I would like to introduce a New Series on Indoor Plants
and hope to come up with 10 Best Indoor Plants for Beginners.And this is one of the most easiest to begin with.
It is fairly impossible to kill this plant. (If you do - I should congratulate you for it)Let me introduce this plant - Dieffenbachia also known as Dumb Cane Plant.
It got it's infamous name due to the fact this plant contains toxic that when consume, one can loose the ability to speak as this plant causes the inflammation & swelling throat and tongue.
Later, the name is more directed and classified as Dieffenbachia when more exotic hybrids were introduced into the market. Hence, the taboo & the fear is slowly diminishing.
One of the main characteristics are the visible splashing and marble like stains of white and cream pigmentation on the green foliage. It has a strong accent on the cylindrical cane, often arched rather than upright.
They do thrive very well in bright shade and handles well with over-watering.
I would dare say that this can behave well as a bog plant rather than any of the dry side plants.Less infrequent watering can cause yellowing and withered look on this plant.
Just like what I mentioned about the ZZ plant.
I would like to repeat the characteristics of how to handle the plant here. Like any ornamental plant - they need to be handled with care.
When expose to bright but shaded light, the colored pigmentation appears more dominant and strong. More showy than the green pigmentation.
The down side of too much expose to sun can cause burned marks on leaves.But you may not have to worry about it if this is placed indoors.
The leaves will appear more glossy and green.
And the crown more pronounced in a well defined spiral symmetry.
I had noticed that snails & slugs just love them and they can do extensive damage to the foliage. The more exotic and define the greater the damage.
Do use snail & slug bait often to deter them from consuming this plant.
My greatest challenge for this one is propagation.
Don't get me wrong - its actually easy to propagate them.It's the sap that causes the challenge.
When cutting or the leaf brushes on my arm or face
- I tend to experience light burning sensation on my skin.
Some plants are designed with beauty and it comes with an addition (the toxic)
The reason nature intend it that way so that animals don't go chewing on the leaves.
Do not place this plant near you (like at the dining table / work table)
Put it far where you can see and enjoy looking at the beauty but (see no touch) location.
Keep it far from children & pets or any chance of accidentally brushing or bruising the plant.
And wash your hands if you handle this plant when watering or touching it.
Dieffenbachia is a great show piece plant to have in a context of having a colored foliage plant.
The newer hybrids appear to be a mix Chinese Evergreen with well pronounced coloration.
These potted plants are currently sold in nurseries.
They are popular and still highly prized due to their demand as their variety is endless.I'm still amazed to find that a singular plant is sold at RM15-RM18 by means it not cheap for a fairly easy plant to propagate. I believe due to new cultivars been introduced for commercial need especially for landscape design works for shaded area - This plant thrive in these designated areas.
I believe these are the dwarf variety where the plant is compact and display vivid colors compared to the older version where the canes are more open & broad like an umbrella shape.
It is indeed an easy plant to care for and not easily killed. I would definitely recommend this one as one of the Best Indoor Plants to have.
