27 Fascinating Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ Care Tips Indoor Growers Must Know
Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ is a popular plant that’s easy to care for. In this article, we’re going through top tips for raising Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ so you may confidently grow this laid-back plant.
If you want to buy one of these beautiful indoor plants, we have a few reasonable options for you to explore. Continue reading to learn more about this Dieffenbachia’s exciting attributes.
What Is Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’?
The Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ (Common Name: Dumbcane) is a tropical plant grown indoors for its easy-going nature and cream-colored leaves with thin, green stripes on the edges. This classic plant is considered a herbaceous perennial with a straight stem that thrives in humidity. It grows well in any room – either with high or low light – as long as it’s out of reach of children or pets.
Among the different Dieffenbachia options, the ‘Camille’ is considered a larger variety.
Origin And Family
This Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ and other dieffenbachia plants belong to the Araceae family and are part of the Dieffenbachia genus. These tropical houseplants are native to the Caribbean and parts of South America’s tropical forests. A laid-back indoor plant, the Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ has become a favorite for many indoor growers.
They are prized for their leaves, and flowering is pretty uncommon when grown indoors.
Where To Buy
Are you looking to buy a Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’? You can likely find it at a local nursery or home improvement store. Another option is to purchase this houseplant from Icarus Plants, which sends live plants directly to your door.
The pricing of Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ ranges from $10.99 to $25.
Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ Plant Size
The houseplant Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ can grow up to two feet in height within a single year, growing up to six feet tall and up to two to three feet in width. When placed in any room – either with high or low light, you can expect to enjoy it for years to come.
How Do You Care For Dieffenbachia ‘Camille”
Your Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille,’ like any other houseplant, will thrive if adequately cared for. The Dumb Cane ‘Camille,’ with green, yellow, and marble white leaves, prefers slightly moist soil.
It would be best if you watered your Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’ when the top 1-2″ of soil is dry. Water thoroughly, allowing excess water to drip from the pot’s drain holes. Similarly, in terms of lighting, this lovely plant needs a filtered light situation to grow well.
Here are some guidelines below for more information.
Care Difficulty
The Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ is easy to care for typically. The humidity and well-draining soil criteria are the most important considerations for this houseplant.
How Big Does Dieffenbachia Camille Get?
The Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ plant can grow up to six feet in height and two to three feet in width. Spring marks the start of the growing season, and the Dumb Cane usually continues growing into fall – or longer indoors and near a grow light.
Dieffenbachia species grow in stages ranging from fast, including the maculata ‘Camille.’
Potting
Most potting options will work for this easy-to-grow plant. You can usually utilize a medium pot that’s no more than 1/3 wider than the plant root ball. That said, make sure it has a drainage hole to expel excess water.
Dieffenbachia doesn’t enjoy sitting in water – most plants don’t. Left unchecked, it is at risk of suffering from root rot. Read the section below on the dangers of root rot.
Repotting
To keep your Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ healthy, you should transplant it to a new pot once it has reached a particular size. You typically know it’s time to repot when you start to notice that the plant is becoming root or pot-bound.
This happens, on average, every 12-18 months.
It is also crucial to repot your plant if you believe it is infected with root rot because it could damage or kill the Dumb Cane ‘Camille.’
Soil
An indoor plant growing mix is ideal for Dumb Cane ‘Camille.’ In a perfect state, this plant wants soil with anything that drains well but retains some water. That said, it’s not incredibly picky, so most purchased soils will work fine.
Here are some potting mix options we recommend.
pH For Dumb Cane ‘Camille’
You’ll want a slightly acidic pH for your dumb plant somewhere between 6.1-6.5.
If you’re having trouble with your Camille plant, troubleshooting water, light, and soil types would be my first recommendations. If that doesn’t work, conduct a pH test to check on the acidity levels.
How Often Should You Water Dieffenbachia Camille?
