was it someone from Dave's Garden? This is a generous community here!
... you may be able to do a little detective work and figure it out by the postmark of the city it originated in! |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
October 19, 2009
07:03 PM Post #7187797
| I was looking at the picture before the last...where I saw the green one...
Yes-the plant in question IS a tri-color Dracena Marginata. DO NOT over water this plant. It can root-rot easily.
|
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
07:07 PM Post #7187822
| I don't know...I usually hang out in general discussion & chat so I'll see if I can play Nancy Drew...let's see if I have better luck with it than the other one. LOL... I also got me some bamboo orchids, philippine ground orchids, and some calla lilies from a trade...so I've been doing the Happy Dance all afternoon |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
07:15 PM Post #7187864
| You are going to be a busy gal with all those new plants to add to your collection! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
07:33 PM Post #7187922
| Yeah but It gives me something to do all day...It gets kinda boring sometimes when your the only one home, but at like 3:30 everyday the house explodes with the arrival of 4 of my 5...the other one probably hasn't moved from his bed yet |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
07:35 PM Post #7187925
| Oh my goodness ... You have 5 kids? What ages? It must be pretty exciting around your place when all the kids are running around and the critters as well! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
08:05 PM Post #7188025
| I offered you a teenager the other day you told me No!...LOL
kids are 12 girl, 13 boy, 14, boy, 15 boy, 19 boy...blended family
and critters at least I only have to deal with the puppy and the kitty
they do the rest |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
08:11 PM Post #7188057
| Wow! Girl, you do have your hands full! At my age I can't imagine one teenager in the house, much less four, and a preteen girl as well??!! It's all I can do to handle my husband of 40 years and the one cat! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
08:15 PM Post #7188084
| LOL..trust me yesterday I hid in my room and pretended I was on strike! Yeah and she's started her "monthlies" so she's not always so nice to deal with...somedays I swear her head is gonna spin around like that girl on the exorcist!
and the boys...way too much testosterone around here some days...LOL |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 19, 2009
08:30 PM Post #7188159
| LOL .. I'm afraid I'd have to run away from home! My hats off to all Mom's out there! You Rock! |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
October 19, 2009
08:42 PM Post #7188251
| hence the plant addiction...always looking to trade too...but my have list is in an excel file so I have to email it. |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
October 20, 2009
12:23 AM Post #7188945
| plantladylin,
When I took the picture I had just finished flushing it so yeah the soil looks wet but it is not normally like that. When I repotted it the roots looked good and it was potted up only one size. |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
October 20, 2009
02:50 PM Post #7190437
| You repotted it in a porus soil mix? The roots pretty well fill the pot? That glazed pot doesn't "breathe" so be careful to water only when the soil feels dry to the touch. |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 14, 2009
11:46 PM Post #7275248
| Thought I would post an update. After moving it to a dimmer spot and flushing the soil for salt it still was looking no better. It actually kept declining so I decided to unpot it to take a look at the root. As it turns out the soil wasn't a very porous mix so I repotted with a much more porous mix. Can't find pumice anywhere locally so I used perlite and course sand to increase drainage. Nearly 50% perlite. Hopefully it will start to show some improvement. Will keep you posted. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
November 15, 2009
09:03 AM Post #7275811
| QC,
Just looking at all the stems, it seems to me that is quite an old plant. So many stems and so many healed over spots where leaves used to be!
It might have been a large plant and just gave up due to old age--and now you have it and are trying to resurrect it.
Also--in both cases--the plant was moved from one location to another. Some plants don't take kindly to being moved.
Anyway--that is what just went through my head this morning...
I think if you just bide your time. mist it now and then, don't overwater it and don't feed it too much, it may start coming around...
Gita |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 15, 2009
05:48 PM Post #7277071
| Gita,
It was definitely not an old plant when I got it just last year. It is showing so many leaf scars because all the leaves fell off over the course of about 2 months. Was definitely full and healthy when I got it. Also it was only moved after it already looked like it does now. The rapid decline is why I posted it on this thread to get ideas for what went wrong. |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
November 17, 2009
05:52 PM Post #7283755
| was it in front of an ac/vent duct? |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 17, 2009
10:27 PM Post #7284654
| No duct anywhere nearby. |
trinawitch
Canton, IL
(Zone 5b)
November 18, 2009
01:19 PM Post #7286553
| hmmm, usually when they drop leaves that fast it's because of a cold draft from somewhere, and you being in Arizona your kids leaving the door open in November probably isn't as bad temperature wise as when my kids do it...you should see how quick things drop here when they 'Forget" to close the door and it's freezing out |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 19, 2009
02:14 AM Post #7288867
| No kids Trina. It actually dropped most of it's leaves in the summer and has looked like it currently does for a couple months. It hasn't died but it hasn't grown any either. |
3jsmom31
zone 6a, KY
November 19, 2009
09:08 AM Post #7289197
| The stems still have life in them, so give the roots time to repair themselves, it will start to grow again. Adding perlite will help with drainage, but still be careful about watering. I let me dieff's dry off a little, not dry to the bottom but not constantly wet on the surface. This is where Al's conversations about soil drainage/perched water tables become so important. Without air exchange at the root level, most plants can't succeed. I hope yours starts to recover from soil death :). I think it's awful that they sell soils to us that basically kill the plants we want to grow.
