The ornamental plant Zamioculcas was discovered and described in 1828 by the English botanist Conrad Lodges, who studied tropical flora. At the beginning of the last century, the director of the famous European botanical garden in Berlin, Adolf Engler, called it Zamioculcas Zamiifolia for its similarity to the leaves of zamia living in the tropics and subtropics of America.
Zamioculcas belongs to the Aroid family. This flower comes from East Africa, so the scorching rays of the sun are not afraid of it. The plant has perfectly mastered at home, it can be found not only in apartments, but also in large offices. Unusual flowers and a peculiar crown of Zamioculcus can become a real decoration of any room.
Zamioculcas - an integral part of any interior
Breeding zamioculcas, or the dollar tree, as it is sometimes called, is not difficult. Although the flower is exotic and special, because its sultry African continent is its homeland, it has perfectly taken root in room and greenhouse conditions. The most difficult thing in the process of growing Zamioculcas plants is transplantation. In order not to make mistakes, you need to get acquainted with the agrotechnical features of breeding. To achieve its flowering in captivity, you will need to put a lot of patience, perseverance, knowledge.
Dollar Tree Features
The plant gained great popularity thanks to the belief of people that it brings prosperity to the house where it was planted. Whether it is true or not is unknown, but a good mood always reigns where this flower is. It is doubly joyful to the hostess if he has released buds, which is extremely rare.
The group of succulent plants to which Zamioculcus belongs (like aloe, agave, Crassula, cacti and others) is distinguished by thick fleshy leaves and large tubers. With proper care in the room, they can bloom. At the dollar tree, the flowers are peculiar, similar to ears of corn wrapped in leaves.
Flowering dollar tree
One of the rules for caring for a plant is its planting. The flower can be purchased at any store. In order for the plant to take up well in new conditions for it, you need to know how to transplant Zamioculcas. It is necessary to transplant the purchased flower, otherwise it will die.
Causes:
- When transporting from abroad, special soil is used, heavy and devoid of nutrients.
- This substrate is unsuitable for growing zamioculcas.
- In transport containers, the drainage is replaced by holes in the bottom, into which the roots of the flower can grow.
On a note! Immediately after purchase, do not transplant the plant, hold it in “quarantine” for 3 weeks. It adapts well in rooms where there are no other colors.
The optimal time for transplantation
The most favorable time is spring (March or April). These months are suitable for young and adult individuals. A dollar tree is considered a slow-growing plant, so mature transplantation can be transplanted after 3-4 years. Young shoots need to be planted annually until they are 3 years old. It is during this period that flowers grow actively.
There are exceptional cases when the transplantation period has passed, but the plant needs it. The procedure can be moved to the beginning of summer. Autumn is the most inopportune time for planting, because the flowers are preparing for winter, falling into "hibernation", that is, in a state of rest. At this time, the plant does not take root, because all the processes of its vital activity are inhibited.
Dollar tree is ready for transplant
How to transplant a dollar tree from a pot into a pot
There are three types of transplantation: after buying a flower, annual until it is 3 years old and periodic once every three years for adult specimens.
Important! Purchased plants must be completely removed from the transporting soil.
What signs suggest that you need to carry out a transplant of Zamioculcas at home:
- Withered and withered foliage.
- Stunted flower.
- Compaction and air tightness of the soil in the pot.
- Cracking capacity from overgrown roots.
The first sign requiring a flower transplant is cramped roots
In addition to the planned, sometimes an emergency transplant of Zamioculcas is performed, when there is a suspicion of a disease of the plant or rotting of the rhizomes.
What land is needed for a dollar tree
In order for the plant to be successfully taken after planting in a new pot, it is important to know what soil is needed for zamioculcas. The soil should be:
- loose and breathable;
- mixed with expanded clay or river pebbles, that is, have the property of drainage;
- with a minimum amount of fertilizers, as their overdose leads to disease;
- disinfected with boiling water or heat treatment in the oven.
In order for the plant to be well received in the soil after purchase or transplantation, it is necessary to determine what kind of land is needed for zamioculcas. The prepared soil for zamiokalkus should include sheet soil, turf, sand and peat in equal proportions. Humus add a small amount. An alternative to this composition can be a special substrate for succulents with neutral acidity, which can be purchased at a specialized store.
Important! Clay soil with poor moisture conductivity is not suitable for planting Zamioculcas. This leads to frequent root decay.
Despite the fact that there is expanded clay in prepared soil for planting Zamiokalcus, expanded drainage is required at the bottom of the pot. This is necessary not only to ensure moisture permeability, but also for the stability of the tank. The dollar tree grows up to 1 meter high, its leafy stems and fleshy leaves can outweigh the pot to the side. The pebbles at the bottom will help flower stability.
