Dieffenbachia is the plant sold as dumb cane. Those names belong here. NCSU folds older labels (D. amoena, D. maculata, D. picta) into Dieffenbachia seguine. Clemson still writes Diffenbachia maculata. UF/IFAS also lists leopard lily and mother-in-law plant. That last name is not snake plant.

Clemson HGIC: cane cuttings, stem tip cuttings, or air layering in spring or early summer. Iowa, UNL, Penn State, and Missouri name the same three. Division is split: UNL, IFAS EP137, and NCSU Toolbox list it. Missouri G6560 does not. IFAS: seed is for breeding, not a home method.

UF/IFAS EP137, Clemson, and NCSU: all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals. IFAS: gloves when you handle the plant. This guide is not a toxicity sheet. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) is a different plant.

For mix, see soil propagation. Air layering has its own page: air layering.

Stem tip cuttings

Iowa State: 3 to 6 inches, at least two nodes. Hormone if desired. Most houseplant stem cuttings root in 3 to 6 weeks. Air 65 to 75 °F. Heat mat under the mix at 75 to 80 °F. 4 to 6 hours of bright indirect light.

Penn State: tips 3 to 6 inches, at least two nodes. Hormone speeds roots. Too much slows them. Media 75 to 80 °F.

UNL G1853: tips generally 3 to 5 inches. Room 60 to 70 °F. Push about 1 inch into the medium.

Missouri G6560: most cuttings 4 to 6 inches. Dieffenbachia is marked subject to rot. Do not overwater.

Those lengths, room temperatures, and weeks are not one number.

Cane cuttings

Iowa State: 2- to 3-inch segments, at least two nodes. Hormone if desired. Lay horizontally. New roots and shoots in 8 to 10 weeks. Air 65 to 75 °F. Media 75 to 80 °F.

UNL: 2 to 3 inches, on their sides, slightly below the surface.

NCSU Extension Gardener Handbook: 2 to 3 inches, one or two nodes. Lay horizontally, or insert vertically with about half below the surface and a bud facing up.

Missouri: 1- to 2-inch sections, horizontal, covered slightly.

Penn State: 2 to 3 inches, at least two nodes. Stick vertically with at least one node buried, or lay horizontally with half the stem in the mix.

UF/IFAS EP137 (tip or cane, not split): roots in 3 to 8 weeks if media stay at least 75 °F.

Missouri gives 1 to 2 inches for cane sections, and Iowa, UNL, NCSU, and Penn State give 2 to 3. Iowa gives 8 to 10 weeks and IFAS 3 to 8.

Air layering

Dieffenbachia is a monocot. The usual wound is an upward slant, not croton's bark ring.

Iowa State dumbcane FAQ: 12 to 18 inches from the shoot tip. A second cut about 1 inch below the first. Dust with rooting hormone. Roots in 6 to 8 weeks. After you take the layer, cut the parent 2 to 3 inches above the soil.

Iowa State's general page: same 12 to 18 inches, an upward slant about 1/3 of the stem's diameter, a toothpick in the cut. Roots in several weeks, or several months on some species.

Missouri Botanical Garden FAQ: an upward slant about one-third through, about one foot from the top. Hormone. 4 to 16 weeks.

Illinois: cut only 1/3 to 1/2 way through. After 3 to 4 months.

TAMU: a long upward cut 1 1/2 to 2 inches, almost to the center. Hormone may be used.

UNL: a cut 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, about one-quarter to one-half way through. Hormone if available. Several weeks.

NCSU handbook: about one-third through, about 1 foot from the tip.

Clemson: spring or early summer. To shorten a leggy plant they also cut stems back to about 6 inches.

Iowa's 6 to 8 weeks, MOBOT's 4 to 16 weeks, and Illinois's 3 to 4 months are not one number.

Common mistakes

  • Expecting one cane length or rooting time. Iowa gives 2 to 3 inches and 8 to 10 weeks, Missouri 1 to 2 inches, and IFAS 3 to 8 weeks.
  • A separate guide for dumb cane.
  • Confusing this plant with Chinese evergreen or snake plant.
  • The dicot bark-ring air layer. That is the croton method.
  • Skipping gloves. IFAS: sap can irritate skin.

Dieffenbachia and dumb cane belong here.

People also ask

Water or mix?

Iowa and Penn State allow water as a general houseplant medium. Illinois does not recommend it. No dieffenbachia-only water recipe with a week count. The how-tos above are mix.

Can I divide it?

UNL, IFAS EP137, and NCSU Toolbox list division. Missouri G6560 does not check it. Not a numbered home recipe here.

How long until roots?

Stem tips: Iowa 3 to 6 weeks. Canes: Iowa 8 to 10 weeks. IFAS 3 to 8 weeks for tip or cane at 75 °F media. Air layer: Iowa FAQ 6 to 8 weeks. MOBOT 4 to 16 weeks. Illinois 3 to 4 months. Not one number.

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