The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, or Zamio for short, is also called the lucky feather, cardboard paper palm or zamie. In any case, it belongs to the arum family, which can be clearly seen in the flower. However, the flowers are not very decorative, but the leaves do. The broad stems with the shiny leaves look great.
Table of Contents
Look
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia scores above all with its appearance, with the thick, dark green, glossy leaves. It is particularly suitable for open, bright rooms, but also gets along well with darker locations. But the lighter it is, the faster it grows and the lighter the leaves become. If it is dark, it grows a little more slowly, but the leaves have a deeper, darker green. Flowers often develop, usually several at the same time. They are bright, piston-like inflorescences, typical of the arum family
Caution!
Zamioculas zamiifolia is slightly poisonous, it is just an arum plant. All parts are affected. You don’t have to ingest a lot of the plant to get symptoms. This can lead to irritation of the oral mucous membranes, combined with a burning sensation in the mouth. In addition, the mucous membranes can swell and turn red. Eye rinsing is recommended in the event of eye contact. You only have to see a doctor if your symptoms are more severe.
Zamiuculcas Zamiifolia – care
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is absolutely easy to care for. It can cope with almost any location, tolerates normal room temperature and only needs a little water every now and then, nothing more than that. It is important to avoid waterlogging and not to expose the plant to too low temperatures. In contrast, the plants get along well with a lack of light, dry heating air and a lack of water. Diseases are almost unknown and pests also spare the zamy.
location
- A bright location is favorable for rapid growth.
- A slightly darker place is good for the leaf color.
- The plant tolerates almost any location, including shade and sun.
- Bright midday sun is unfavorable, it can lead to burns. However, evening and morning sun are well tolerated.
- If you like, you can put the plant outside in summer, but not in the sun. This is guaranteed to lead to ugly burns.
- Normal room temperatures are ideal.
In winter 15 ° C is enough, but the living room is better with temperatures around 20 to 22 ° C.
Plant substrate
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is also undemanding when it comes to the plant substrate. Some experts recommend universal soil, potting soil, or special palm soil. What is important, however, is a loose substrate, preferably on a compost basis.
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is also suitable for hydroponics if you pay attention to a few special features. It is important to use only very coarse expanded clay, to use a tall planter and to ensure that the nutrient solution level is low!
Personally, I think it’s even better to put the plant in a container with a water reservoir. I use Lechuza jars, but there are others too. (see also watering and fertilizing)
Planting and repotting
Before repotting, it is best to wait until Zamioculcas Zamiifolia pushes its roots out of the planter. Then it’s time. This is more difficult to see with pots with an irrigation system. Then you repot when there is no more space where a new stem can be pushed out of the root system and the new shoots protrude over the edge.
- The best time to repot is at the beginning of the growth phase, i.e. in March or April.
- When repotting, you can also separate parts for propagation (rhizomes).
Watering and fertilizing
Zamie is also quite undemanding when it comes to watering and fertilizing. Cultivation in planters with an irrigation system is ideal. Then the plant can always take as much water as it needs. As a result, it grows very quickly and increases in size. The plant also blooms frequently and with several flowers at the same time. I’ve had the best experiences with. However, the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia grows so quickly that it has to be repotted every two or three years at the latest.
Even without an irrigation system, maintenance is quite easy.
- Keep it evenly moist and water a little less in winter – this is how the zamie continues to grow.
- If you water less overall and not at all in winter, the plant hibernates. It feeds on its water retention in the stems. However, these can then dry out. The plant then needs a little longer after the start of watering in spring to get started again.
- Waterlogging is something that the plant cannot tolerate.
- It is fertilized as soon as the plant begins to sprout in spring.
- Liquid fertilizer is ideal. Dose according to the instructions.
- It is fertilized every 4 weeks.
To cut
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia does not need to be cut. Even if a sheet dies, it can simply be peeled off after a while. Only one stump remains and it is better to leave it on until the next repotting. If the plant gets too big, it is simply divided. There is no cutting. That is absolutely unnecessary.
Overwinter
You can overwinter the Zamie in the warm living room, but also in a slightly cooler room. But it shouldn’t be too cool. Temperatures should not drop below 15 ° C. You can drastically reduce the amount of water you give. But I recommend just pouring less. The plant does not have to take a real winter break. You just shut down the battery a little, then it doesn’t need a real restart in the spring. During my zamie, I fill up the water reservoir for the last time in October and then again at the end of February. The plant can generally do without a refill for 3 months and you shouldn’t water it straight away. I’m just waiting a little longer than usual. In this way, the zamie only stops growing, but does not restore the leaves. That works perfectly. However, the plant must have grown.
Multiply
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes, separating side shoots or by leaf cuttings.
- A simple type of propagation is through leaf cuttings.
- Individual leaflets are used for this, not a whole stem.
- Ideally, about 1/3 of the leaf should be placed directly in the plant substrate.
- After a while, small nodules form from which roots sprout.
- However, the whole process can take a few months and patience is required.
- The division of the rhizomes when repotting is the easier way.
Diseases and pests
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is a very healthy and robust plant. Diseases are extremely rare. Pests also almost never appear. If symptoms of a disease do show up or the plant is attacked by pests, care errors are usually made.
Care mistake
The Zamioculcas (Zamio) forgives many mistakes in care, but it also shows that there is something she does not like. So one shouldn’t ignore yellow leaves. Most of the time they point to a grievance.
- Yellow leaves are often a clear sign that the earth is too wet. You have to check the roots, ideally repot them, carefully cut off rotten roots and replant them. Then pour significantly less. Drying up is rather rare, but “drowning” is quite common.
- If there is not enough water, a whole stalk dries up, sometimes two, but that’s not bad. The plant recovers from this very quickly.
- Spider mites(Red spider) occur when the indoor air is too warm and too dry. This is often the case with heating air in winter. The fine cobwebs that are then spun between the leaflets are difficult to see at first. Often the pests have multiplied strongly before you notice them. Spider mites are the hardest pest to control. It is usually helpful to first shower the plant, especially the infected parts. It is important to also shower from below, under the leaves. The humidity must definitely be increased. In most cases, one cannot avoid spraying agents. However, most agents do not work against all stages of development, which makes control so difficult. You have to take action against the pests continuously several times,
Conclusion
I have had the best experiences with the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia. The only disadvantage is the terribly difficult to remember name. Fortunately, most plant lovers can relate to zamie and know which plant is meant. So this is the perfect entry-level plant. If you like to forget about watering and also have little time, I recommend planters with an irrigation system. You only have to refill water every few weeks and fertilizing is also very easy. I find these plants very decorative. They grow quickly and fit into any room. Even those who have no knack for plants should give this plant a try. You have to do everything wrong all the time to make them give up.