The substrate for filling the pot must strictly meet the basic requirements intended for the proper transplantation of plants.
Proper soil selection is important for dollar tree growth.
In which pot to plant Zamioculcas
Before deciding when and how to transplant Zamioculcas into another pot, you need to choose it correctly. Choosing a container is just as important as preparing the ground for Zamioculcas. During the preparation of containers for seating the succulent, it is necessary to consider all the details:
- The size of the pot should exceed the size of the previous one by only 3 cm. You should not choose the dishes in size with a margin, because the leaves and stems of the flower will begin to grow only after the roots fill all the voids.
- Capacity should be stable, because the dollar tree during the period of active growth increases in size and weight. Drainage can help create a stable position.
- The most optimal form of a planting pot for a flower is narrowed to the base and expanded upward.
- Material for a flowerpot - clay or plastic.
- In size, wide and not very tall pots are suitable.
The advantages of ceramic dishes include a breathable porous surface, high weight, thermal control and durability. Cons - white streaks are formed from salt in water, when transplanting it needs to be broken.
Plastic pots wash well, are convenient and easy to rearrange, and can be cut if necessary. Negative characteristics include rapid deformation from overheating or overgrown roots, moisture retention, leading to root spoilage, weak air circulation, due to their low mass can easily be turned over. A positive property of plastic flowerpots that distinguish them from clay pots is the low price. In addition, due to the variety of colors, they can be used in different interiors.
Important! Given these characteristics of materials, you should buy a pot, paying attention to the age of the flower, its size and external parameters of the container. Particular care must be taken to check the quality of the ceramic or plastic of which the flowerpot is made, and the presence of drainage holes.
To decide which container is better to choose, you need individually. Pottery is more environmentally friendly for the development and growth of the root system. But not economical, because you need to break up when transplanting. In plastic pots it is easier to see if the time has come to plant the flower. Extracting plant roots from such a container can be done easily without damaging them.
The size of the pot for transplantation of zamioculcas play an important role
Features of a dollar tree transplant
Before you plant a flower in a new container, you need to learn how to properly transplant Zamioculcas. There are two ways: transplant and transshipment. For an adult dollar tree, the second method is preferable, because it allows you to extract the previously soaked plant roots together with an earthen lump with minimal damage and put it in another, larger container. The direct transplant method requires complete cleaning of the roots from the ground. This can lead to damage to the brittle roots of Zamioculcas. This method is more suitable for a newly purchased instance of an exotic plant.
On a note! Dollar tree juice contains poison, so it is recommended to work with it in rubber gloves.
Step flower transplant:
- Prepare a flower pot larger in size than the previous one, pour a layer of drainage to the bottom.
- Remove zamioculcas from the old pot using the transfer method. Check the roots, cut out the rotten and separate the young tubers.
- Sprinkle a moist layer of soil on top, leave room for roots.
- Plant vertically, setting the roots in the ground, sprinkle them. Compact the soil to save moisture and sprinkle with mulch from expanded clay crumbs or river pebbles.
- Put in place its further growth. Initially, the seedling should not be placed in direct sunlight. Gradually rearrange in the sun.
- Observe the process of plant survival. This is necessary because unforeseen complications occur after transplantation.
Dollar tree transplant
Transplant Care
After transplantation, care for Zamioculcus consists in following the rules, as well as for any indoor plant. These requirements are simple: to provide the seedling with the necessary amount of light, to water it correctly and not to fertilize very often.
Watering a flower
Despite the fact that Zamioculcas is a southern plant and is very thermophilic, it also requires compliance with a certain irrigation regime. In the summer season, you need to water it often, but not too abundantly. An indicator will be 2 cm dry earth in a pot. In winter, the need for moistening is indicated by drying the soil up to half of the pot inland.
On a note! A positive effect is given by spraying and rubbing the leaves of a dollar tree.
Lighting and temperature
If the plant grows on the windowsill, then it is better to put it on the east or west side. On the floor of the dollar tree, you need to take places under the windows facing south. The temperature of the heat-loving flower Zamioculcas requires in the summer +20 degrees and above, in winter - not lower than +16. In the cold, its leaves turn yellow and fly around, the plant itself will gradually fade and die. Starting from the first warm spring days, it must be taken out to fresh air.
Top dressing
The dollar tree accumulates well and retains moisture. Nutrients in the period of active growth spends quickly. Therefore, in spring and summer, the necessary amount of special fertilizers for succulents (cacti) needs to be added to the substrate. They can be purchased at flower shops. A feature of the procedure is the strict adherence to the instructions. An overdose is life threatening to the plant.
Amateur gardeners and professionals love this unpretentious exotic plant for ease of care. It’s good to know that a dollar-tree grown with your own hands will probably bring prosperity and family well-being to your home.
