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dieffenbachia-21874685

Dieffenbachia

I have a very mature large Dieffenbachia that has brown snakelike (roots?) growing from the stem. Do you know what these are and will I harm the plant if I cut them off.

Comments for Dieffenbachia

Mar 07, 2017
Cut them off!
by: Jacki

Those are aerial roots, which emerge from higher up on the stem, instead of where you would expect them – under the soil. These roots only emerge on stems that are thick enough and on aged plants.

This makes this plant really easy to propagate, as those will eventually form into a root ball if you use a method called air layering, where you wrap a piece of moss around the stem where there is a root coming out, and then tape some plastic wrap over it to hold the moisture in.

If you find them unsightly, or have no intention of ever rooting more plants, by all means cut them off. It won’t harm the plant although it may give it incentive to grow even more of them…

Nov 29, 2017
Diefenbachia
by: Marie

Diefenbachia

How do you save your wood floor from drippings off Diefenbachia plants?



Nov 29, 2017
Honeydew
by: Jacki

Marie, it’s possible that the dripping is caused by aphids, and if you take care of those, you won’t have the dripping of the honeydew (aphid poo). Insecticidal soap should do the trick.

Nov 30, 2017
floor damage
by: Marie

Thank you, Jacki, By drippings off the leaves —I meant the drops were clear like water, but hit the floor, and did a bit of damage on wood floor and railings. Thank you in advance……..Marie

Nov 30, 2017
Mat?
by: Jacki

Some kind of waterproof mat under it to catch the drips, maybe? This kind of plant, originating in jungle-like conditions, sometimes do this.