I had this Dieffenbachia for quite some time now standing nice and straight and tall. Now it is laying down on the job. I've never had this problem before. So is it too much or too little watering maybe it's just getting too tall it's about 4ft. I know I can cut it back but how far down and what do I do with the top? I'd love some info on this plant.
Let the soil dry out between waterings. If you do cut it, let the scar dry then replant the top, they root easily.
If the plant is simply laying over in the pot and is not partially uprooted, it's likely an issue of insufficient light. If you think that is not the problem, the next most likely issue is a lack of turgidity that accompanies a drought response, which is usually precipitated by a lvel of soluble salts in the soil that is too high, under-watering, or over-watering.
It's probably not a good idea to cut it back now. Serious work like stem chops & major root work (as in a full repot [as opposed to potting up] and root pruning) are best undertaken in the month before the most robust growth period, so late Jun or Jul would be best for a major overhaul, which the plant probably needs.
Pinching out the apical meristem (growing tip of the stem) will force the plant to back-bud lower on the stem. Then, you can choose which new bud/stem you want as the leader (if you want a standard) and cut the trunk off immediately above that new stem ...... or leave them all for a bushier plant. WHEN you perform the operations of pinching out the apical meristem or cutting back the trunk has much to do with how the plant will respond. If you do it now, while the plant is stressed, it's likely that only one or two buds will eventually appear, but if you do it in the summer when the plant has good energy reserves, the response will be more immediate and the number of buds more prolific.
Other than light, more than any other cultural consideration, your choice of soil is probably most important in reducing your effort expenditures and frustration, while helping to make your o/a growing experience a rewarding one.
If you want to explore the specific problem further, we can talk a little to see if we can figure out what brought the plant to this point. If not, I wish you the best of luck in getting things straightened out.
Al
Thank you both, We have been traveling the last few months, A couple of weeks in Oct and a week in Nov. Many of my plants took a hit from under watering, while we were away. Not that I didn't have someone taking care of them and the pets as well. But the diff didn't look bad and only started drooping in the last few weeks shortly after the last trip. I have plenty of light although I did have it pushed back into a corner so light could be an issue, too.
If it was light-related, it would be something that developed over a much longer period than just a couple of weeks and would be from something closer to a chronic condition. What about high levels of soluble salts in the soil or over-watering? When you water, do you flush the soil thoroughly so a good portion of the water applied exits the drain hole (and then, do you immediately discard that water?), or do you apply just enough water to dampen the soil? How often do you fertilize? with what? (NPK) at what strength?
Al
Yes, I do flush the plants pretty good. I must confess that I don't fertilize often. Mostly with something like miracle grow or timed release osmocote. The diff has been moved upstairs for the holidays. I'm thinking that the irregular care that it received in the last months might be the issue. I gave it a very good soaking before moving it upstairs for the holidays.
It looks like a Tropic Snow - I had one even bigger and when I moved it, the stem bent like yours. I cut it at the base, trimmed the stem a bit and after rooting it in water, repotted it - I also cut off 5 of the 13 large leaves. I left the root in the original pot and it has since grown two new stems, while the repotted "cutting" is back to 14 leaves with another one coming! I think mine was just top heavy, but this treatment may work for your plant as well. Here's a pic of the "big cutting" - wish I could post one of the original stem with its two new stems, but I don't seem to be able to. Good luck!
Eileen
Glad I noticed this thread. I was just about to ask a question and it appears that Al has already answered it.
Eileen, I have that same Diff, and the Scheff, and a friend gave me the indoor gardening tool set in the nifty little pouch that is sitting on the table to the left. lol
Sorry it took me so long to get back to the discussion.
emw, your Diff is really pretty and looks like you have a really nice growing area there. I too have a Scheff and noticed that nifty bag you have there. I have been slowly moving plants back down into the living room. Most of my plants along with the Diff were moved upstairs for the holidays. I hadn't laid a hand on the Diff since it has been up there. There were several plants sitting in front of it and I would just lean over with the watering can and give it a good drink. It was kind of lounging against a stool I have up there. This morning as I was up there choosing another plant to bring down I grabbed the Diff by the stem to pull it out and get a good look at it. I had been thinking what am I going to do with this. Much to my surprise the stem was no longer soft and floppy but solid and hard just like it had been. Of course since I hadn't staked it up it is now no longer straight and tall but curved in the same lounging position. I will probably be bringing it back down soon and I'm thinking maybe I will be able to slowly get it to a more upright form. If not I may be trying the "big cutting" method. I will post a pic when I can it's a bit hard to get good pictures on plants in that room. Holly
Holly, I just had to add to this thread...my other dieff, a smaller plant, flopped over just like yours!! It has four stems surrounding a tall, central stem which completely died on me practically overnight. I didn't know what else to do, so even though the soil seemed not overly dry, I ran it under the tap, filling and refilling the pot several times until it was totally saturated. The next morning the central stem was almost back to normal, though the other four are not as straight up as the main one. Wish I had a before and after pic but the digital camera just broke last week. Just wanted to let you know!! Hope yours is doing better these days...take care.
Eileen
emw, Thanks for posting I still haven't moved it back downstairs with the other plants It bloomed a couple of weeks ago I sure wish I would have straighten it out when I had a chance. If I had taken the time to support it when it was floppy it would have probably hardened back up nice and straight.
