The Dumb Cane plant is a strong species that will thrive in any light conditions other than direct sunlight. It’s easy to care for style and resilience to neglect to make it a wonderful house plant. Due to its negative past, consider calling this the Leopard Lily.
Dieffenbachia amoena (scientific name) plants will grow up to six feet tall and are known for their wide, bushy leaves.
Dumb Cane Plant Description
Dieffenbachia amoena is a very popular house plant due to its easygoing nature. Plants that receive too little light or too little water will simply not grow as quickly as plants that are given proper care.
This native to the West Indies will flower in the right conditions, but these flowers are unimpressive. The beauty of the dumb cane plant comes from the unique pattern found on every leaf.
How It Looks
Each plant features leaves that are yellow near their vein, abruptly turning a dark green toward the edge of the leaf. This transition is random, even within the same leaf, creating ribbons and spots of yellow and green along the leaf’s body.
These leaves grow out of a central stem system. Each leaf will ultimately reach around 20 inches (47 cm) long, and 10 inches (25 cm) wide.
Flowering
Although this plant will occasionally produce buds that are 5 inches (12 cm) long, they will only bloom in perfect conditions. These blooms are green and rather unimpressive.
Most plant owners remove the buds when they appear, as they waste the plant’s energy. Always wash your hands thoroughly after removing buds, due to the sap’s toxic nature.
Is it Poisonous?
Dieffenbachia amoena plant is poisonous, and should not be permitted near children or pets (cats&dogs). The sap of the plant is acrid, and when ingested can numb the throat and vocal cords, rendering the victim mute for up to two weeks until the poison wears off. The sap is highly irritating to the skin, and any interactions with the plant that result in sap exposure should be washed thoroughly.
The leopard lily unfortunately has a jaded past. It was used to numb the mouth as punishment in the Caribbean on sugar plantations and to tip arrows in the Amazon. It was also experimented with in Nazi Germany on war prisoners. The name dumb cane can be offensive to those who know its past. Please consider using the scientific name or other common name of leopard lily.
Dieffenbachia Amoena Facts
| Origin: | West Indies. |
| Names: | Dumb cane, leopard lily (common). — Dieffenbachia amoena (botanical/scientific). |
| Max Growth (approx): | Height 6ft. |
| Poisonous for pets: | Seriously toxic to cats and dogs. |
Types of Dieffenbachia
This plant comes in a variety of types and colors. Some of them are:
Dieffenbachia Seguine
This plant requires medium light levels and moderate indoor temperatures. This plant can be toxic for pets and children. You should place them in your house that is unreachable to them. This plant has an exotic appeal and beautifully formed leaves with cream, yellow, and white brushstrokes that emphasize the leaves’ shape.
Dieffenbachia Amoena
This type of dumb cane plant is called Leopard Lily. The big variegated leaves have stunning cream and yellow markings that some people claim to resemble leopard spots. They come in a range of designs and sizes. It is a houseplant that is often grown in a container; it can provide interest and light to dark corners of a space.
Dieffenbachia Camille
This plant is indigenous to the Caribbean and South America’s tropical rainforests have long been cultivated as houseplants. Dieffenbachia Camille plants grow to a manageable height of 3 feet, making them perfect for growing indoors.
Dieffenbachia Camouflage
This plant is excellent for those people who enjoy variation and patterned leaves. Although the Camouflage might grow large, it is simple to maintain. Only a 10-inch is offered. The height might range from 36 inches to 48 inches.
