How to grow ZZ plant

Zamioculcas also known as the ZZ plant or the welcome plant, is a very fashionable house flower. It is mainly because of its elegant appearance and low growing requirements. It boosts nice upright posture and feather-like, leathery, dark green leaves with a beautifully shiny surface, which grow from underground rhizomes. Zamioculcas grows slowly and can reach a height of up to 100 cm. You can find it mainly in Tanzania and Zanzibar where there is a dry equatorial climate that Zamioculcas loves.

Extraordinary beauty

Zamioculcas is a very nice plant and it is easy to grow. It does not need frequent watering, fertilizing or complex care. It copes well with periodic droughts, lack of light and is extremely resistant to diseases and pests. Isn’t that great?

Photo: Pixabay

Watering

Zamioculcas accumulates water in its thick, fleshy leaves and in underground rhizomes. This “feature” allows the plant to cope well with periodic drought and to tolerate your forgetfulness in terms of watering as it can last for weeks without water. On the other hand if you water it too much you can hurt the plant. Too much water can be fatal for Zamioculcas, so do not overwater. If you see leaves rotting or falling you water too much and you may kill your plant. Water Zamioculcas only when the top layer of the substrate is completely dry. Use water that has been siting for a while and is at a room temperature. Make sure water does not stay on leaves, because water drops on leaves will deposit calcium on the surface and they will lose the natural shine. Reduce watering in winter of course.

Location

Zamiokulkas loves a bright place, but not direct sunlight. Harsh sun can burn leaves and create brown spots on the surface of leaves. Zamioculcas can tolerate shade, but if it is too dark, leaves will turn bright green and try to follow the light. If that happens and the plant bends towards the light, you should help it and rotate the plant accordingly. The ideal temperature is between 22 and 25 °C. Avoid drafts, especially in winter, and make sure that the temperature does not fall below 5 °C as it may kill the plant.

Transplanting and soil

Zamioculcas loves fertile, permeable, acidic or slightly acidic soil. Younger plants need to be transplanted every year into larger pots. It should not be too high though. A heavy, preferably earthenware pot is best because it allows underground rhizomes to grow freely. Create few centimetres deep drainage layer on the bottom to drain excess water. You can also use a multi-component fertilizer during periods of intensive growth.

Propagation

Zamioculcas rarely blooms at home so it is almost impossible to get seeds. A quick way to propagate this plant is to separate mature plants – preferably in the spring when you do transplanting. You may use leave cuttings to propagate Zamioculcas. Collect cuttings from April to June from the lower or middle part of the petiole. Cut individual leaves at the root and plant them diagonally to a depth of about 1 cm. Use a mixture of peat and sand or perlite in a ratio of 1:1. This method works well, but it is for a very patient people only, as you will wait several years for the plant to grow.

Preview photo: Pixabay