What's happening to my dieffenbachia? Please help!

4 years ago

My landlord left me a dieffenbachia which was doing well for the last 5 months. It's been indoors in the same spot. All of a sudden, in the last week or so it deteriorated. There are brown edges and holes on the leaves and some of them have turned yellow suddenly. I'm also not sure what potting soil the landlord used but it seems very sandy and heavy - I feel it stays moist for a very long time. I have more or less been watering it the same i.e. around once every week or ten days, but I feel the soil is always 'heavy' i.e. not airy and light as with my other plants. At the same time, in the last week I've see 2 new leaves emerging, so I'm worried about repotting. Is that the only solution now? Or could it be something else entirely, considering it's been in the same soil for months and hasn't had a problem until just now.

I hope the pictures are helpful. I also see some weird orange and white substance on top of the soil suddenly. Not sure what it is - sorry, I'm new to this! Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
sand in a pot with no drain hole is a big problem ... [ isee no tray nor stains on the floor]

thats one reason the soil seems heavy ... it is heavy ...

all plants shed leaves.. annually.. its usually the lowest.. oldest leaf ... which this appear to be ... remove it ...

it probably needs to be repotted in dampened media.. and then you will have to learn how to water real media... water a plant when it needs it.. not on some random schedule ... until you take the time to learn the schedule of that pant in that pot.. in that spot ...

if you like the pretty pot.. find a plastic pot to put inside it .. but never let the pretty pot hold water ...

also the pot is stained with accumulated salts ... and you can tell the water isnt flowing thru the soil... because of the cracking .. and its bone dry ... i bet you couldnt even stick your finger in to check moisture.. if you wanted to ... scrub the pot out if you want to reuse it . pot in pot ..

ken
socks
4 years ago
I’ll second Ken’s words: repot with commercial indoor potting mix in a pot with holes in the bottom so the water drains through when you water. Otherwise, the plant is doomed.
Related Professionals
Roosevelt Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salem Landscape Contractors · Bellefontaine Neighbors Landscape Contractors · Milton Landscape Contractors · Crowley Landscape Contractors · Camas Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Aberdeen Landscape Contractors · Andover Landscape Contractors · Cudahy Landscape Contractors · Hurricane Landscape Contractors · Plantation Landscape Contractors · Westford Landscape Contractors · Chicago Ridge Landscape Contractors · Raytown Landscape Contractors · Boise Interior Designers & Decorators
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
just to clarify socks... its only doomed if you do nothing .. and i will add.. you have nothing to lose ...

otherwise .. its not in that bad a shape.. that it cant very easily survive and thrive ... with proper watering in new media ....

moisten the media before using it ...

ken
User
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you both for responding. Just to clarify I'm not completely new to houseplants - just new to dieffenbachias and I've never dealt with plants grown in sand. I've always had all my plants in pots with drainage holes and don't water them without checking they really need it. Your responses are very helpful thanks!

Before I repot, I was wondering if doing so would damage or stop the growth of the new leaves coming up, since it is growing season right now.