The popular home flower Zamioculcas is a member of the Aroid family. According to various classifications, the genus includes no more than four species. The homeland of the plant is the African tropics. Zamioculcas owes its bizarre name to evergreen zamia, a native of the American continent. Although these plants are not related, they are distinguished by the similarity of their leaves.
The second name of the flower of zamiokulkas - "dollar tree" is explained by its slight resemblance to another frequent inhabitant of window sills - "money tree" bastard.
Description of zamiokulkas
Despite the popular name, zamiokulkas does not look like a tree. It is a short herbaceous plant with a tuberous rhizome and fleshy roots. Thick axes-rachis on its leaf blades are intended for storing water reserves. This helps the flower survive the African heat. Each sheet can be up to one meter long. The feather leaves themselves are leathery and very dense to the touch. During periods of drought, the plant can shed them from the top of the plate to retain moisture. Water is stored not only in the leaves of zamiokulkas, but also in its tuber.
Subject to all the conditions of care, the dollar tree can bloom even at home. The peduncle grows from the base of the leaves, outwardly it resembles a creamy cob of small flowers.
Basic rules for growing zamiokulkas
- Bloom. Despite the possibility of the appearance of flowers, zamioculcas are grown for the sake of its spectacular leaves.
- Lighting. You will need bright, diffused light throughout the year.
- Content temperature. In spring and summer - about +25 degrees. In winter - not lower than +12 degrees.
- Watering mode. From spring to late summer, the flower is watered as the top layer of the soil dries. With the onset of cold weather, the volume of irrigation is reduced. If the dollar tree spends the winter in a cool room, it is watered when the earthen ball is completely dry.
- Humidity level. Zamioculcas will be satisfied with the usual medium or low humidity, but in the heat its leaves should be regularly moistened.
- Top dressing. From late spring to late summer, the plant is fertilized twice a month using formulations for cacti or succulents. In winter and autumn, feeding is not carried out.
- Rest period. From mid-autumn to early spring.
- Transplants. Carried out as needed, approximately every three years, in spring or summer.
- The choice of soil. The composition of the earthen mixture should include sand, leafy soil, peat and turf in equal proportions. You can add a little humus or charcoal to them.
- Reproduction methods. Root division and leaf cuttings.
- Potential pests. Aphids and scale insects.
- Diseases.Errors in grooming can lead to the appearance of dark spots on the leaves. They can also fly around. Pulling of shoots or development of rot is possible.
Caring for the dollar tree at home
Location and lighting
All well-lit windows are suitable for growing zamiokulkas. The southern direction will be ideal, but the western or eastern direction is also acceptable. The plant is not afraid of direct sunlight, it should be shaded only in too hot hours. But do not expose a young or recently acquired plant to bright light without proper preparation. A sharp change in living conditions can lead to burns, so store copies should be taught to the sun gradually. Do the same after long periods of cloudy weather.
On the north side of the house, the zamioculcas will not wither, but its leaves will be smaller. In this case, it should be watered less often.
Content temperature
In spring, summer and early autumn, the plant needs warmth, zamioculcas will be suitable for temperatures above +20 degrees. In winter, when his rest period begins, it is advisable to keep the flower cool - +16 degrees are considered optimal. The plant needs an influx of fresh air, so the room needs to be ventilated periodically.
Watering mode
In the spring and summer, the flower is watered only when the soil in the pot is partially dry. In other periods, it is recommended to reduce the amount of watering. On cool, cloudy days, the dollar tree is also less watered. If this weather has dragged on, do not water the plant until the earthen lump is completely dry.
For irrigation, soft water is used, which has settled for at least a day. Stagnation of moisture at the roots can lead to diseases, but it is also undesirable to dry it too much. Drought can cause the leaves at the top of the plate to dry out.
Humidity level
Room conditions do not cause problems for Zamiokulkas: it is satisfied with the usual humidity. He does not need constant spraying, but this procedure can be carried out on sultry hot days. It is permissible both to use a spray bottle and to wipe the leaves with a soft, damp sponge. It is worth washing them even in case of contamination.
The soil
The soil for the plant should not be clayey. Usually, a mixture of peat with sand, turf and leafy soil is used as a substrate. Charcoal is added to the finished soil in small quantities. Do not forget about the drainage layer: at least 4 of the pot's volume.
Top dressing
It is necessary to feed the dollar tree only during the growth period - in the warm season. The optimal schedule is once every two weeks or even once a month. From ready-made fertilizers, you can use mixtures for cacti and succulents. After the onset of cold weather, the plant is not fertilized.
