Dieffenbachia - reproduction at home

Dieffenbachia is an ornamental houseplant with large variegated leaves. They are located on thick, fleshy stems that resemble tree trunks. The most popular variety is spotted dieffenbachia, it will decorate any home or office and does not require much attention. There are several ways how dieffenbachia reproduces. Most often, they turn to the method using apical cuttings.

Propagation of dieffenbachia by cuttings

It is recommended to propagate the plant in the spring, after a dormant period and before the growth stage.

Dieffenbachia - a spectacular flower that will find a place in any room

Propagation by apical cuttings

How to propagate dieffenbachia with apical cuttings:

1. Prepare the tool. The knife must be sharp to carry out the procedure in one stroke. It is advisable to disinfect it.
2. Cut off the top of the plant an inch below the bud. When using stem cuttings far from the top, rooting will be delayed. The tissues become coarser, which will complicate the process.
3. Put the cuttings in a dry and dark place for a day.
4. Place the crown in a glass container of water or root it in the ground.
5. Protect the plant from direct sunlight. Wrap a jar or glass with dark paper or put in an opaque pot.

Propagation of dieffenbachia by seeds

Dieffenbachia rarely blooms at home, so getting seeds is problematic. You need to pollinate the plant and put a plastic bag on top. The seeds will appear in 4-6 months.

Dieffenbachia bloom is a rare occurrence at home

It is easier to purchase them in a specialty store and sow them in the spring:

1. Moisten the peat.
2. Place seeds in it, sprinkle with earth.
3. Create greenhouse conditions by stretching the film over the container. It is necessary to keep warm, keeping the temperature around 20-25 ° C.
4. Moisten by spraying with water.
5. When young Dieffenbachia have their first leaves, transplant them into separate pots.

Reproduction using air layers

Step-by-step instructions on how to propagate dieffenbachia at home with air layers:

1. Make two cuts on the trunk in a circle so that about 2 cm remains between them, remove the bark.
2. Put slightly moistened moss in an open place, wrapping it around the stem.
3. Make a small greenhouse by securing the film around the plant's trunk. The main thing is to make sure that there are no cracks, and that the polyethylene does not budge.
4. After the formation of the roots, remove the film, moss and cut the plant. This happens 1-2 months after the start of the procedure. The roots will become visible through the polyethylene, the cut must be made directly below them. After drying and treatment with activated carbon, the plant is planted in the ground.

Leaf propagation

To propagate dieffenbachia, strong and resilient leaves are chosen, located close to the roots. They are cut off with a sharp knife and left to dry. 4-5 hours is enough.To accelerate root formation, they are treated with a growth stimulating agent.

Reproduction by part of the root

When transplanting dieffenbachia, another method of reproduction is used - by dividing the roots. It allows you to get one or two new plants from a single flower.

How to plant dieffenbachia:

1. Remove the flower from the pot without destroying the clod of earth.
2. Rinse the roots with water, detangling gently so as not to damage. This allows you to spot diseases and remove damaged parts of the plant.
3. Divide the roots into 2-3 parts.
4. Leave in the air for a day to dry out.
5. Plant in prepared pots with soil.

Rooting process and planting

Usually the cuttings and leaves are rooted in water. This takes 2-3 weeks. In winter, the process is delayed, it will take about 1.5 months. The water needs to be changed every 7-10 days.

All growers root cuttings in water

How to root dieffenbachia in soil:

1. Prepare loose, breathable soil.
2. To deepen the stalk into the ground for 2 internodes, wait 2-3 weeks.
3. Create greenhouse conditions for the leaf, providing high humidity, covering the plants with a plastic bag.

How to plant dieffenbachia:

1. After the roots appear, you need to move the plant to the prepared soil. It is better to moisten and disinfect the soil in advance. Therefore, immediately after planting, dieffenbachia does not need to be watered.
2. Leave leaves and 1-2 internodes on the surface of the shoot. Deepen the sheet by 3-4 cm, level the ground, avoiding voids in the pot.

Follow-up care of seedlings

Seedlings require the same care as an adult plant, unpretentious when growing:

• diffused sunlight;
• abundant watering with water, which must be defended in advance. In the hot season, it is allowed to additionally spray the leaves;
• maintaining a temperature of 23-25 ​​° С in summer, in winter the plant is comfortable at 16-18 ° С;
• fertilizing twice a month.

Diseases and pests during reproduction

If the necessary conditions were not met during the transplant, problems may arise:

• when the pot is chosen incorrectly, there is a high risk of root rot or growth retardation, the plant stops developing. With each transplant, the flower needs a capacity 2-3 cm larger than the previous one;
• excessive moistening of the shoots leads to the appearance of gray rot. This is a fungal disease, due to which the plant withers, sheds its leaves;
• when propagated by part of the root, it may be damaged. When decaying areas are cut off, be sure to use a sharp, sterile instrument. The damaged areas are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or crushed activated carbon, which will prevent the spread of infection. It is also necessary to deal with any cut when propagating by cuttings, leaves;
• when the cuttings rot in the water, it means that an unfiltered liquid, a dirty tool, or they are on a brightly lit window. It is imperative to protect young plants from sunlight.

If the cuttings also rot in the ground, it may not only be due to infection and waterlogging. Perhaps cold water is used when watering, or the plant is in a draft. Too dense soil also leads to a similar problem.

Subject to the recommendations and proper care, a beautiful evergreen plant will appear on the windowsill.

Healthy young dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is popular among flower growers, and its reproduction at home is not difficult. There are several ways to grow a new flower. Everyone chooses the most suitable one. The easiest is reproduction by apical cuttings.Most experienced growers use the leaves, buy dieffenbachia seeds, or try to get them on their own. In any case, getting a new copy will not be difficult.