Zamia belongs to the Zamiaceae family and is an evergreen small plant with a large barrel-shaped trunk and feathery foliage. Zamias are common in the subtropics and tropics of America.
The name of this plant comes from the Latin word for loss or loss. It was this name that was given to the empty cones of conifers, and the zamias, just, are endowed with reproductive organs - strobiles, which are very similar in appearance to them.
Zamias are small evergreen plants that have a smooth, short stem, often buried underground, and look like an elongated tuber. The foliage of the zamia is shiny and leathery. The leaves are whole-edged or serrated, they are pinnate and oval in shape, which at the base are divided into a wide part and a narrow one. Occasionally they have sharply defined parallel veins on the underside, at first they are light green, and then they turn olive. The petioles of the leaves are smooth, sometimes covered with a small number of thorns.
Zamias are dioecious plants in which female specimens form megastrobilae at maturity. Megastrobils consist of sporophylls in the form of scutes, arranged in a whorled manner and each having 2 ovules on the underside of the scutellum. In male specimens, microstrobilis are formed.
The growth of zamyas is slow, and at home they practically do not bloom.
Zamia - home care
Location and lighting
Zamia loves bright light, she is able to tolerate direct sunlight, provided that the plant is gradually accustomed to it. Despite this, it is still better to shade the zamia on bright sunny days. To achieve uniform development of leaves, the plant must be periodically turned to the window from different sides.
Temperature
In spring and summer, the comfortable temperature for winter is 25-28 degrees, but in winter it is reduced to 14-17 degrees. Zamias do not like stagnant air, so the room needs to be constantly ventilated, and drafts should not be allowed.
Air humidity
All zamiyas are unpretentious to the humidity of the air in the room where they are kept - they perfectly tolerate both humid and dry air. But it is still recommended to occasionally rinse the leaves with warm water, especially if dust gets in.
Watering
In spring and summer, zamias need abundant watering after the topsoil dries up. In autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter it is rarely watered. When growing zamia, overmoistening or, on the contrary, overdrying of the substrate should not be allowed.
Top dressing and fertilizers
In the spring and summer seasons, the zamia must be fed every month with the help of a complex fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants. There is no need to feed the plant in autumn and winter.
The soil
The optimal composition of the soil is a mixture of leaf and sod land, humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. Granite chips can be added.
Transfer
The transplant is done once every few years, because zamias grow very slowly.It is very important to take care of good drainage at the bottom of the pot!
Reproduction of zamia
At home, zamia propagates with seeds sown in a light substrate to a depth of half the diameter of the seeds. Next, the seeds are covered with glass to maintain the necessary moisture.
Also, zamia can be propagated using a cuttings. When propagated by cuttings, they are first put in water for rooting, and then planted in prepared soil.
Diseases and pests
Zamias are affected by scabies. In case of defeat, they must be carefully removed from the plant, and the leaves must be wiped with a soapy solution. If the infection is extensive, chemicals are used. In addition, if the soil is waterlogged, roots can rot.
Growing difficulties
- A lack of mineral fertilizers or insufficient watering can be indicated by the appearance of dry brown spots on the leaves.
- If the leaves begin to wither, and the stem begins to rot, then the soil becomes unnecessarily waterlogged in winter.
- But if the leaves fall off, it means that the watering was not enough warm water or it is completely lacking.
Popular types
Zamia pseudoparasitica (Zamia pseudoparasitica) - evergreen plants that grow up to 3 m high. The average length of the leaves is 35-40 cm, and the width is 3-5 cm. On the underside there are brightly marked longitudinal veins.
Powdered zamia (Zamia furfuraceae) are evergreens with a turnip-shaped trunk that is almost completely hidden in the ground. It has a rosette of grayish-blue leaves 1-1.5 m long. The trunks of aging specimens are exposed closer to the ground. The leaves are oblong in shape, they are dense and leathery, parallel veins are clearly distinguished on the underside. Young foxes are covered with whitish scales on each side, and adult leaves - only from the bottom.
Broad-leaved zamia (Zamia latifolia) is a low-growing evergreen plant with a thick, club-like underground or towering trunk above the ground. Leaves growing at the top of 2, 3 or 4 pieces can grow up to 0.5-1 m. They are oblong oval, each leaf is 17-22 cm long and 4-5 cm wide.
Dwarf zamia (Zamia pygmaea) is a dwarf evergreen plant with a small stem located underground. It is a couple of centimeters in thickness and 23-25 cm long.Leaves reach 25-45 cm in length, male strobila are 2 cm long, and female strobili are up to 4.5-5 cm.The seeds are very small (4-6 mm) ...
