Dollar Tree (Zamioculcas)

Contents

Varieties of the dollar tree
Caring for a dollar tree at home
Reproduction of a dollar tree at home
Dollar tree transplant at home
Dollar Tree Diseases
Dollar tree pests
Popular questions and answers

Tropical zamiokulkas willingly took root in Our Country, they like to grow it both in offices and in apartments. Its official scientific name is not known to everyone. But how many people know the dollar tree

Found in the rainforests of Africa, the handsome Zamioculcas has attracted the attention of botanists with its juicy, fleshy leaves. In recent years, it has become very popular, especially after it became known that, according to Feng Shui, this flower brings good luck and financial well-being to the owners. Then he was quickly nicknamed the dollar tree and began to give for birthdays, holidays, decorate offices.

The genus Zamioculcas belongs to the Aroid family (Araceae). And there is only one species in it – Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) (1). However, other species can be found in the literature. For example, the lanceolate zamiokulkas (Zamioculcas lanceolata) – in 1929 it was described by the German botanist Gustav Peter, but at the moment it is classified as zamiokulkas zimyelous. And Zamioculcas Boivin (Zamioculcas boivinii), which was described in 1870, is now generally attributed to a different genus – gonatopus (Gonatopus boivinii).

This plant was first described in 1829. However, it became widespread quite recently – in 1996 (2), when Dutch nurseries actively began to propagate it.

With good care, the dollar tree reaches a height of 1 m or more. It blooms quite rarely, besides, its cob of light pink or light yellow color is not particularly decorative. But the fleshy dark green leaves are able to please all year round. She told us about the features of this plant Tatyana Zhashkova, chairman of the Moscow Flower Growers club, collector of ornamental flowering plants.

Lighting	Bright diffused light
Temperature	In summer – 18 – 25 ° C, in winter – about 16 ° C
Watering	2 times a week, excess water is unacceptable
Air humidity	High, requires daily spraying
soil	A mixture of leaf, sod land, peat and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:1.
Feeding	April – September, 1 time in 2 weeks with complex liquid fertilizer
Transfer	Annually, in March-April
Trimming	Only dry and diseased leaves
Flowering	Blooms very rarely
The rest period	October-April
Reproduction	Tuber division, cuttings, leaves
vermin	Spider mite, aphid, scale insect
Diseases	Root rot

Varieties of the dollar tree

Zamioculkas was very fond of not only flower growers, but also breeders – they brought out several interesting varieties.

Big Liv yellow (Big leaves var. yellow). This is a very rare variety of Zamioculcas with yellow leaves. At first glance, it seems that the plant is sick and is about to shed its leaves. But no – this is its varietal feature. But its petioles are light green in color with a purple tint, which makes it even more exotic.

Bug. This is the smallest of all existing varieties – its height does not exceed 30 cm. Its petioles are leafy from the very base, the leaves are dark green in color.

Zamicro. The very first undersized hybrid obtained by breeders in 2007. The height of the bush is about 60 cm. The leaves are much smaller than those of species plants.

Do (Do). Another undersized variety – its height also does not exceed 60 cm. The petioles of the leaves are strongly thickened at the base, and the leaves themselves have a dark green color. The variety does not tolerate waterlogging – it must be watered very carefully.

Lucky. Its main feature is the perfectly rounded shape of the leaves. A plant up to 55 cm high, grows very quickly – with good care, it reaches the size of an adult plant in just a few months.

Lucky White (lucky white). This is the most famous variety from the variegated series. Its leaves have a beautiful marble color – cream and yellow spots and strokes are scattered over a green background. The plant is compact, 30-40 cm high.

Super Nova (Super Nova). This variety is a luxurious giant up to 1.5 m high. Its petioles are powerful, with an abundance of emerald green leaves.

Black Raven (Blaсk Raven). Its leaves and shoots are so dark in color that they appear black from a distance. At the same time, young leaves are painted in light green color. The plant looks very extravagant! The bush reaches a height of 75 cm.

Caring for a dollar tree at home

In general, Zamioculcas is an unpretentious plant, but there are several growing features that need to be considered.

Ground

Zamioculcus is a succulent plant, so soil marked “for cacti” is suitable for it.