Dieffenbachia Care
| Temperature: | Dieffenbachia amoena grows best when the temperature it is exposed to is between 65-75 ºF (18-23 ºC). Outside of this temperature zone, growth will continue at a greatly reduced rate, with tolerance extremes ranging from 40-90 ºF (4-35 ºC) Beyond these extremes, the plant will stop growing and may die with prolonged exposure. |
| Light: | This plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight for optimal growth. It will accept lighting conditions up to full shade and continue stunted growth. Full sun will burn the leaves. |
| Watering: | For the best results, keep the dumb cane plant’s top inch of soil moist at all times. It will tolerate extended periods of watering neglect, but the leaves will begin to shrivel. Watering makes the leaves stiffen. Before moving the plant, allow the soil to dry out. This will give the leaves a more rubbery texture which will better survive the handling process. |
| Soil: | This plant is not picky about its soil conditions. It will grow in almost any soil mix except sand and orchid mixtures. For best results, a one-to-one mixture of potting soil and perlite should be used. |
| Fertilizer: | To encourage your plant to grow faster, you may introduce a full-strength mixture of standard, balanced fertilizer once a month. Over-fertilization will cause the plant to start dropping leaves. |
| Re-Potting: | This plant needs to have its root density checked annually in the spring. If the roots are becoming dense, re-pot into a size bigger pot. Reduce watering for a week before the transplant. |
| Humidity: | Normal room humidity is fine. |
| Propagation: | This plant propagates best from new growth cuttings or from breaking away young stems that grow on the side of the plant. Place these sideways in moist sand until roots begin to show, then transfer them upright to the soil. |
Common Problems
This plant will only produce blooms from its buds if it is exposed to bright, indirect sunlight. Buds that turn brown on the ends should be removed from the plant immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check the roots every spring and only re-pot if the roots are feeling dense.
The Dumb Cane loves moist air, so a room with about 60% humidity would be ideal.
Mealybugs and aphids are the most common culprits. These can destroy your plant, so make sure to get rid of them properly or take preventative measures. Use a damp cloth to clean the leaves of your plants and wipe them with rubbing alcohol to eliminate these pests.
Not permanently, but you can move it outside during the summer months, just make sure to monitor how much sunlight it’s getting.
The stalks will become long and leggy if the plant is reaching for the sun. If this is the case, simply move it to a lighter area. If it’s getting too much, the color of the leaves will begin to distort.
It comes in different sizes, but the smaller ones average anywhere between 12 and 14 inches, whereas the bigger varieties can grow from 6 to 10 ft high.
This is perfectly normal after a few years. It may also begin to look leggy and awkward. Although this is a sign that your plant has seen better days, do not throw the plant away! Instead, propagate it so that new baby plants will grow.
Conclusion
This unique-looking and easy-going houseplant is perfect to help bring your home to life. Like all plants, you need to make sure you’re giving the Dumb Cane plant enough water and light, but other than that, it’s happy on its own!
The pattern on each leaf makes for a really striking image, so these plants are great statement pieces, although the smaller, most common ones aren’t overly big. These plants do flower but don’t get too excited, they’re quite dull looking. A lot of owners even get rid of these buds, so the plant can focus on growing its lovely leaves.
Not only is the Leopard Lily is very poisonous for pets, but also for humans. So, make sure the plant is well away from any wandering children. The danger lies in the plant’s sap and can have severe effects both internally (if ingested) and on the skin.
Always keep its soil moist to make sure the plant is getting enough water and watch out for leaf curling or drying – this is a sign of underwatering. The leaves should feel rubbery and stiff. Bright conditions are great, but minimalize the Dumb Cane’s exposure to direct sunlight, as this can damage the leaves.
Although its water and light requirements are fairly simple, this plant is fussy about soil, so avoid sand and orchid mixtures and you can even add a full-strength fertilizer once a month to encourage growth.
Elyssa Goins is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mom of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has been published in a Scientific Journal, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you.
My dumb cane has reached 8ft and my ceiling is 9ft. How do I cut it down without killing it.
Hi Mark! Thank you for leaving an informative question for the other readers, and for that question, this is how to prune the dumb cane plant, also known as the Dieffenbachia plant. Pruning your Dieffenbachia plant is simple, but you’ll need to have some basic supplies on hand and follow simple instructions, which include gardening gloves and a sharp knife. Wear gardening gloves whenever you handle a Dieffenbachia plant for protection. Remember that the reason the plant earned the nickname “dumbcane” is because, when cut, it releases a fluid that can irritate the tongue and throat and cause itching. This fluid that came from the dumb cane has a long-lasting impact and may last a week or perhaps two. When working with a Dieffenbachia plant, it is necessary to wear gloves to prevent getting the plant substance in your mouth and throat. Cut the cane at about a 45-degree angle. Never cut off more than one-third of a plant’s leaves; this could cause damage to your dumb cane plant. The ideal cutting height is six inches above the ground. Make sure to cut the stem a quarter-inch or so above. A stem will be easy to spot since it resembles a little swelling close to the brown ring on the stem where a leaf was once attached. The development of new growth occurs here. After you’ve pruned the canes, give your plant plenty of water. It will support its pruning recovery. But be careful not to overwater your plant. Remember that Dieffenbachia plants or dumb cane plants can decay if their surroundings are very moist.
