7 Reasons & Fix: Dieffenbachia Leaves Turning Yellow

Dieffenbachia aka dumb cane or leopard lily is a big-foliage ornamental plant. This belongs to the tropical flowering genus from the Araceae family. It demands attention with its large, show-stopping leaves that proudly display intricate patterns and mesmerizing variegation.

• Curling Leaves: Too much sun or cold drafts or spider mites and pests could be the major reasons for curling leaves
• Yellow leaves in Dieffenbachia can be caused by overwatering, which leads to root rot and nutrient deficiencies. On the other hand, underwatering and dry soil conditions can also result in yellowing leaves.

Now let’s get into details – Reasons, how to fix and prevent further damage.

It can grow up to 3 to 6 feet tall only and thus, cultivates easily as a houseplant. Leaves of this plant grow in an elliptical wide leaf shape with an outstanding ivory color variegation over the green surface.

This unique appearance of foliage gets interrupted when they turn yellow somehow. Any kind of negligence in their caring process often leads to this yellowing leaves issue in this Dieffenbachia plant.

What Causes Yellow Leaves in Dieffenbachia:

Even though the dumb cane is one of the easy-to-care houseplants, it reacts to some improper caring regimens rapidly.

Any kind of inattention to their caring routine or improper growing methods can initiate some unwanted troubleshooting issues in your growing Dieffenbachia plant. Most commonly some distinctive causes always work behind this issue of yellow leaves of a dumb cane plant.

Here we refer to the commonest ones among them-

1. Improper Moistening:

This problem occurs, when-

• You are overwatering your dumb cane plant regularly
• When you use pot or soil with poor drainage quality
• If you keep your plant dehydrated for long
• When the soil stays soggy or water-logged consistently

2. Under Watering

Insufficient watering and allowing the soil to dry out excessively can cause stress to the plant, leading to yellowing leaves.

2. Unsuitable Weather:

This issue finds, that when-

• Extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold, can cause leaf yellowing
• You keep the plant in a cold temperature lower than 60°
• If your Dieffenbachia plant couldn’t get a warm growing temperature steadily
• When your plant is getting an open draft, especially during winters
• And if you keep the planter in a spot that is warmer with more than 85-90° F

3. Too Much/Too Less Sunlight:

This problem can appear, when-

• You place your plant under the total sun exposure for every season
• When you don’t provide any shade to filter the direct sunlight ever
• If you don’t save your plant from the scorching afternoon sun
• And when you keep your Dieffenbachia plant in a completely shady place for long
• Insufficient light or sudden changes in lighting conditions can contribute to leaf yellowing

4. Lack of Nutrients:

This issue may hit you, due to-

• Lack of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, iron, or magnesium, can manifest as yellowing leaves.
• Not enough fertilizing: You don’t fertilize your plant accordingly, like 3-4 times a year
• If you keep your plant unfertilized for long
• When you use a fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen content
• And when you use fertilizer in dry or undiluted from consistently

5. Disease Infestation:

This kind of problem occurs, when-

• Fungal infections or diseases, such as leaf spot diseases or powdery mildew, can lead to yellow patches or discoloration on the leaves.
• You invite fungal infestation in the soil by keeping it soggy for long
• If you use unsterilized or uncleaned garden tools for the plantation
• When you bring an already infected plant from the nursery and let it contaminate
• If you keep the plant untreated and don’t try to cure that bacterial or fungal issue

6. Pests Invasion:

This common problem initiates, when-

• Certain pests, like spider mites or mealybugs, can feed on the plant’s sap, causing leaf damage
• When the common pests and bugs start habiting in your Dieffenbachia
• If you bring a pest or bug-infested plant to your house unknowingly
• If you don’t apply the possible remedy instantly, after detecting them on your plant

7. Aging:

And finally, this also happens when-

• Your plant reaches a certain old age
• If it hits the exact period when leaves start shedding
• When your plant needs to spur new growth of foliage
• And when it arrives at the stage where the leaves of a dumb cane plant need to fall off entirely for the new beginning.

