Low humidity
Crispy brown edges and tips in dry air are a classic humidity complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Dieffenbachia is a tropical that's happiest in moderate to high humidity. In very dry indoor air, especially near a heating vent or air conditioner, the thin leaf margins lose water faster than the roots can replace it, so the edges and tips brown and turn crisp while the leaf centers stay green.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, or run a small humidifier nearby — and move it away from vents and drafts. Trim the worst of the browned edges with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural shape, so it looks tidy while fresh growth comes in. Dry air also invites spider mites, so better humidity heads off two problems at once.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the edges from crisping, especially in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Dumb Cane care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this