The Dieffenbachia is mainly cultivated for its beautifully colored leaves. However, older plants can also flower. Even if these present themselves rather inconspicuously, a small highlight for many plant lovers.
The Dieffenbachia bears white to greenish flowers
appearance of the flowers
The flowers are quite inconspicuous and consist of a green bract, the spathe, which surrounds the spadix relatively closely. They look so much like a new leaf that the flower is sometimes overlooked.
Male and female flowers on one plant
This arum plant has both male and female flowers on an inflorescence, which is the small bulb in the strikingly colored bract. Between the male and female flowers are a few rows of sterile flowers.
Male and female flowers do not mature at the same time. This is what nature intended, so that the fertilization of different blossoms and thus the wide dispersal of the seed is ensured.
formation of seeds
Unfortunately, regardless of the structure of the flower, seeds rarely form, since the ornamental plants are mostly hybrids that are unable to fertilize. If the plant has formed several flowers, you can imitate the work of beetles and flies and try to do the pollination with a brush.
If small seeds are actually formed, they can even be germinated under certain circumstances:
- Soak seeds in water overnight.
- Fill the potting soil into a bowl and sprinkle on the seeds.
- Cover thinly with soil and moisten with a sprayer.
- Place a transparent lid to create a microclimate conducive to germination.
- Air daily and keep moist.
tips
When the Dieffenbachia blossoms, it puts all its energy into this process. This can greatly weaken the plant, which is primarily cultivated for its pretty foliage. It is therefore advisable to cut out the buds already.