Dieffenbachia, also known as the dumb cane plant, is a tall houseplant that can add an air of tropical flair to your home. They have pointy leaves and grow taller with time so they may lose their bottom leaves and start looking more like palm trees over time.
You can start collecting new dieffenbachia plants by only propagating clippings and cuttings from the parent plant. There are two ways to propagate dumb cane, either by rooting in soil or water. We went with propagating in water as it’s more convenient and quicker.
What You Will Need
- A healthy dieffenbachia plant
- Pruning scissors or trimming shears
- Rooting hormone if you want your dieffenbachia to propagate quicker
- A vase or container in which to put your cuttings
How to Propagate Dumb Cane in Water
Step 1: Sterilize Your Cutting Equipment
Before snipping the stems, clean and sterilize your pruning shears or razor; this ensures that the fresh cuttings remain unharmed by bacteria or infection.
Step 2: Slice the Base of a Stem
Use a sharp knife or trimming shears to cut a mature part of the stem, preferably the base, to avoid leaving a bare stub. The larger stems will start rooting much faster than smaller ones since they contain more stored “food.”
Then cut the stem into short pieces of about 4-6 inches and remove the bottom leaves. Ensure each piece has a bud beginning to develop as the buds will grow into new shoots.
Step 3: Fill Your Glass Vase with Water & Soak Your Cutting
Now, take a glass jar or vase and fill it with fresh water. You can use tap water or distilled water but ensure the tap water is non-chlorinated since chlorine can damage young plants.
Carefully place the dieffenbachia cuttings into it and ensure the stems stay upright. Put the vase in a warm and bright spot, but out of direct sunlight as that can wither the plant.
Step 4: Refresh Your Cuttings
Change the water every 4 to 5 days and scrub away at the dirt before placing your cuttings back into the jar. Remember to use room temperature water to avoid shocking your growing cuttings.
Step 5: Transplant Your Cutting
After a few weeks, the cuttings will form new roots, and you can now transplant them. Take each cutting and transplant it into a separate 4-inch pot filled with a moist, well-drained, and peat-based potting mix.
Be sure to transplant the cuttings right when a few roots have formed. If you wait and let the roots grow longer, it’ll be much harder to transplant the stems.
After transplanting, monitor your new dieffenbachia plants and wait until the baby plants have new green shoots growing before you transplant them to bigger containers.
Safety Tips for Propagating Dieffenbachia Plants
Though dieffenbachia is a beautiful plant, it produces a poisonous sap. The sap contains calcium oxalate, which can cause severe throat, eye, and skin irritation.
Here are some precautions to take when cutting a dieffenbachia plant:
- Always wear protective clothing, gloves, and a face mask.
- Wash your hands often during the cutting process
- Keep the plant out of reach from pets or small children.
- Never touch your eyes or face mouth after touching the plant as it can cause a burning and itching sensation.
- Always wash your hands after handling a dieffenbachia plant.
Follow these steps to have your own endless dumb cane plants to brighten your home! Don’t have a Dieffenbachia yet? Get your Dumb Cane Plant on Etsy. I love buying from the shops that have the best reviews.
