With good care and in a location where it feels comfortable, the Dieffenbachia can grow as large as a small shrub. When the new leaves reach the ceiling, it is time to prune. This gives the plant a reasonable size again and grows thickly.
How do I cut a Dieffenbachia correctly?
To properly cut a dieffenbachia, use a sharp, clean knife and trim the shoots just above a sleeping eye. For more severe pruning, cut the plant to a length of 10-20 cm and make sure to leave a sleeping eye on the shoot. Ideally cut in spring.
Please note:
Dieffenbachia is poisonous and can irritate the skin if touched. Plant sap splashing into the eyes is also not safe. It is therefore essential that you wear gloves and approach this care measure carefully.
Which tool is suitable?
A sharp knife with a clean blade is ideal. You can also make the cut with good cutting kitchen scissors or secateurs. However, the knife should be preferred, as cutting with scissors will crush the branches, which not all plants can cope with equally well.
Regular topiary
During the growing season you can always cut back the Dieffenbachia a little if necessary. With these smaller corrections, the shoots are shortened to just above a sleeping eye. You can recognize this by a slight bulging of the bark.
Strong pruning
If the plant grows too sideways or has to be shortened in height due to lack of space, a gentle topiary cut is no longer sufficient. In this case, you can shorten the Dieffenbachia completely to a length of ten to twenty centimeters. Please note:
- The knife must be very clean so that no bacteria enters the wound.
- Make sure that one sleeping eye remains on the shoot, because this is the only place where the Dieffenbachia will sprout again.
- Wound disinfection like with other plants is not necessary.
When can such a severe cut be made?
You should preferably carry out this care measure at the beginning of the main growing season in spring. During this time, the Dieffenbachia recovers very well and sprouts again strong and he althy.
Tip
You can use the cut shoots as offshoots to propagate the plant. In this way you can grow many small Dieffenbachias, which also make nice souvenirs for friends and acquaintances.