When it comes to easy-care houseplants, there’s one tropical plant we can’t ignore: the zamioculca (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), also known in some countries as the lucky plant. It is a very showy species with very showy leaves and stems, appreciated for its ability to decorate interiors and for its remarkable resistance. Many people wonder about the flowering of zamioculca and how to make it bloom.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you what are the best tips and tricks for flowering zamioculca, its characteristics and the necessary care for it.
Contents
main Features
Scientifically known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia, this tropical plant native to Africa is perfect for beginner or amateur gardeners who have little time for plant care. Let’s start by talking about its features:
- The special appearance of the zamioculca plant it is due to its ability to trap water in its fleshy leaves and stemswhich serve as a reserve in case of drought, transforming it into a succulent.
- It is a perennial that can reach a height of 1 meter in its native habitat, but in pots and indoors it tends to fall slightly below.
- Zamioculca flowers have little ornamental value because they are made up of small discreet yellow inflorescences, which is why it is a species appreciated mainly as a green plant.
- Its leaves are poisonous, so keep children or pets away from ingesting it.
Location and irrigation of the Zamioculca
This plant likes a sunny spot, although it doesn’t need light like other houseplants. If you have a well-lit room, you can place your zamioculca away from direct sunlight and you will provide it with a good supply of light, which will prevent its stems from drying out or rotting.
As for the temperature, being an indoor plant, naturally, it is not exposed to extreme conditions. In all cases, zamioculca grows well at temperatures above 15ºC, so try not to store it in a room where the temperature drops below this temperature.
If it is placed outdoors, all this must be taken into account, place it in a place with an appropriate temperature, in a semi-shaded place, that is, close to the sun but not directly.
It is very important not to overwater this plant., because like most water-retaining plants, over-watering can easily lead to root rot. Therefore, try to avoid flooding when watering the plants and make sure to pot them with drainage holes. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, especially if your plant is not in a light location. During the colder months, it will be necessary to further reduce the frequency of watering.
Substrates and fertilizers for flowering Zamioculca
As it is a plant that does not tolerate too much humidity, it is important that its substrate ensures the best possible drainage. Prepare a layer of expanded clay, coarse gravel, or other similar material at the bottom of the container, then use a light, well-drained, all-purpose growing medium.
Regarding subscribers, plants receive a monthly donation during the warmer months, which can be dissolved in irrigation water. Ideally, it is a high quality fertilizer rich in micro and macro elements.
This plant has very strong and well-developed roots which, if grown correctly, will quickly take up all the available space in the pot. So, it should be transplanted into a new, larger container approximately every 2 years.
The strong roots of the plant can deform the pots or containers, forcing us to break them carefully in order to extract and transplant them. If you see this, transplant it next spring.
yellowed leaves
Zamioculca leaves turn yellow for various reasons:
- The first and most common is that you are overwatering.. If this is the case and the trend continues, the leaves will turn black and black, a sign that the plant is rotting. Prune any affected leaves with disinfected tools and isolate the hazard.
- Your plant may also need to be transplanted or fertilized because it has depleted the nutrients in the soil.
- It could be due to the attack of the cochineal, a scourge that sometimes affects this plant. Look for pests on the underside of the leaves, then apply neem oil or potassium soap.
- There could also be too much direct sunlight and the leaves will burn.. In this case, you will see that they start to turn yellow, but quickly turn more brown, dry out and fall off.
Flowering of the Zamioculca
Its flowering has no ornamental meaning and rarely appears if it is a houseplant. At other times, it’s a flowering that goes unnoticed. Therefore, following the care mentioned above, they will probably flourish well.
They are unisex flowers with spathes very similar to anthuriums or crane lilies. Bright yellow, partially hidden between 4 and 7 centimeters between the bases of the leaves. This flowering usually takes place between May and October, depending on the weather and the age of the plant.
One of the successes of the good behavior of the Zamioculca in the house is that once its location is chosen, it does not change it. Over time, the plant acclimates and begins to shed its leaves, slowly but steadily developing into longer and wider leaflets.
Despite what we think, this plant is not desert. It is sometimes found in very dry habitats, but it should also be taken into account that in its natural habitat this plant grows in tropical rainforests, savannahs and stony soils. To cope with periods of drought, it stores water in the thick petioles.
Because the plant can go without water for long periods, it is often said to be a hardy plant. Yes, it will survive, but that doesn’t mean it will thrive. Although it is generally informative, this plant needs water like any other and if we do not water it properly, its leaves begin to fall, a survival technique that this species has developed in its natural habitat. to conserve water and survive periods of severe drought. That is, it behaves like a deciduous plant while waiting for the return of the rainy season.
Defoliation does not mean that the plant dies, far from it, it simply remains inactive to protect itself from water stress. In fact, if we come across something like this, as long as we turn it over frequently, it will be reborn slowly. But I think we can all agree that it’s not very tempting to have a leafless plant in the house.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the flowering of Zamioculca.