Transfer
Zamioculcas is transplanted as it grows. Spring and summer are considered the best times for the procedure. The usual interval between transplants is 2 to 4 years. If you do not do them at all, the growth of the bush will slow down.
A tall clay pot is selected as a container, commensurate with the volume of the roots. Excessive width of the container will lead to the fact that the development of the flower will for some time be directed to the roots, and not to the aerial part. You should not transplant the flower into a pot "for growth" - in a large volume of soil, water will stagnate longer.
When planting a bush, you should make sure that its tubers rise slightly above the surface of the soil. It is not worth deepening them too much.
Flowering period
At home, only an adult, well-formed plant can bloom. It forms a short peduncle with a cob-shaped inflorescence wrapped in a light green leaf.
Garters and supports
Long leaves of an adult zamiokulkas can fall apart to the sides. To keep the flower compact, it is worth using a special support with rings for them.
Features of reproduction of zamiokulkas
Zamioculcas can be propagated by dividing the bush, as well as by rooting cuttings or individual leaves. The first way is pretty simple. The bush is removed from the pot, the rhizome is divided into parts, which are slightly dried, and then planted in different pots.
As cuttings, a part of the leaf blade is used, on which there is a bud. After drying, it is planted in a separate container, deepening only to the base. You can take care of it as a full-fledged plant.
Reproduction by a single leaf will take the longest time. The leaf is separated, dried for several days, and then placed in a mixture of sand and peat, deepening by about a third. To create greenhouse conditions, such a seedling can be covered with a jar or bag, not forgetting about regular airing. It takes about six months for such a leaf to form a full-fledged root tuber. A sign of rooting is the appearance of new leaves.
Diseases and pests
Dollar tree diseases are usually caused by improper care. The dieback of platinum plates can be the result of damage. Due to the lack of sufficient lighting, the shoots may stretch unnecessarily. Cold drafts or overflow are usually to blame for the appearance of spots on the leaves. The same reasons can cause the development of putrefactive processes. The plant is very resistant to pests, but sometimes it can be affected by aphids or scale insects. Standard means of struggle are used against them. A day after treatment with the drug, the foliage should be rinsed well, covering the soil with polyethylene.
If the upper part of the zamiokulkas disappeared for some reason, the plant should not be thrown away. The first step is to assess the condition of the tuber and roots. If they look healthy enough, you can hold them a little in a pale solution of potassium permanganate, dry and transplant them into fresh soil. If the death of the leaves was caused by unfavorable conditions, it is possible that the flower will begin to grow again in a new place.
Yellowing of the leaves of zamiokulkas can be caused by a sharp change in external conditions. If the lower leaves began to fly around him, but the plant itself looks healthy, you should not worry - this is a natural sign of growing up. In this case, yellowing foliage should not be removed until it is completely dry.
Types and varieties of zamiokulkas with a photo
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
This species is also called Loddigesa zamioculcas. In nature, he lives in eastern Africa. The rootstock of such a dollar tree is a tuber, from which leaf plates up to 60 cm long grow. Each of them can have up to 6 pairs of leaves. During a drought zamiokulkas zamielistny also sheds the top leaves to evaporate as little valuable moisture as possible.
Zamioculcas variegate (Zamioculcas variegate)
The variegated form of zamiokulkas is much less common on the market. In natural conditions, it can be found only on the island of Madagascar. Even at home, such a plant can reach considerable sizes - its height is up to 1.5 meters. The leaves are arranged symmetrically and alternately. Their color is deep green with light blotches. It is quite difficult to achieve flowering of the species; only very good care can help. The inflorescence resembles an ear.
Lanceolate Zamioculcas (Zamioculcas Lanceolata)
Differs in longer leaves of the original shape. The world first became acquainted with this variety at the end of the last century, at a Dutch flower auction. The species was distinguished by its large size - over 1.5 m in height. In 2007, scientists were able to develop a miniature version of it, reaching only 60 cm.The leaves of the small lanceolate zamioculcas have the same interesting proportions.
Zamioculcas Black
The most unusual variety boasts deep dark, almost black foliage. Both the plates and the cuttings themselves are painted in it. The rest of the look does not differ from the usual dollar tree. Young leaves have a salad tint, but over time they begin to darken.Interestingly, the level of lighting in the room does not affect the color intensity at all. Thanks to the combination of dark and fresh green foliage, black zamioculcas looks very decorative.
Hello. at my dollar tree the trunks began to shrink. striped (wrinkled). What does it mean?