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Article: The green thumb.
- Article from:
- Consumers' Research Magazine
- Article date:
- January 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Consumers' Research, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. My Dumb cane is starting to wilt and yellow on its bottom leaves. Is it a disease or a fungus? How do I get rid of it?
A. The Dumb cane or Dieffenbachia should not be allowed to go bone dry, as this causes its lower leaves to yellow and wilt. Touch the top layer of soil to test for moisture; if it's dry, apply water. Under poor drainage conditions, Dieffenbachias become stunted, yellowed, chlorotic, or necrotic. If drainage is a problem, repot the plant using a soil mixture of equal parts sand, peatmoss, and compost. Pull off any dead leaves, especially the bottom ones, and make sure pebbles are at the bottom of the pot. You can also use perlite in a soil ...