Zamioculcas

Zamioculcas - care at home
Homeland: East Africa, Madagascar
The family Araceae.

Grown as an ornamental foliage plant with large, glossy, dark green leaves and shoots. Green foliage throughout the year. In room culture grows up to 0.8m, the life expectancy of 5 - 10 let.V process of evolution, to survive in the arid climate, has formed a large underground tuber, which has a supply of water. Flower, like all Araceae, has the shape of the cob. In room culture is difficult to achieve flowering. All parts of the plant are toxic.

Lighting.

Optimal lighting: bright ambient light - partial shade. Lighting after 10-00 in the spring and summer, in direct sunlight will result in burns ground parts of the plant. Zamioculcas can grow in the shade, but its development is much slower. To leaves retain their position and shape of the plants will not be affected Zamioculcas from time to time should be rotated around the axis.

The temperature and humidity.

Zamioculcas is highly resistant to hot dry weather. Optimum temperature:

21-290S summer;
winter 15-180S.
In the winter, lowering the temperature of the plant is better tolerated by dry content (without irrigation). Summer useful to keep him on the street. Spraying for Zamioculcas not required. 1 is useful once a month to do the plant warm shower to wash away the dust.

Watering.

The frequency of watering - with a slight soft drying earthen coma. If in doubt - do not water more per day. Excessive watering leads to the yellowing of leaves, root rot and death of the plant. In autumn and winter watering Zamioculcas with the frequency of watering - with strong soft drying earthen coma. For irrigation use warm water.

Soil.

It must be well-drained, not too heavy soil. The optimum acidity - pH 6.0.

The composition of the soil mixture: turf ground + 1 part ground sheet + 1 part peat, 1 part sand + 1 part sphagnum + 0.3 parts. You can use any part of the soil, which is used in the preparation of Peat mixture for cactus. Before applying the mixture must be sterilized.

Dressing.

During the growing season the frequency of feedings - 1 time in two weeks, alternating with organic fertilizer. The concentration of fertilizer (for feeding) 50% of the concentration of fertilizer recommended for indoor plants.

Once a month, it is desirable to foliar fertilizer: urea solution sprayed leaves or complex fertilizer containing trace elements in a concentration of 1 g / l. (See. Section foliar application).

Zamioculcas - transplant.

The best time for grafting - spring. Transplanting is carried out once every three - four years. When selecting the size of the pot, note that Zamioculcas plant of slow growth in the year formed 2-3 leaves, therefore, the size of the pot when transplanting choose not much more than the previous (10-15%).

After dredging plant from the pot, clean the roots of the plants from the ground. Cut the roots that are soft or have bad smell. Planting depth in the new pot should be at the previous year. The pot is required to be a hole for draining excess water. After the transplant, plant put in a penumbra.

The most frequently asked question - "yellow Zamioculcas ?!"

Possible causes:

Excessive watering plants. Between waterings soil in the pot should be dry. The problem is particularly acute in winter, when the plant reduces water consumption.
If your plant is directly exposed to sunlight for more than 6 hours per day, the leaves may be burned, and as a result turn yellow. In May - August from 11-00 to 15-00 is necessary pritenenie plants from direct sunlight.
Zamioculcas - slow growing plant (in the room culture). If you try to "accelerate" the growth of plants by means of feeding excess fertilizer, the roots are killed first, then the leaves turn yellow. Final - the plant dies.
The disease of the root system.
Zamioculcas - reproduction.

Zamioculcas is easily propagated vegetatively. Remember - all parts of the plant are poisonous!

1st method of reproduction - division of tubers (rhizomes). When transplanting the bush is divided into several parts. Delёnki planted in pots. The selected pot should match the size of delёnki (ie 2-4cm longer planted rhizomes) and not be deep. Soil mixture used for adult plants. Further care, both for an adult plant.