But you can prepare the soil yourself. The ideal option is a mixture of leaf and sod land, peat and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. It is useful to add small pebbles and pieces of charcoal to it.

Temperature

During active growth, the air temperature should not be lower than 18 ° C, but optimally – 25 ° C. But in winter, the plant has a dormant period, and at this time it needs coolness – around 16 ° C.

Lighting

The dollar tree loves an abundance of light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight – they can cause leaf burns. In summer, this plant feels great on a glazed loggia, provided that the sun does not shine directly on it.

Humidity

Zamioculcas has a tuberous root, it is able to store water, therefore it easily tolerates underfilling and drought. Quietly lives without watering for up to 2 weeks – you can safely leave it when going on vacation, or leaving the office for a long vacation.

But he does not like overflows. If the water is in the pan, the tuber root may rot. Therefore, drainage and moderate watering are very important. Water only when the top layer of soil is very dry.

But at the same time, the dollar tree loves moist air very much, so you need to spray it every day. Better yet, if it will be in a room where there is a humidifier. This is especially true in winter, when the plant is above the radiator.

Fertilizers and fertilizing

Zamiokulkas needs top dressing only during the period of active growth – from April to September. It is best to use complex liquid fertilizers. During dormancy, it is not necessary to fertilize it.

Reproduction of a dollar tree at home

There are three ways to propagate the dollar tree (Zamioculcas).

By dividing the tuber. The easiest way to reproduce a dollar tree is by dividing the tuber. When transplanting an adult plant, the tubers are divided and planted in different pots. The pot for the separated tuber should not be very deep and not very large – about 3 – 4 cm wider than the rhizome.

Cuttings. Cuttings are more labor intensive. First you need to find a kidney on a bare branch. Using a sharp knife, cut off the stem with the bud and shorten it slightly – there should be at least one leaf and a bud on the stem. The cut should be sprinkled with activated charcoal to disinfect from possible diseases. Dry the stalk for 5 – 7 hours (you can leave it overnight on the windowsill).

Pour vermiculite (a special substrate rich in minerals) into a small pot and slightly deepen the cutting. Water it every day for 2 to 4 weeks, during which time the cutting should give good roots. And then it can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Leaf. A simple, but not always giving 100% result method. Moreover, it is very long. Separate a few small leaves from the branch, slightly deepen them in loose vermiculite, peat or other substrate. Moisturize it a little.

Such “leaf” seedlings need good lighting. You can create a greenhouse effect for him by covering with a film. The tuber from the leaves is formed within a few months.

Dollar tree transplant at home

The roots of Zamioculcas are strong and powerful, they can easily break a plastic container, so it is better to plant it in a ceramic or clay container. The pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. Be sure to put a good layer of drainage on the bottom.

Transplantation must be carried out by transshipment, planting the plant in a new pot along with the old clod of earth. But make sure that the top tubers are slightly bare, about 1 cm.

Important! The sap of the dollar tree is poisonous and can cause skin burns, so it should be transplanted with rubber gloves.

Dollar Tree Diseases

Root rot. The main problem of zamiokulkas is associated with watering – with excess moisture, their roots rot. You can recognize the problem by withering shoots and yellowing leaves.

You can save the plant if you start treatment at the very beginning. The first step is to remove the plant from the pot and remove the rotten roots. After that, the rest must be washed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dried and planted in a new pot with fresh soil.

Dollar tree pests

Spider mite. In the initial stage, the infection is not easy to detect – the pests are very small. But if numerous light dots began to appear on the leaves, it is clearly him. With severe infection, the plants are covered with cobwebs.

The preparations Kleschevit and Fitoverm will help to cope with the pest (3).

Aphid. This pest is clearly visible on plants, you can’t confuse it with anyone. With a large population, it can do much harm, up to the death of Zamiokulkas.

Biotlin Tanrek, Karate or Fitoverm biopreparation will help to cope with aphids (3). Apply pesticides as directed.

Shchitovki. These insects are covered with a strong shell, they settle on all frequent plants and it is not easy to deal with them.

The first thing to do is to remove the insects with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Then wash the plant with soapy water. And then treat the bush with Aktellik (3).