In the aroid family, it is represented by only one species - zamyokulkas is amyloid, which makes it monotypic. That is, in a way he is so alone! Oddly enough, the official name Zamioculcas plant received due to its similarity with a completely different representative of the flora - zamia flower. However, in everyday life, the flower has much more nicknames: the eternal tree, the dollar tree, the fat man, the aroid palm.
In his homeland, in Southeast Africa, the “fat man” lives in extremely contrasting conditions, adjacent to some species of aloe and milkweed. Here you have drought and rain! These extreme weather conditions made the plant hardy. In the natural environment, the soil for the culcas becomes sandy soil, the water from which quickly leaves. Therefore, Zamio does not like stagnation of moisture at the roots. In addition, the structure of the leaves of succulents allows you to store moisture for a long time without evaporating it.
Zamio is a decorative value, being an evergreen herb. Glossy leaves and an original thick stem makes it an exotic representative of the indoor flora! In nature, zamio grows to 1.5-2 meters, but at home, under good conditions, it can reach a meter in height.
By the way, the dollar tree is blooming! However, the flower of Zamioculcas, for which a modified leaf is usually taken, can be called rather original than beautiful in appearance. Such a surprise is more often presented by mature plants.
The aerial part of the succulent is, in fact, not branches (as we used to think), but complex leaves. An interesting feature of the plant is that each new leaf grows slightly higher than the previous one.
Care Rules
The dollar tree is an unpretentious succulent, growing it is quite simple.
Temperature and lighting
The range of comfortable temperatures for Kulkas is no lower than 12 degrees in winter and no higher than 26 in summer. Sudden changes in temperature, like all tropical plants, are not too fond of! However, due to its unpretentiousness, it transfers stably.
This succulent is shade tolerant, but will be grateful if it is provided with diffused light. It helps leaves grow better! In winter, the sun can be replaced with artificial lighting. Direct sunlight is not contraindicated, but also not desirable. In summer, at a suitable temperature, fresh air is useful to the tree.
Watering and humidity
What Zamioculcas does not like is stagnation of moisture. If he is patient with drought, then overflow is fatal for him. Therefore, water it rarely, but abundantly, so that the water saturates the earthen lump. Do not forget to loosen the earth, providing oxygen access to the roots! In summer, the optimal watering regimen is once a week (10 days), depending on size. In winter, the irrigation frequency is halved, depending on the temperature of the content.
A person from the tropics is not demanding on humidity, so spraying it is not necessary. However, this will not bring harm! To maintain the cleanliness of the leaves, they must be periodically wiped with a soft cloth.
Fertilizers and fertilizing
During the growth period of new leaves, plants are fed with universal fertilizer for indoor flowers, and even better - for succulents and cacti. They require a low concentration of substances in the soil! The optimal feeding season is from April to September. Young representatives especially need them. But, remember that newly purchased young animals should not be fertilized within two weeks after acquisition!
The dollar tree perceives organic top dressing well: ash, mullein. In the winter period, despite the fact that the tree continues to give new shoots, in connection with a shortage of sunlight, feeding is stopped or minimized (no more than 1 time in 1.5-2 months).
Reproduction and transplantation
Zamioculcas prefers propagation by stem cuttings. Keeping them in the water is not necessary at all! For rooting, the prepared soil will be a more comfortable environment. You can propagate the plant in separate leaves, however, you have to wait! The leaves will give a leaf about a month later, or even two.
For rooting, we prepare the soil (more on that below), pour a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, and then simply stick the leaf or stem into the pot. Rooting will go faster if the soil in the pot is moistened with a root solution immediately after planting and after 2-3 weeks (based on the proportion of 5g. Powder \ 5 l. Water).
Young plants require an annual transplant, large specimens are enough to transplant every 3 years. The underground part is a tuber with long fleshy roots extending down. Zamio doesn't like being disturbed by his roots! Therefore, without the need to do not need to touch them, it is better to transship. To do this, carefully remove the plant with an earthen lump from the pot, place in a new container and fill the gaps with fresh soil.
By the way, Zamioculcas, the transplantation of which is not difficult, is demanding on the size of the pot. Do not choose large dishes, the next pot should only be a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one in diameter. Too large a pot will slow growth and may cause acidification of the soil! Choose a wide and not too high flowerpot made of plastic.
At the bottom of the pot, be sure to pour expanded clay with a layer of 2 cm. The soil for zamioculcas should be breathable. Dense, heavy, clay soils are not suitable for a tropical plant! You can buy a ready-made substrate for flower crops, and best of all for succulents and cacti, or prepare it yourself from a peat substrate (you can use garden soil) with the addition of sand and compost in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. The soil should be loose, for this it can be mixed with small expanded clay.
Problems in growing?
Consider the most common questions that arise in the process of growing a "fat man."
- If Zamioculcas plants turn yellow leaves ...
Partial yellowing can be a natural process if old leaves die off. However, intense yellowing of the leaves, including young leaves, is often the result of waterlogging of the soil. If the stems began to turn yellow, it is necessary to check the place of their entry into the ground for the presence of an unpleasant raw smell and mucus!
It is important to dry the ground, temporarily stop watering! If the yellowing process continues, you will have to examine the roots. Soft, dark segments, smell and mucus are a clear sign of rotting of the root system! It is possible to rehabilitate it if you cut off all the rotten parts, powder the slices with root, or sprinkle with activated charcoal, dry and place the zamioculcas plant in dry soil. For some time it is better not to water it, observing the condition!
Yellowing leaves without signs of rot indicates dryness of the soil (in the case of prolonged absence of watering).
- If Zamioculcas discards leaves ...
Thus, it usually signals a lack of moisture! In the natural environment during prolonged drought, the flower discharges the aerial parts, reducing the evaporation of moisture. So he can stand for a long time. This does not mean that your pet is dead! Gradually, if the watering is normalized, he will begin to increase the “crown” again.
- If the branches are down ...
Most likely the tree is thirsty! If the land is dry and watering was long, water it abundantly. If the earth is wet, inspect the basal part for signs of decay; the opposite situation is possible - overflow.
- If there are dark spots on the branches ...
Spotting (dark spots similar to bruises) is a natural physiological feature of the flower. Do not sound the alarm, if only there are no signs of deformation on the spot!
- If brown growths appeared on the trunks ...
Dry bark-like growths that are easily removed are also a natural feature. If no pests are found on the back of the leaf, the leaves are even, without holes and damage, the plant has a healthy appearance, do not worry.