Why a Dieffenbachia Plant Gets Brown Leaves

Why a Dieffenbachia Gets Brown Leaves

Would you be able to tell me what this plant is? Also, as you can see some of the leaves are turning brown. What should I do to make this plant healthy again?

Hi Tamme,

Dieffenbachia Plant with brown edges.

Your plant is a type of Dieffenbachia which is an extremely poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. houseplant. I think your problem is being caused by too much plant food (never fertilize a Dieffenbachia houseplant in the winter) or using water that has too much fluoride or chlorine in it. Also, never use water that has passed through a water softener. It contains too much salt. All of these thing result in brown edges on a Dieffenbachia Plant. Here are some tips on how to care for your Dieffenbachia.

Light: Dieffenbachia Houseplants require medium to high light. Direct sun burns the leaves and too much bright light causes the vibrant leaf color to fade. When an indoor Dieffenbachia Plant does not get enough light, the new leaves are small and far apart on the stem.

Water: Water Dieffenbachia Houseplants well and then allow the top 2″-3″ of soil to dry out before watering again. These plants do best when watered on a regular schedule.

fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. : Fertilize only when the plant is actively producing new leaves. Most dieffenbachia should be fed every two weeks in the summer and once a month in the spring and fall. Never feed in the winter. Excess plant food causes browning around the edges of the leaves.

Temperature: Dieffenbachia Plants prefer temperatures above 60 degrees. The lower leaves on a Dieffenbachia turn yellow when exposed to cold drafts from doors, windows, or air conditioners.

Humidity: A Dieffenbachia Plant prefers high humidity but still does well in basic household humidity.

You can read more about Dieffenbachia Plants in the Popular HousePlant section of the website.

https://www.houseplant411.com/houseplant/dieffenbachia-how-to-grow-care-tips