Dieffenbachia cultivars

Family: Araceae | Origin: Tropical regions in America

If Josef Dieffenbach, the chief gardener of the botanical garden in Vienna in the 1830s, had known that his name would be fondly remembered in millions of homes around the world, he would surely have been happy. This because he participated in a research expedition to Brazil and brought back from there a tropical plant with colorful and impressive foliage, which was named after him – Dieffenbachia.

The oldest, best known and most common variety 'Tropical Snow' is a large and impressive plant with modest light requirements, fast growth and relative resistance to neglect.

Despite its origin from very humid areas, Dieffenbachia 'Tropical Snow' does well in normal air humidity and medium-low light as well as under a lot of light without direct sunlight and is almost insensitive to salt accumulation in the soil which often happens with house plants.

Such huge plants sometimes grow in houses for decades even in relatively small pots.

This cultivar grows tall and might even sometimes reach the ceiling, however it can easily be pruned low for renewal and each piece of stem roots quickly in water or directly in the soil and can be used to grow a new plant.

:Give Tropic Snow the following conditions and your success is guaranteed

Light: little light to a lot of light but without any strong direct sunlight.
Soil: Organic, well-aerated soil that drains easily.
Irrigation: regular but not excessive watering – it is better to water when the soil is slightly moist, but if you are not sure you can wait until the soil is almost completely dry.
Air humidity: normal. You should keep it away from heaters or air conditioners that dry the air.

Temperature: grow indoors. Outside only on the coastal plain or in Ein Gedi.

Over the years more varieties and hybrids of Dieffenbachia have been added, most of which are smaller and more sensitive than 'Tropic Snow' to water quality and dry air and prefer medium or high light, but are also successful houseplants and we recommend that you try them if you like the beautiful foliage.

It is important to know:

All Dieffenbachia plants can cause skin irritation in contact with sensitive individuals, and are slightly toxic when ingested to pets and humans, but the damage is usually not severe. If you have a dog that likes to eat the leaves of houseplants, you should consider whether to grow Dieffenbachia at your place – it is relatively easy to grow Dieffenbachia 'Tropical Snow' to a height and remove the low leaves, thus greatly reducing the chance that someone will chew it.

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