Despite belonging to the Aronnikov family and the exotic appearance of Zamioculcas, caring for it at home is quite simple. The flower does not impose any strict requirements on the illumination and composition of the soil, it is drought-resistant and does not need high humidity. The plant is well adapted to life in urban apartments with central heating, as the climate in them resembles its natural habitat, with high temperatures and dry air in winter. However, in order for the succulent to retain its decorative effect for a long time, it is useful to know some of its features when growing zamiokulkas.
How to grow and care for Zamioculcas?
It is easy for a flower to create optimal conditions for existence. This heat-loving culture feels good in the temperature range from 18 ° C to 26 ° C, only in the winter months it is better to keep it at 16 ° C. The plant loves fresh air and is not afraid of drafts, which greatly simplifies care. Zamioculcas tolerates outdoor placement well, in the summer it is advisable to keep it in the garden or on the balcony.
The advantages of succulent , especially valued by phytodesigners, include significant tolerance for lighting conditions, it can tolerate both open sun and significant shading. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that for a zamiokulkas growing in a shaded place, and on the southern window of a zamiokulkas flower, the care will be somewhat different. So, on the north side, it develops more slowly, has smaller leaves, and requires less watering, nutrition and heat.
When planting zamiokulkas in the sun, on the contrary, it grows faster, needs more moisture and fertilizers, and a higher air temperature. In a heavily shaded place, with proper care, the zamiokulkas will not wither, but may not grow at all, in which case it is recommended to immediately purchase a copy of the required size. We also note that after growing in shaded conditions or after wintering, it is necessary to accustom the plant to the bright sun gradually, otherwise burns will appear on the leaves.
Optimal for a flower is bright diffused light without direct sunlight, it develops best on bright eastern and western windows.
Watering is one of the most important elements of flower care . It is irrigation errors that are the main cause of plant death, so it is especially important to know how to water zamiokulkas correctly. It must be remembered that this drought-resistant succulent tolerates a lack of moisture better than its excess.
Long-term maintenance without water, of course, makes the plant spend internal reserves on its vital activity, it leads to yellowing and falling off of the leaf plates in the upper part of the leaf. But even if the flower drops its leaves completely, the rhizome will remain alive, and when watering is resumed, the succulent will begin to vegetate again. Frequent waterlogging, on the contrary, leads to rotting of the roots and rhizomes, and in this case, without taking radical measures, the plant may die.
The flower is watered abundantly so that the tuber can store some liquid, but rarely, providing an interval at which the soil in the pot dries out no less than half the volume. Use soft water, settled for at least 12 hours, its excess is immediately drained from the pan. The frequency of watering depends on the season. In the spring and summer months, when Zamioculcas is actively growing, water more often and more abundantly, usually with a pot size of more than 17 cm in diameter once every 2 weeks, in smaller containers – once a week. In winter, during the dormant period, moisture is limited to a minimum, no more than 1 time per month.
Feed with fertilizer for cacti or succulents, you can use universal flower fertilizer in half the dosage. Top dressing is applied only from spring to mid-autumn, when the flower is actively developing, with a frequency of 2-4 weeks. In winter, they are completely excluded.
An important condition for the successful cultivation of Zamioculcas is the adjustment of measures to care for it in accordance with external factors. So, at a higher temperature, the flower should be provided with more lighting, increased watering and fertilizing, with a lack of light, on the contrary, water and fertilize less, and also lower the temperature, etc.
The plant in nature grows in arid conditions, therefore it tolerates the dry air of city apartments well. It does not require spraying, it is only necessary to wipe the leaves from time to time with a damp sponge to remove dust, or wash it with a warm shower for the same purpose. In the latter case, the earthen ball is covered with polyethylene to avoid waterlogging. When grown outdoors, the flower is sufficient natural moistening with rainwater.
In a potted culture, Zamioculcas can reach 1 m in height, as the leaves grow, it needs support to ensure the stability of the flower. For these purposes, it is best to use designs with rings.
Rooting and division of zamiokulkas
The plant is slow growing and does not require frequent transplants. Its root system does not tolerate damage to an earthy coma, so it is important to know how to properly plant a zamiokulkas so as not to harm the flower. Transplantation is carried out only by transshipment, so as not to injure the tuber and roots, the soil is completely replaced only if absolutely necessary – if the plant is sick or needs to be divided.
The division of Zamioculcas is usually carried out in order to rejuvenate old, overgrown specimens, while the divided parts are used for reproduction. At home, this method of reproduction has a number of advantages, since growing a zamiokulkas from a leaf cutting or even part of a leaf is a task that is not too technically difficult, but very time-consuming, and when dividing, you can get the finished plant much faster. On the other hand, planting zamiokulkas without damaging the root system is almost impossible, while cuttings are much less traumatic for a flower. The divided parts adapt for a long time, sometimes for six months, without growing leaves until Zamioculcas is fully rooted. How to care for a flower during this period? In the first week, it is limited in watering, in the future, if the leaves remain green and healthy in appearance, they provide normal care.
Soil and earth from soil for zamiokulkas
Zamiokulkas does not impose special requirements on the soil. You can use commercially available substrates for cacti and succulents, or cook them yourself by mixing leafy, soddy soil, peat and sand in equal amounts, adding a little charcoal to prevent root rot (approximately a handful per liter of finished mixture).
The composition may be different, the main thing is that the soil for Zamioculcas is loose, air and water permeable, preferably neutral acidity. Clay soils are completely unsuitable for these purposes, moisture is retained in them and air access to the roots is not provided. The land for Zamioculcas should not be too nutritious, the more sand in the substrate, the better its water permeability and the more often the flower can be watered.
The container for planting should be chosen in accordance with the size of the root system, not too spacious, exceeding the previous size by only a few centimeters. A prerequisite is good drainage, it should occupy at least a quarter of the volume of the pot.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the growing popularity of the plant is caused not only by its decorative qualities, but to a large extent by its unpretentiousness and ease of care. Zamioculcas are widely used by phytodesigners to decorate various interiors. They can be placed not only in bright rooms, but also in places with insufficient or even artificial lighting, the flower looks impressive both in tall floor vases and in small containers. Tolerance to growing conditions, combined with undemanding care and spectacular appearance, makes the plant suitable for growing in residential and office buildings, as well as in the lobbies of hotels, medical institutions, and other public places.