Have 9 ft ceiling and aprox 2 ft b4 we are there . The plant does great and all plants trive , what do I do when reaches ceiling?
Hi Stephen Swift! Thank you for asking about your beloved dumb cane plant. If it grows so quickly, you can cut the plant back almost to the soil line. Then replant it in the new potting soil and place it in a bright light if you want to have baby dumb canes again. If you notice that there are swollen buds along with the stem, carefully remove them; that has the potential to grow a new plant or to make a new one. We are hoping to hear from you soon.
My leaves are all turning brown just all the sudden! Is my plant to dry, I usually water once a week but I was gone for two weeks on vacation and missed 2 weeks. I watered when I got back. But the leaves just look brown and thin. I have never had this happen. This plant has been with me for 4-5 yrs now.
It’s really sad when your beloved plant wants to give up, just like my dumb cane when I forgot to water it for about a week I thought it will going to die but when I regularly watered it, the leaves started changing their color. Hope your plant can recover.
What are other reasons for leaf curling.
My Dumbcane plant is probably 8 feet tall and because of the weight of the top half, it broke in the middle.
What do I do? Do I just cut it and propagate it or can I tape it back together with duct tape and wood reinforcement so it doesn’t break again?
Hi, Rene! To keep your dumb cane from growing leggy, pinch or regularly prune out the new growth at the top. Pruning out new top growth like this will encourage your plant to grow bushier and stay more compact. If your dumb cane has grown tall and leggy, you can top the plant or cut it back anywhere on the stem. The stem will form new leaves at the first node below where it was cut and should be cut with a sharp, clean knife on a 45-degree angle back to 6 inches tall. Please do regular pruning of the new growth. Enjoy growing with your beloved dumb cane :).
Hi, I have two dumb cane and for the past 10days now I’ve noticed it produced drops or liquid,I did not touch the liquid,but I’ve never seen this before! Is there something wrong with my dumb cane? Please help
Perfectly normal, its called guttation. It is believed to be the plant regulating moisture but there is debate on that. I wouldn’t change anything!
My dumb cane plant has produced a long brown stem in the middle of one of its leaves. It this normal?
Give it some time but sounds normal. Keep us updated.
Hi, my Dumb Cane looks healthy but, near the soil it’s gowning white mushrooms around the stem. What can I do to get rid of them?
Thanks Nancy
Nancy, the mushroom spores were likely in your potting soil and conditions are now right. Make sure you are not over watering, even let the top inch dry out. You can manually remove the mushrooms but they will probably be back. I would recommend repotting the plant to get rid of as many of the spores possible. They can eventually become a nuisance. Hope that helps and let us know how things work out.
SOMETHING ATE THE TOP OFF MY DUMBCANE BUT THE PLANT IS STILL POTTED THE PART THAT’S SHOWING KEEPS TURNING BROWN WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THE LEAVES COME BACK AGAIN.?
If you have stem rot you will likely have to replace the plant. Once that starts its too late. Ease back on watering for a few weeks and see if it recovers.
My dumb plant leaves are turning brown on the edges of the leaves , whats causing this ?
Mary, there are many things that can cause this. Too much fertilizer, inconsistent watering, low humidity, low light are the usual issues. Dieffenbachia needs moist soil that never dries out completely, descent humidity, and bright indirect light. Hope that helps!
Please use the scientific name (or the other common name) for this plant as the common name of “dumb canes” represents what they used the plant for when slavery was prominent. They fed this plant to slaves in order to poison them to the point where they couldn’t speak any more. This term is outdated and can be taken offensively, we should be encouraging people to use the scientific name or the other common name ” leopard lily “. Please consider changing the title and your references to the negative common name as to not promote racist common names. As well as to help educate the plant community! Thank you and have a great day.
Annika, thank you for brining this up. We have modified the post to bring awareness to its unfortunate use in the past.