In general, Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ should have a growing medium that is lightly moist. There is a simple way to determine whether or not your Dumb Cane plant needs to be watered. Insert your finger in the pot and, when the top 1-2″ of soil is dry, it’s time to water your plant.
As previously stated, drainage holes and suitable soil are essential for Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille.’ You don’t want it to sit in water for an extended amount of time.
Light
This easy-to-care-for houseplant prefers bright indirect light to low light for 4-8 hours a day. You may notice drooping leaves or burnt leaves if exposed to too much bright light or too much sun. If there isn’t enough light, the new leaves will look small and potentially far from the stem.
Remember, you’re trying to give Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ a home that’s similar to its natural climate. Since maculata ‘Camille’ comes from the tropical forests of the Caribbean and parts of South America, it’s most comfortable away from direct sunlight and in high humidity.
If you’re concerned that your Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ isn’t getting enough light, you could move it to another window – like an east or west-facing window – or you could use artificial lighting options.
Fertilizing Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’
Fertilize your Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ once a month using an essential general-purpose houseplant fertilizer or liquid fertilizer from spring to fall.
When plant development naturally slows, you shouldn’t have to fertilize this plant in the winter months.
Propagating Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’
A Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ should be propagated by a method known as division, where you separate the new plant from the plant parent.
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Begin by thoroughly disinfecting your hands and getting a clean knife. Remove the plant from its container. You should be able to see where the plant’s natural divisions are for this dumb plant.
Pull the two Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ apart gently with your fingers. You may need to use your shears to cut the roots between the two plants.
Put both plants in size-appropriate pots.
Propagation is most effective between the spring months – or when you repot. I usually advise just propagating from a mother plant once a year. While the two plants are recovering, I recommend high temperatures and high humidity.
Humidity
The Dieffenbachia Camille plant is an herbaceous perennial with a straight stem that prefers high humidity – often between 60-80%.
If you’re looking for ways to increase humidity around your plant, here are some options.:
- Group your houseplants to create a more humid microclimate through transpiration.
- Use a humidifier
- Place the plant on a tray with pebbles and an inch of water. This is a common humidity trick that was made famous in the bonsai tree-growing community.
Temperature
Generally, temperate-to-warm temperatures are best for your Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ plant, thriving in a range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
That said, they do well in slightly colder temperatures too, so it’s not a requirement to stay strictly in this zone.
While the range can vary a bit, consistency is a good idea. Most tropical plants don’t want to be near a vent or too close to a window.
The bigger consideration for this plant is consistency. Sudden temperature changes can seriously damage the Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille.’ Keep it away from vents, cold drafts, and openings that may allow chilly air in.
Flowers
The Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ can produce insignificant spathe and spadix flowers, yellow flowers occasionally throughout the year – but flowering is pretty uncommon when grown indoors.
Toxicity
Dieffenbachia plants are considered toxic to people and pets due to their leaves’ insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. While Dieffenbachia is rarely fatal, it can create swollen airways in pets and humans, making breathing difficult. Avoid the plant sap, as it irritates the skin and damages the cornea if it comes into contact with the eyes.
This plant is called the Dumb Cane because, if ingested, it temporarily causes the inability to speak.
It’s always advisable to keep these plants away from pets or small children.
