Dieffenbachia - species, how it blooms, is it poisonous or not

Dieffenbachia has become one of the most common indoor plants thanks to its large foliage with rich contrasting patterns. This perennial plant is native to the Caribbean and tropical South America, especially Brazil. Dieffenbachia varieties can be found among indoor flowers or as ornamental plants in tropical parks and gardens.

The plant got its name in honor of J. Dieffenbach (1796-1863), who served as the chief gardener in Vienna, who was in charge of the gardens of the royal palace of Schönbrunn.

What does the dieffenbachia plant look like?

Dieffenbachia is an evergreen perennial herb growing in large shrubs. In its natural environment, it has a height of 50 cm to two meters, depending on the species. The most straight, thickened stems in older plants are often leafy only at the top. As the lower leaves fall off, the stem of the reed becomes visible, but loss of leaves is not a sign of disease.

Dieffenbachia in nature

Usually arranged in a spiral, leaves can be clearly divided into a leaf blade and a petiole, have an oval-oblong shape up to 30 cm long.The flower has an amazing leaf color: green with spots of cream or white, painted in dots or in marble patterns.

How dieffenbachia blooms

At home, dieffenbachia blooms very rarely. If it blooms, this occurs in April - early May. Havethis plant a unique type of flower. It looks like a cob with yellow-white or cream-colored flowers covered with a gray-green veil. Male flowers are near the tip of the ear, female flowers appear at the base, they are pollinated by insects. If pollination has occurred and the fruit develops, it looks like a berry. Bloom lasts about a week, then the veil dries up, although the flower is still underneath.

Dieffenbachia flower

Experienced florists prefer to get rid of the buds on the plant, since they, taking away the trace elements necessary for development, weaken its flower, and the plant begins to lose leaves.

Dieffenbachia types and description

Many types of dieffenbachia have large oval leaves. The color of the leaves is from light to dark green with spots, dots, streaks. It is thanks to the leaves that the flower is so valued by florists and has been cultivated for over 150 years. Dieffenbachia grows as a bush or has a tree-like trunk. It depends on its varietal and species affiliation. The most frequent guests among home-grown flowers are the following types of dieffenbachia.

Camilla

Dieffenbachia Camilla is one of the most famous varieties of dieffenbachia. The leaves are thick and wide, with creamy and dark green streaks. As the plant matures, the contrast with the green edges of the leaf is smoothed out. This lush bush develops quickly at home, but does not reach a significant height. A new leaf grows within a week. This type of flower does not bloom even with good care at home. The best place where Camilla will feel good is in a shaded corner in a ventilated room, but the plant does not like drafts. Camilla needs a well-drained soil.

Compact

Dieffenbfhya Compacta is an unpretentious plant, which is why it is popular in homes and offices. Its colorful, large white leaves on vertical stems adorn this plant. Usually Compact has a height of 90 to 180 cm and a bush spread from 30 to 100 cm.Separate leaves can be 45 cm long and 30 cm wide.

Compact

Mix

Dieffenbachia Mix in natural conditions can be observed in the subtropical climate of South and Central America. At home, this flower looks like a shrub up to 65 cm high. The mix feels normal both in houses and in office premises, responds well to a sufficient amount of natural light.

Reflector

Dieffenbachia Reflector is called the tiger plant due to its interesting camouflage colors. It is known for its variety of leaf colors and its air purifying effect. The Reflector variety has large, light green leaves with dark spots, making them stand out clearly in the interior of the house. It grows well in rooms where the minimum air temperature is + 17 ° C. The maximum plant height is up to 90 cm.

Feels good both on the window and in places with less sunlight. In summer, you should avoid direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves through the glass. Caring for a dieffenbachia flower at home is simple. It is enough to water it once a week to prevent the roots from rotting from an excess of moisture.

Dieffenbachia Reflector

Tropic Snow

An attractive indoor ornamental deciduous plant - Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow. This is a light-loving flower variety, but it grows well in shaded areas of the room, especially in the summer. It has a height of more than a meter. If the stem of the plant grows strictly vertically, there is enough light. If the trunk has even a minimal inclination, there is not enough light. Florists recommend turning the plant 180 ° so that the crown has an even shape.

