Beginner Gardening: Diffenbachia in dire straits! Now looks like bamboo!, 1 by LibraryPlantGuy

LibraryPlantGuy wrote:
Hello everyone! This is my first post to the forum; I am a media specialist from SC trying to spruce my library up with some growing, living, green things that my students desperately need more exposure to. I have many plants, but my Diffenbachia is not doing so well!

I bought it from Lowes as a tiny little 4" plant in a small plastic starter pot. I tended it for a few months and it really blew up with big, broad, striped leaves. I thought it needed a repotting and I didn't know about overpotting at the time, so I put it into a vessel that was way too big. Over the next few months the leaves turn an even yellow and I pinched them off as they did.

It shrank, shriveled, the leaves turned a bit brown, and the leaves curled. I had to strip off a few limp, slimy parts. I repotted it into a smaller pot and just sort of let it do its thing for awhile. It stayed stunted and a bit weak looking, but it did grow some new tender gren growth. Hoping to encourage this growth, I waited until it was quite dry and light feeling and I soaked it thoroughly. I'm waiting to see what happens. Right now the soil seems too moist so I poked some holes with a pencil and let it sit in the sunshine for a bit.

I really want to get this guy back to thriving. What do I need to do? Please give suggestions on light, water, etc. It is living in a rather dry, warm library right now but I can get it anywhere if it will help!

PS - I do know the numbing quality of the "Dumb Cane," but I keep it well out of reach of my students, who probably would not eat a salad if I paid them anyway!