Betsy Lackey

This my mother’s dieffenbachia. She probably got it when I was in 6-7th grade, which means it’s almost 60 years old. Periodically it would get “leggy” and she would cut it back, put the leaves in water and cut the stalk to start a new plant. Then she would share the new plants with her friends and family. I inherited this plant in 2010, and now, once again, it has gotten “leggy”. So, today I cut it back.

In addition to being a “mother” to many, many dieffenbachias passed out all over southeast Michigan, this plant has had its share of near-death experiences – from travelling in the back of the car to a new location to almost being eaten by the cat. However, this plant’s most harrowing experience came one summer when my mother’s aunt, my Great-Aunt Pauline, was staying with her. Somehow, the plant developed an infestation of tiny flies. It took my mother and my great-aunt several days to figure out where these tiny little critters were coming from. The minute they figured it out Pauline sprang into action. Luckily (?) my mother had just purchased some potting soil, so Pauline pulled the dieffenbachia out of the pot, threw all the soil away, washed the pot completely------ (makes sense so far)

And then knocked all the soil off the roots and washed the roots and plant and all in soapy water.

Then she repotted the plant. As you can see, it survived.