It's been struggling and I can't get a handle on what is wrong. I know it's super old and seems to be way too tall or long for it's own good.
it's a dieffenbachia. you can top it off and plant it in the same pot or a different pot. you can also cut the remaining stalk into numerous pieces (leave at least four rings on each piece) and plant them as well to make new plants. the original stalk will start producing new leaves, so you'll still have the orginal plant. you could also air-layer to get the roots going before cutting the stalk. use rooting hormone on the cut ends to promote new growth. the sap is poisonous, so either wear plastic gloves and just throw them out or wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face, eyes, mouth. they like well draining soil and should be watered thoroughly and then left to dry out a bit before rewatering. light should be bright and indirect (off to the side of a window or across the room) and they should be kept in a spot where the temperature doesn't go below 60.
Joclyn, I just wanted to compliment you on the accuracy of your information! Right on. One comment about your caution. I just had a lengthy discussion with aroid expert Leland Miyano in Hawaii about the very "poison" you mentioned. The compound is actually calcium oxalate crystals and many plants have it, including spinach. But some plants that possess the compound also possess compounds known as raphides and/or idoblasts. It is these compounds that make the plant potentially dangerous to the touch or taste. Calcium oxalate crystals alone are not the poison (despite warnings all over the internet), it is the combination of compounds that makes plants such as Dieffenbachia a bit tricky. This is one of Leland's notes where we were discussing Colocasia esculenta which is an aroid often eaten. Colocasia is the plant commonly known as the "Elephant Ear". In Hawaii is it known as Kalo: "Kalo has two types of calcium oxalate crystals, or idioblasts,....needle-like raphides, and club-like druses. It is believed that the raphides cause the mucous membrane irritations and skin dermatitis. I can speak from personal experience that eating raw kalo, leaves or corms, is not recommended. It is as if one ate fiberglass( yes, I have done that in my surf-board and canoe-building days). Another warning is Agave species have these raphides and I can attest to the extreme skin dermatitis from the sap of these...it manifests in intense itching and burning...it is a torture, that can last for many days in some people. In short, although spinach has calcium oxalate crystals, there is no comparison between them. I eat raw spinach often...but raw kalo, never." Dieffenbachia can cause loss of the use of the vocal chords if ingested and in at least two cases has caused death. However, it is grown as a house plant all over the world so no need to be overly concerned. Just don't put it in your mouth! Some 35 years ago I worked in a bank which had a very large Dieffenbachia close to 15 feet tall. Almost all the leaves had fallen off and it looked very much like the one in these photos. After some reading, we air layered it to cause new roots to grow in a bag of sphagnum moss attached to the side. Once the roots adequately grew into the moss we cut the plant and planted the top. The long cane was cut into sections and many employees took a piece home. Today, that plant is still alive in the lobby of that bank! Good advice!
*blushing* wow! thanks for the compliment, steve!!! AND thanks for the full explanation of the poisonous nature of the sap! much, much better than what i said :)
I've been searching for the underlying cause of the calcium oxalate crystal problem for a long time. Today just happened to be the day when we both learned something new! I have been aware for over a year that calcium oxalate alone was not the problem, I just didn't know what the other factors might be. Not a good idea to go around chewing on your aroids unless you understand what is going on! But the truth is, it isn't as "deadly" as all the websites on the net would have us all believe. You did great with your response.
Thanks so much for the information! I was waiting to bring it home to care for as it's in my office right now but I have pets so I am glad I waited until I got more information on it. Thanks again!
