Chain of Hearts
Chain of hearts is a gorgeous trailing plant that’s perfect for hanging pots or baskets. The chains can reach 4m long & the heart shaped leaves are sweet.
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Dieffenbachia, which has the unfortunate common name of ‘dumb cane’ (due to its potential to cause speaking and breathing difficulties if ingested so please don’t eat!) has attractive large green and yellow patterned leaves and brings a lovely tropical feel when grown as an indoor plant or a lush look when grown in a warm, sheltered spot out in the garden.
How to grow dieffenbachia in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200mm wide. Outdoors, position the pot in a shady, windy protected spot or indoors in brightly lit room away from direct sunlight.
- Fill chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix.
- Plant into pot and water in well. Apply Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food every fortnight from spring to autumn to promote healthy plants with lush foliage growth.
- Keep potting mix consistently moist. Check moisture levels by inserting your finger into the top few centimetres of potting mix.
- You may need to re-pot your plant if it grows too top heavy.
How to grow dieffenbachia in a garden
- Choose a shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in some Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Dig a hole in the prepared area, place the plant in the bottom of the planting hole, gently backfill around the plant’s root ball with soil then water well.
- Reapply Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed around the root zone every 8 weeks from spring until mid autumn to promote good soil health and lush foliage growth.
- Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw and water in well. Do not over water them as they don’t like wet feet.
- If they grow too clumpy, they can easily be divided and re-planted somewhere else in the garden. Use a spade or knife to separate the clumps and re-plant following the instructions above.
Growing tips
To help the potting mix and root zone stay moist, potted dieffenbachia can be gently and briefly immersed into a tub of water every month.
Dust the leaves regularly by gently dusting them with a small brush or feather duster. Dust can clog up the pores of the leaves and make it difficult for the leaves to function.
Trim off any brown or dead foliage in winter.
Can be grown easily from cuttings.
Dieffenbachia is toxic if ingested. Keep plants out of reach from children & animals.
Bromeliad
For a feature plant in a shady or sheltered area in the garden or even for indoors, Bromeliads provide great foliage colour and form to the garden.
Air Plants
Air Plants literally live off the air & can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing decoratively on intriguing objects.
Aglaonema
Aglaonema are a diverse & colourful range of leafy plants. Their foliage can be striking mottled mixtures of red, pink, silver, green, yellow or cream.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food
Provides indoor plants with the balanced nutrition they need to produce stronger, healthier foliage and an abundance of vibrant flowers.
Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix
To give your precious plants the perfect start, we've created the ideal ready-to-use NZ indoor plant potting mix.
Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray
Unique organically certified pyrethrum and plant-based oil combination insecticide, with twin modes of action against garden pests.
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