Archived Gardening Message Boards
Topic: Houseplants & Indoor Gardening
<< Back to message boards home
<< Back to
Houseplants & Indoor Gardening
View Thread:
dieffenbachia
dieffenbachia
Posted by Patti
from Wisconsin
on 2001-03-21 10:17:06
tall. I have had it since it was very
small, but now the stems have become
very thin, unable to support the plant.
I don't recall any major change in care
or location that would have caused
this. Please help.
-
dieffenbachia care
In time, just about all dieffenbachias
Posted by Will Creed from on 2001-03-22 19:48:46
will become too tall to support
themselves. Although lots of bright
indirect sunlight will encourage
sturdier stems and larger leaves, even
these sturdy stems will eventually
topple over under the weight of the
large leaves. The only solution is to
periodically prune back lanky stems to
within a few inches of the soil.
Fortunately, dieffenbachias respond
well to pruning and soon produce
healthy new growth just below the
pruning cut. The cuttings can be rooted
in water. Happy pruning!
Quoting Patti: ------------
-I have a dieffenbachia about 4-5 feet
-tall. I have had it since it was very
-small, but now the stems have become
-very thin, unable to support the
plant.
-I don't recall any major change in
care
-or location that would have caused
-this. Please help. -
Leggy Diff
Posted by RB from MD on 2001-03-21 22:15:16
I guess the first question I would ask is if you fertilize and water and how much of each. Next would be to say that as plants get taller they can get thinner and leggier, especially if light-deprived. If you are not supplementing the light that long Wisconsin winters lack, that may contribute to what may be a combination of factors affecting the plant. Lastly, could the plant be rootbound and need repotting into a larger container with fresh soil?