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How to Fix Yellow Leaves in Dieffenbachia:

To fix this troubleshooting issue and prevent the yellowing leaves the problem in your Dieffenbachia permanently, try these hacks immediately-

1. Water Precisely:

• Water your dumb cane plant once every 7-10 days
• Let the top surface of the soil dry between watering
• Always water your Dieffenbachia plant with 2-inch deep watering

2. Amend Climate Fluctuation:

• Maintain a consistent temperature of the room, you put your dumb cane plant
• Never let the temperature drop below 59-55° F ever
• Use an artificial humidifier to keep the humidity level always high

3. Look Out Light Requirements:

• Provide your Dieffenbachia plant with bright but indirect light
• Place the plant in a spot under the sun with partial shade
• Keep your planter away from the open windows during summer noon

4. Provide Nitrogen Booster:

• Feed your plant every 4-6 weeks, especially during the growing season
• Pick a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen content
• Always use the diluted form of commercial fertilizer to feed your plant accurately

5. Save From Open Drafts:

• Keep your plant away from an open window during windy winter days
• Do not place your Dieffenbachia plant on windowsills during cold seasons
• Try to put the planter in a non-drafty spot of the house at night

6. Treat Pests and Diseases:

• Give your plant a good rinse with homemade pesticide liquids
• Wash your plant once every few whiles with the plain flesh of water
• Wipe them off
• Offer your dumb cane plant plenty of light during day time to keep pests away naturally

7. Prune Infected Leaves:

• Cut off yellow leaves immediately, once to find any on your Dieffenbachia plant
• Keep the leaves of your dumb cane plant well-pruned all the time
• Let the new foliage have enough space to thrive well

Video on Dumb Cane/ Dieffenbachia Plant Complete Care – Planterina

How to Avoid Yellow Leaves in Dieffenbachia Plant:

To keep the possibility of yellow leaves in a growing Dieffenbachia plant at bay, always maintain your plant smartly. Here are some quick tips for this attempt-

1. Use a pot with the proper size to avoid root bound
2. Take potting mix that can drain well to avoid the possibility of soggy soil
3. Make the soil fertile enough during the plantation of a Dieffenbachia plant
4. Keep the watering schedule suitable for the growing dumb cane plant
5. Never overwater your plant or keep it underwatered for long
6. Feed your plant at least once a month to avoid a lack of nutrients
7. Provide your plant with 6-7 hours of bright but indirect sunlight every day
8. Keep your plant in an adequately warm and high-humid room
9. Do not forget to place the planter away from drafty windows, during nights
10. Keep your plant well-pruned and well-shaped all the time to maintain an organized look
11. Always pick the healthiest piece of a new dumb cane plant, while picking from a nursery
12. Look for the pests and bugs infestation close in every other day, so then, you can get rid of them quickly without getting severe damage like yellowing leaves.

About Dieffenbachia

Known for its impeccable fashion sense (it’s always dressed in vibrant shades of green), the Dieffenbachia effortlessly adds a touch of elegance to any living space. But don’t let its good looks fool you! This charismatic houseplant has a reputation for being a bit dramatic.

It’s like having a miniature jungle in your living room, but without the monkeys swinging from the vines (though that would be quite a sight!).

Not only does Dieffenbachia possess unparalleled beauty, but it also has a unique talent for purifying the air. It’s like having your very own green superhero fighting against indoor pollutants. Talk about a multi-talented plant!

Name Reason: Dumb Cane Don’t worry, it’s not because it lacks intelligence (far from it!), but rather due to the temporary speech loss caused by its toxic sap if ingested. So, keep those leaves away from curious pets and tiny humans who might mistake them for a fancy snack!

All in all, the Dieffenbachia is a striking houseplant that adds style, charm, and a touch of whimsy to any home or office. So, if you’re looking to bring a bit of botanical glamour into your life, look no further than the fabulous Dieffenbachia

Infographic Long Image: Dieffenbachia Plant Care

FAQ:

Can Yellow Leaves of a Dieffenbachia Plant Turn Green Again?

Unfortunately, a yellow leaf on a dumb cane plant could not turn yellow again, no matter how hard you try. Simply cut them off with a disinfected trimmer immediately, once you find any half or full-yellow leaf on your plant. However, you need to apply the curing methods to save the remaining leaves green at least.