| Care Type | Care Specifics |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Dieffenbachia maculata 'Camille' |
| Common Name | Dumb Cane 'Camille', [COMMONNAME3] |
| Plant Family | Araceae |
| Origin | the Carribean and parts of South America |
| Plant Type | herbaceous perennial with a straight stem |
| Leaf Shape | oblong |
| Leaf Color | ivory-yellow leaves surrounded by dark green edges |
| Recommended Home Placement | in any room - either with high or low light - as long as it's out of reach of children or pets |
| Growth Rate | fast |
| Light | bright indirect light to low light |
| Soil | indoor plant growing mix |
| When To Water | Water when the top 1-2" of soil is dry. |
| When To Fertilize | once every other month during growing season |
| Preferred pH | 6.1-6.5 |
| Humidity Range | 60-80% |
| Toxic To Pets? | Yes - symptoms include pain and swelling in the mout, leading to drooling, loss of speach, and painful swallowing - due to insoluble oxalate crystals and acid |
| Common Pests & Diseases | Spider mites, fungus gnats, white flies, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, brown leaf tips, powdery mildew, downy mildew, yellow leaves, root rot, dropping leaves |
Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems
Overall, I would say the Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ is not a disease and pest-resistant plant. The Dumb Cane ‘Camille,’ like all plants, is prone to a few conditions, pests, and other problems. Here are some tips for curing common ailments and suggestions for keeping this laid-back plant healthy and thriving.
Root Rot And Stem Rot
Root rot and stem rot are significant threats to a dieffenbachia houseplant. Indoor gardeners overwater or don’t provide proper drainage for potting soil. You may notice that the plant has soft or brown, rotten roots, which is a classic symptom of root rot. Since root rot is difficult to treat, prevention is the best approach.
To prevent root rot in Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ is to monitor water intake closely. Start by giving your plant at least a week or two between waterings.
Burnt Leaves Or Brown Leaf Tips
If the tops of your Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ turn brown or appear burnt, it could mean that it has too much direct sunlight or that it needs a more humid environment. It’s good to start by changing the location and then adding a humidifier near the plant to emulate ideal conditions.
Drooping Leaves
Mealybugs are known to affect the Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille,’ can cause this. These problems can also be caused by fertilization issues or overwatering.
Yellow Leaves
A healthy plant should have large green leaves. If you’re seeing yellow leaves, it could be a sign that you are under or overwatering. It could also suggest that you’re watering inconsistently. To troubleshoot this, start by cutting back on the amount you water your Dumb Cane.
You should remove yellow leaves to encourage new growth and prevent deterioration from spreading. Yellow leaves can also be unattractive.
Spider Mites
Unfortunately, spider mites affect a wide variety of plants, and Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ is particularly vulnerable. Spider mite damage appears on the Dieffenbachia’s leaves as tiny brown or yellow patches, as well as sticky leaf undersides. You might also see webbing.
Start by spraying down your Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ with water from a sink nozzle. This dislodges the spider mites from the plant. If the first method fails, an insecticidal oil such as neem oil will serve you well.
Downy Mildew
Downy mildew is a fungus that can cause severe issues for houseplants.
Downy mildew flourishes in damp, chilly conditions. Because your Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ should remain lightly moist, there’s a possibility it could become a danger zone for downy mildew.
If you notice your plants are infected with this fungus, you should quarantine them.
Fungicide can help save some of your plants – that said, if a plant is covered in fungus, you may need to throw it out.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs infestations are somewhat common on Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille,’ especially if you have a lot of different houseplants. If you find these tiny parasites, act quickly.
Take an isopropyl alcohol-soaked cotton swab and massage it over the leaves and stem of the Dumb Cane ‘Camille. Neem oil mixed with water is also an option.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are tiny insects that eat organic matter in the soil, potting soil, and other container media. Their larvae eat roots, fungus, and organic elements in the soil, which is bad news for your Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille.’
Fungus gnat larvae are killed by hydrogen peroxide on contact, making it a quick and easy way to get rid of them. Spray your Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ soil with a solution that’s four parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide.
There are products on the market targeting either the larval or adult periods, but either is good. If you target one stage of their life cycle and reapply on the regular, you should be able to eliminate these plant insects in a few weeks.
Conclusion
Prized for its large leaves with thin, green stripes on the edges, Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’s is a popular houseplant that makes a great addition to any collection. And if you follow our care instructions, you’ll have no trouble growing this Dieffenbachia.
Do you have a Dumb Cane ‘Camille’ in your indoor garden? We’d want to see it! Please submit photos to [email protected], and we might post them on our blog!
