Help! Dieffenbachia is rotting at base of leaves

I just got two dieffenbachia plants at an estate sale two weeks ago, both looking healthy. However, the other day I noticed a rot at the base of one of the leaves of one of the plants. I took that leaf off. The rot smelled quite a bit like skunk. Now, a couple of days later, I see the same rot at the base of another leaf. Both of these leaves are on the top of my plant, and were the healthiest looking leaves. I'm not sure what to do. Since the moisture is low in my house, I have been misting the plants to compensate for it. Should I not be misting the plants? The plants did get a drenching a couple of weeks ago, since I had them outside a couple of days in the rain until I could work out a place for them inside. Could this have caused what I'm seeing now? Please let me know if you know what this is and if you have any suggestions of how to treat it. Is there a way to save this plant without using poisonous chemicals? I don't use any toxic chemicals in my house.

Thanks,
Jessica

Here's a zoomed out picture of the plant.

J,

I am by NO means an expert on all this, but I have been around Houseplants a while.
Seems you have a Fungus of some sort. It might have come from all the water it got all of a sudden.
Seems there is also a long stem with no leaves--as this plant is, probably, quite old and was (perhaps) quite neglected.

What I would do is------------

Cut the plant stem down to about 8" and get rid of the whole top. This may stop how far the Fungus has gone. Gently shake off all the old soil from the roots (Or rinse it off) and repot the plant in fresh potting mix, filling all air pockets with soil. My favorite is MG potting mix. Keep the level of the top of the plant same as it was. Water it in, give the pot a couple of good "bumps" to settle the soil and then Baby it for a while. Don't water too much and no direct sun on it.

I think it, in time, will grow all new leaves from the stem. If it still shows signs of Fungus and seems sickly--just get rid of it. This is a common plant and you can pick up a new one for under $10.

Gita

I have two plants that grew so tall and leggy, that I had to cut the top off at the thickest stem area, let the stem dry out ,put it in a heavy jug in water until it rooted, then planted with support. It made the bottom stem area a little more sturdy to carry those beautiful large leaves. I also cut the left over stems (6" or more) let the stem dry out, and placed them in water. When they sprout side leaves I plant them deep in a pot and slowly add soil to cover the new stem (off the old stem) I now have about 4-5 5' plants out of each , from the first time I did this. I have done this several times over the years, and have different size plants all over the house.
My plants have done what you are talking about. The plant has beautiful new growth but the lower leaves get limp and nasty. I just figured the water I was giving it went to the new growth, which meant it was time to top out again.

I just wipe the leaves with a wet rag. I did spray liquid fert once, and lost a few leaves from the base where it ran down and sat. I treated one plant for mealy bugs by spraying baking soda water, and lost a few leaves then too.

If I don't let the stem dry out before placing it in water, it turns nasty and looks like the pic you posted along with the Terrible smell. Moisture may be the problem

Thats a beautiful plant.

Thanks for the advice. I didnt' take the advice at first because I have an internal aversion to chopping up my plants, but I probably should have because now there is a fungus growing on the bottom of the plant as well as the top leaves. Could I cut the middle of the stem off, let it callous on the ends, and then plant it? If the whole plant is not infected, will it grow more roots and leaves? I've read in some places that you have to let it dry out and callous on the ends before replanting part of the stem, and other sources say that you should replant or put in water right away. Does anyone have experience and success doing this with a tropic snow to recommend which method I should follow?

Thanks,
Jessica

Here is a few of the plants in different stages. The leafy one did not harden off (dry out) enough and the nice stinky stuff on the paper towel is the result. I am just going to slice it back to the next joint and let it harden off again. I lost a few leaves while it was drying out. The stem has new growth and a good root system.

There is a good root system on the one in the grey pot, and the large one is ready to plant again. I keep all of them in water before planting to get a good root system going. I did try to plant directly into the pot, but kept forgetting to keep the soil moist enough and lost a few.

I am not an expert at all. It was trial and error for a long time. These pictures are of plants that I have grown off the ten year old "Momma" plants here at home and the plant I sent to hubby's office . The office plant has been cut down twice because it hit the ceiling and once from stem rot (all of a sudden it got a bad soft spot,cut it above and below threw that out and started the process of hardening off) . It is hard to watch the top just sit there until the stem dries off and then waiting to get the root system up, but the outcome is worth it. The girls in the office each have a 2' plant on their desk from the cuttings.

Jessica,

Just a word of caution.....
The juices of the dieffenbachia can give you a nasty, poison-ivy like rash--if you are susceptible. Try not to get them on your forearms or anything else.

If you have some old socks--cut off the long tops and slip those over your arms when, and if, you start slicing and dicing in this plant....

Gita

Thanks for the advice, whozzat08. I started cutting the plant up this morning. Thanks Gitagal for the tip about the poison-ivy like rash, but unfortuneately I already found out about that the hard way. When I was cutting the bad parts out of the plant, I didn't use gloves, and now I have itchy bumps on my right palm. This morning I used gloves and old socks like you suggested.

How do you know when it's dried out enough to put in water? How do you know when the plant's root systems are developed enough to put in soil? How long does it usually take to dry out and then to develop a good root system in the water?

Blot the fresh cut stem with a paper towel and let the top rest flat with the stem on a fresh paper towel. Do the same for the stem cuttings. Keep the stems dry by blotting if they look damp. Keep edges dry as possible and they should start drying inward( the edges kind of curl up towards the middle of the stem) the inside of the stems turn greyish white and hardens.
The little leafy stem has a opaque look at the bottom. That is not good. I had to cut the short stem down and the piece is shown.(bottom part was mushy and opaque) I will cut the leafy one until it looks like the short stem.
I like the root system to look like the large plant on the right The small one on the left has new roots sprouting higher up on the stem so I will wait until they get a little more growth.

It will depend on the environment in your house. If the stem dries well, it should look like the one with the small new growth.

It does not take long if you keep them dry. Each day will show a difference. Once dry, place it in a clear vase or jar, with half the stem above water. When adding water to the vase, try not to get any on the stem end above the water. You can then watch for the root system.

Thanks for all the advice. Unfortuneately I think the plant had a fungus that had infected the whole plant. I cut the stem far away from any of the rot, and it had little black specks on all of the ends of the cuttings. I tried drying them out anyway, and even when keeping it dry, it grew a black mold on the ends. It's too bad I couldn't save the plant, but I have another one that came in a much better pot that is still doing well. Now I know what to do if the other one ever has problems.