As a precaution, can you add a wick to your pot to help remove extra water? Then feel the wick to see if you should water. If the wick is damp, no water needed. That is another Al tool :). |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
November 19, 2009
10:06 AM Post #7289338
| I want to chime in--again--mostly about soils...
I have worked for a grower and several large nurseries and two large retail stores--where I was always in the Greenhouse or House Plant dept...
Currently--I have been at a HD for almost 12 years. The first five--I ran the whole Greenhouse--and it was the best one in the area...Truckloads of plants arriving weekly...
OK! So--reasonable to say that I have had a lot of exposure to house plants and a lot of experience taking care of them, watering them and maintaining them.
There are many brands and kinds of "Potting Soils"--many of which are heavy. (I don't care for the "Scotts" ones).
Some soils labeled as "Potting Soil"are, actually, just a step above "Top Soil"--which is used to fill in holes in the lawn.
Then there are "Potting Mixes"--these are more fluffy and loose and best used for houseplants and containers.
These have a lot of peat moss in them as well as Pearlite and small, composted bark pieces.
My own favorite brand of of soils are all the ones made by "Miracle Gro". Their "Potting Mix" is what i always use--with or without the "water crystals" in the soil. It has a smidge of MG fertilizer in it and it drains well and lets the soil breathe.
There are people that make their own potting mixes that are excellent--but not too many have time to do so.
Having been around so many houseplants--I would never put up with a plant that is not doing well and appears sickly.
Out it goes!!! One can buy a new, large Dieffenbachia in a garden center for about $10-$12 and start fresh...
Gita |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 19, 2009
09:30 PM Post #7291311
| You like Miracle Gro but don't like Scotts. I am almost certain they are one in the same.
The water crystals are a disaster during rainy periods for plants that are out of doors.
I wholeheartedly agree about tossing the dieffenbachia- except, I believe this one came from a parent's funeral service and has sentimental value. |
bubba1
Woodward, OK
(Zone 6a)
November 19, 2009
09:42 PM Post #7291351
| QCHammy-
I was just wondering if maybe its your water in your new location? I know that there was such a difference in the water here where I live and the water where my parents lived, only 70 miles away. I am sure the water in Arizona could be much different than where you used to live. You could try purified or distilled water for a little while and see if that makes a difference. |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 20, 2009
01:07 AM Post #7291929
| I think there must have been some confusion. I killed a Dieffenbachia a few years ago that had been from my grandfather's funeral. This plant was a gift from a friend of my wife's. It has no sentimental value. It's not about being able to go out a buy another one for cheap--I hate being defeated by a plant. I don't consider myself a beginner by any means so you can see why this bothers me. I don't even care for dieffenbachia that much but by golly I'm going to grow this plant despite itself or myself. |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 20, 2009
02:37 AM Post #7292026
| Then research the needs of this particular plant and do your best to meet them. I for one am going to unlink to this meandering thread. |
QCHammy
Queen Creek, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 21, 2009
12:26 AM Post #7294978
| You know, why didn't I think about researching the needs of this particular plant before I started this thread? How stupid of me!! =)
This message was edited Nov 20, 2009 9:39 PM |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
November 21, 2009
08:29 PM Post #7297758
| I don't think that Dieffenbachia is a lost cause at all. I would cut the wilted leaves off and wait for new growth since you've repotted it to fresh soil. My Dieff's seem to get yellow, saggy, baggy leaves and look a bit yucky at this time of year. I have to admit, I am a neglectful plant mom and sometimes if they get really awful looking, I chop the tops off ... eventually new growth appears.
Your Dieff has good green stalks so I think if you just cut it back about an inch and water sparingly it might surprise you with new growth. |
3jsmom31
zone 6a, KY
November 21, 2009
08:48 PM Post #7297826
| I'm with you, Lin. I never thought about cutting it back, but I wouldn't toss it, for sure. Thank goodness you're here, so that this meandering thread offers some helpful insight to caring for the plant :). |
