Dieffenbachia - one of the most common indoor plants. The reasons are obvious: it looks beautiful, effectively cleans the air and at the same time unpretentious. This shrub comes from tropical forests, in the wild, its peculiarity is the ability to take root from the stem touching the ground. Over time, the trunk of the Dieffenbachia is bared, the lower leaves fall and turn yellow, which is associated with the natural growth of the plant. But at home, yellowing and falling leaves are not caused by natural causes. In this article we will look at why leaves dieffenbachia turn yellow and how to deal with it.
How does the choice of lighting affect Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is very dependent on the quality of lighting, so this is the first thing you should pay attention to if you have problems with leaves. If dieffenbachia does not receive enough light, then the leaves turn yellow. This can happen if the plant is in the depths of the room where the light just does not reach it.
Also, residents of the lower floors of the window can be shaded by trees or go to the north side. If the reason is this, then it is worth thinking about moving the dieffenbachia: either put it closer to the window, if possible, or transfer to another room where the lighting is better.
Important! When choosing lighting there is another important point. Since dieffenbachia is a fairly large plant, most often it is located on the floor, in which case the plant receives side light from the windows.
In this case, the top begins to reach out to the light, and the plant can lean in the direction of the light source. To avoid this, it is necessary from time to time to turn the plant toward the less lit side of the plant, so it will develop more evenly and will have a neater appearance.
Signs of Irregular Dieffenbachia
The second most popular reason why leaves have turned yellow in Dieffenbachia is insufficient (excessive) watering. If dieffenbachia has no problems with lighting, but its leaves turn yellow, then reasons should be sought in the soil. With the need for watering this plant is quite difficult to make a mistake, especially for beginners. In case of underfilling, the roots of the plant will begin to dry out, and if they are watered excessively, they will rot, which can lead to their partial or complete loss. In this case, the very first action is the removal of dead roots.
Did you know? Sluggish leaves, experts advise to wipe with a moistened cloth moistened with fertilizer to feed the leaves. This will speed up their recovery.
Dieffenbachia transfusions are especially dangerous in the winter when the root system is at rest. To avoid such problems, watering should be carefully monitored. To do this, the usual wooden stick will fit, you need to stick it deep into the ground and immediately remove it. If the wet earth does not stick to the stick, the plant can be watered. Otherwise, it is still early to water dieffenbachia. Proper watering is important for a healthy and beautiful plant.
Mistakes when feeding dieffenbachia
Fertilizing plants is, of course, necessary, but if you overdo it with this matter, then the consequences cannot be avoided. This is another reason why leaves dieffenbachia dry. If you notice this after regular feeding, the plant urgently needs to be transplanted into a new soil mixture. In another way to save him from excess fertilizer will not work.
Important! Do not try to remove excess fertilizer with additional irrigation! This will lead to stagnation of water and, as a result, rotting of the roots.
Although dieffenbachia does not apply to capricious plants, for it is best to use a special soil. Please note that the store plants are planted in a special transport soil, which is bad for home use. Therefore, after the purchase, it is recommended to transplant the flower in a new qualitative soil.
Features of temperature and humidity for successful growth
Diffenbachia, among other things, is a heat-loving plant, therefore, if you notice that the tips of the leaves turn yellow, pay attention to the temperature regime. At low temperatures, dieffenbachia drops leaves that are pre-dried and yellowed.
In this case, everything is simple: you just need to rearrange the plant in a warmer place. Another enemy Dieffenbachia - dry air. In this case, the leaves also turn yellow and dry out. The best solution would be to install a humidifier, but if this option does not suit you, then it will be enough just to regularly spray the leaves and the air around the plant.
What happens if Dieffenbachia is placed in a draft
Dieffenbachia does not like drafts as well as a sudden change in temperature. In the case of a long stay in a draft leaves begin to turn yellow. Therefore, if the problem is not in temperature, pay attention to it. In order for the plant to recover, it is enough just to shield it from negative impact - move the Dieffenbachia to a place where there are no drafts.
Why dieffenbachia fade after transplant
Here Dieffenbachia can be damaged in two ways: burn the roots when kept in a solution of potassium permanganate and when transplanted into improper soil mixture. In the first case, the recommendations of experienced flower growers are often followed, and there is nothing wrong with this procedure. If you overwork a little the plant, then it will recover on its own, you just need to wait. In case of a negative reaction to the soil, it must be replaced. Preferred earth mixtures that are in any flower shop are best suited.
The natural process of dropping leaves Dieffenbachia
As already mentioned, leaves can fall off for dieffenbachia for natural reasons. It begins in the second year of the plant’s life, and nothing can be done about it. If, despite this, this situation does not suit you, then there are ways to return the plant to its former appearance.
The first way: too elongated old plants can be cut at a level of 8-10 cm above the ground. From the resulting hemp will soon begin to grow new shoots.
The second way: as in the first case, we cut off the top, but now we will root it. Put it in a container with water, very soon roots will form on it. Next, we plant the rooted top in a suitable soil and take care of it, like a normal plant.
Did you know? However, nothing prevents you from using the first and second methods at the same time, so you will receive two beautiful plants at once.
If you decide to leave the plant untouched, but want to preserve its decorative appearance as much as possible, then it is not recommended to completely remove the leaves from the plant. The fact is that it accelerates the aging of dieffenbachia and weakens it. Dead leaves just need to cut off with sharp scissors.
No matter how unpretentious the plant is, it needs care, especially for indoor plants. The reasons why leaves Dieffenbachia wither and turn yellow, not so much. Knowing them, you can protect your plant from these problems.
