With its large, elliptically shaped and beautifully colored leaves, Dieffenbachia is one of the most attractive houseplants. At the same time, this arum plant is extremely robust. The plant is rarely affected by diseases, but these can usually be easily controlled.
What diseases are common in Dieffenbachia plants?
The most common dieffenbachia diseases are root rot, leaf spot and wet rot. To treat this, you can remove infected parts of the plant, replace the soil, use fungicides and separate the plant.
Water too much - then there is a risk of root rot
Dieffenbachia reacts quite sensitively to permanently wet feet. As the root ball becomes waterlogged, the lifelines begin to rot. The roots, destroyed by lack of oxygen and fungi, can no longer absorb water and the ornamental plant dries out, even though you have watered it regularly.
Remedy
- Unpot Dieffenbachia. An unpleasant, putrid smell from the roots is typical.
- These are no longer crisp and brightly colored, but squishy, soft and brownish.
- Remove all damaged root parts and the old substrate.
- Repot the plant in fresh soil.
- In the future, only water when the top centimeters of soil feel dry.
In contrast to more sensitive houseplants, the Dieffenbachia usually recovers quite well thanks to these measures and sprouts again after a while.
Leaf spot disease
You can recognize this fungal disease by the brown spots on the leaves with black edges. In this area the sheet feels paper-thin, sometimes the damaged tissue breaks right out when touched.
- Place the plant individually to prevent the disease from spreading.
- Treat Dieffenbachia with a suitable fungicide.
- Dispose of infected leaves that fall off with household waste.
Wet rot
You can recognize this bacterial plant disease by the fact that the lower areas of the trunk and the central, newly formed leaves become soft and vitrified. In the later stage, the bacteria also colonize the root system, which also begins to rot. Typically, Dieffenbachia gives off an unpleasant smell of putrefaction.
Unfortunately, there are no chemical treatments against bacterial diseases on plants. You can try cutting out all affected parts of the plant. Older Dieffenbachia sometimes recover, but young plants usually die. The same applies here: dispose of plant parts in household waste.
Tip
Plant diseases can usually be treated quite well in the early stages, so always take a close look at the Dieffenbachia when watering. Wear gloves during all care procedures, as the poisonous arum plant can cause unpleasant skin irritation if touched.