I am especially interested in those who plant them outside in their garden.
I conduct deer resistance studies and I hear that these should be especially repellent due their acrid taste. In humans chewing the plant swells up the throat rendering you speechless.
Thanks, ROX
Anyone grow Dieffenbachia outside?
I would seriously think that dieffenbachia would not be hardy there thru the winter. Or do you just mean for the summer?
In Hawaii, they sometimes refer to it as the "mother-in-law" plant because it will make her be quiet if she eats it!! lol
LOL!
I meant during the summer like we grow elephant ears.
ROX
I grew it in a 9a location - in ground in partial shade - and it bloomed. Moved away a year later so don't know how it fared thereafter.
Much too cold in 5b for in-ground planting, year round. But, I've container'd it outside all summer, with no ill effects. While we have trouble with deer at work, the Diffs weren't in a location that they frequent. It's something to consider, for next summer though. Maybe I'll put some strategically located Diffs, among some deer favorites, in beds, just to see what happens. It'd defintately be cheaper over the summer, than Liquid Fence. =) I can just treat it as an annual, and it just might work.
Sorry I couldn't be more help for your study, but thanks for the idea!
If you try it, let me know if it works for you!
ROX
We don't have deer down here...so I can't tell you how they would work....but we do grow them outside!!!
I grow them outside but then everything will grow outside here, although we do have Key Deer in the keys they don't make it down this far.
On this cold, snowy day with the deer eating whatever they can find....I don't know if I "resent" the comment "everything will grow outside" or the "we don't have deer down here".
Augh....! Only 145 more days until I can put the EE out again.....
PS In the spring I might be looking for some different types of diffenbachia to try in a deer study. OK?
ROX
Let me know they're easy to come by around here. ( but dont hold that against me) LOL
I have a Dieffenbachia growing happily in ground in an area of light shade that receives regular water; the plant, a reject from the ranks of depleted house plants, has been there since mid-spring, and as of last week, thanks to an as-yet mild winter, it was still attempting to put out a new leaf. So, if my zone 9 experience is any indicator, Dieffenbachia can do just fine outside during the summer.
Whether they'll deter a determined deer--well, that's another matter.
Rox
A friend of mine on another forum has been having a terrible time with deer eating her plants. Do you have any suggestions on how to stop them?
Jeri-
There are plants that the deer are less likely to eat. I think that the trick for me was to bite the bullet and get rid of the tasty treats; use spray (I spray any new plant that goes out for the 1st time. I used to alternate spraying deer off and liquid fence. For the last two years I haven't used anything.); give your neighbors hosta (the deer will visit them instead).
Five years ago I started converting to my present garden. I now grow about 400 varieties of perennials and bulbs. I have tested more than 900 varieties of plants. There are hundreds that made it through the whole growing season!
I have a list of some of the plants I have trialed. I can send it if they send me then email address.
Here is a partial list.
Early season:
daffodils; muscari; dwarf iris; aconite
pulmonaria; hellebores; forget-me-not
Mid season:
many hardy salvias, e.g. caradonna, "maynight' (the tender ones, e.g. guarantica, elegans tend to get severely nibbled); agastache; german, siberian and japanese iris; verbena 'Big Pink' (not homestead); persicaria; gallardia; Heliopsis helianthoides; baptisia; lychnis; euphobia; mentha; calamintha; alliums; hardy fuschia; papaver; california poppy; ferns; peony; lysimachia (some nibbled but not much); echinacea 'white swan' (all my others tend to be eaten); grasses (e.g. miscanthus, millet); artemesias
tricyrtis (may be nibbled);heuchera (most, but Palace Purple gets nibbled);
Late season:
caryopteris; crape myrtle; boltonia; russian sage; nicotiana (nibbled a little)
aconitum
Other:
elephant ears; curcuma ginger; low growing sedum (the tall ones get nibbled).
Rox
Thanks for that info. I'll let my friend know.
Jeri
Or you might try speading some Milorganite around your gardens. It is supposed to be a deer deterrent even though the "studies" are not yet complete on the issue.
But for flower gardens you might try it. Even if it doesn't work, your flowers will love it anyway!!!!
Molly