The proportional, paddle-shaped leaves are held on short stems and have an original pattern. The plant loves watering throughout the growing season. The soil must dry out for at least 3 days so that the roots do not rot with excess moisture. In winter, you need to water dieffenbachia less often, with settled soft water without chlorine and fluorine.

Tropic Snow

Dieffenbachia leaves must be kept clean, wiped with a damp cloth or dust-free in the shower. Tropic Snow does not like drafts. The optimum temperature in winter should be above + 15 ° C. Florists recommend planting and propagating the plant in the spring.

Adorable

The type of this dieffenbachia is tree-like. It has a fleshy stem and large elliptical-like leaves with a pointed end. Their length can reach 50 cm. Leaves are rich green with white streaks and veins. This type is shade-tolerant and resistant to adverse conditions.

Adorable

Vesuvius

This type of dieffenbachia does not pretend to be decorative, but benefits from cleansing the air of toxins. Like all species of this plant, its juice is poisonous. Therefore, Vesuvius is not recommended to be kept in children's institutions. The flower does not like sudden cold snaps and drafts, it needs regular watering and pruning. Flowering is rare.

Seguina

Dieffenbachia Seguina is a herbaceous plant native to the Caribbean. Cultivated as an outdoor ornamental plant. The stems are 1.5 m high.The genetic diversity is relatively high compared to other types of dieffenbachia. The flower can bloom in natural conditions from March to September, as it is pollinated by beetles.

Green Magic

Hybrid Dieffenbachia Green Magic has a bushy shape with compact size. It is derived from the Oersted variety.

Spotted

Spotted dieffenbachia is sometimes called painted because of the color of the leaves, which resemble patterns of various shapes and sizes. It is a tree-like crop with a powerful stem. It grows up to about 1 meter in height. The leaves are 40x10 cm in size. This dieffenbachia blooms and has a ripe orange fruit. Its mottling on the leaves is similar to the spotted varieties of Dieffenbachia Mars.

Spotted

Green

The fast-growing green dieffenbachia tree has rather large leaves. It looks great in the interior and cleans the air from toxins. It is good to have such a flower in offices located in ecologically polluted areas of the city. Requires regular spraying or leaf washing. Watering should be moderate so that the soil has time to dry out.

Dieffenbachia: poisonous to humans or not

The plant is considered toxic. To date, the exact composition of the poison has not been determined. However, the following active ingredients are known to be present in flower sap: calcium oxalate, oxalic acid, saponins, proteolytic enzymes, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids and astringents. When working with dieffenbachia: when replanting, pruning leaves, wiping off dust, you need to take precautions. This is not to say that the flower has a harmful effect on a person, but careless handling of it can lead to undesirable consequences - poisoning. If there are small children in the house, it is advisable not to purchase this flower.

Pruning Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia harm to humans

It's dangerous to touch the plant - shooting cells open, from which juice with toxins is thrown out. This can damage the skin and eyes. Skin contact with purple juice may cause irritation. If the juice gets into the eyes, it burns the conjunctiva. If the poison is ingested, symptoms such as burning, swelling, and redness of the tongue and mucous membranes occur. Because of the increased production of saliva and swelling of the tongue, sick people find it difficult to swallow and speak. In the worst case, poisoning causes diarrhea, nausea, cardiac arrhythmias, paralysis and drowsiness.

Dieffenbachia-like flower

Among indoor flowers, you can find evergreen herbaceous plants very similar to dieffenbachia - aglaonema. Outward similarity is observed in large, beautiful leaves. Both of these species belong to the Aroid family. The difference is observed in the structure of these plants. In aglaonema, the apical crown is formed by leaves with short petioles. The shape of the leaves is ovoid, the leaf is leathery to the touch.

Aglaonema

The variety of types of dieffenbachia allows you to choose a specimen for breeding at home with the desired parameters and color. Those specimens that are unpretentious to the conditions of "living" greatly simplify their care.