How to care for a Zamioculcas or Money Tree houseplant?

Flowers

Zamioculcas is an African plant that is increasingly gaining popularity among Russian gardeners. The dollar tree (as Zamioculcas is also known) can be found in both apartments and offices, and this is not surprising, as this houseplant is easy to maintain and a joy to care for. Moreover, according to popular belief, it attracts money.

History of plant cultivation and folk beliefs

Zamioculcas is a flower that arrived in our latitudes from a tropical climate. Its characteristics were first described by K. Loddiges. However, he did not give the tree its current name—at that time, the plant was called Caladium zamiifolia. Twenty-eight years later, G.W. Schott renamed the flower Zamioculcas loddigesii. It was only in the 19th century, specifically in 1908, that the tree received its current name, given to it by A. Engler, director of the botanical garden in Berlin.

However, despite the attention of scientists, the tree only began to gain popularity among flower lovers in the late 20th century; before then, zamioculcas had not been grown as a houseplant. The tree began to be sold en masse at flower auctions in Holland beginning in 1996. Eleven years later, the first zamioculcas cultivar was developed, which differs from the original plant solely in its compact size.

Characteristics of the variety and species diversity

Zamioculcas is a popular plant belonging to the Araceae family. The plant is a succulent, meaning it stores moisture, giving its leaves a succulent, fleshy appearance. The botanical characteristics of the species are presented in the table.

Parts of a plant	Description
Inflorescence	The ear, reminiscent of corn, is light beige in color, consisting of many small flowers covered by a pale green spathe.
Peduncle	Short and thick.
Leaves	Compound-pinnate, fleshy, deep green with a glossy surface. Swollen at the base.
Rhizome	Thick, tuberous.
Height	Up to 1 m.

The tree rarely blooms indoors, as creating suitable flowering conditions indoors is quite difficult. Zamioculcas is a herbaceous, evergreen plant that sheds its leaves only during periods of severe drought.

There are several natural variations of the plant, but they are not divided into separate species:

Zamioculcas zamiifolia is typically used for indoor cultivation, as the flower is highly decorative. Its stem is invisible, giving the appearance of the leaves growing directly from the ground.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
In the wild, however, the variegated or lanceolate Zamioculcas typically grows, which differs from the ornamental plant in its long, lanceolate leaves. It is rarely grown indoors.
Zamioculcas lanceolata
Due to the flower's growing popularity, breeders developed a cultivar of the tree and named it Zamicro. The plant differs from its larger relative by its long trunk and small, slender leaves. While the Zamioculcas zamiifolia can reach 1 meter in length, the Zamicro grows only up to 60 cm in height.
Zamicro

How to properly care for a flower at home

The flower is low-maintenance, making it easy to grow in any warm space. To grow a strong and healthy tree, simply follow a few guidelines.

Temperature indicators

This factor plays a key role in caring for this plant. When grown in the new reality of our apartments or offices, this tropical plant requires the same conditions as in its native habitat.

Remember!

Therefore, it is worth understanding that high temperatures will not harm it, unlike low ones.

The room temperature should be above 12 degrees Celsius, otherwise the tree could become diseased and even die. The plant won't suffer if placed near heating appliances; in fact, it will bloom much earlier, but only if additional air humidification is provided.

Light

The tree is a sun-loving tropical plant, so a location that receives good sunlight for most of the day is ideal. However, immediately after purchase, it's best to keep the plant in the shade for a while to allow it to properly adapt to the new conditions.

Zamioculcas grows well on a windowsill, provided that its leaves are not exposed to direct sunlight.

During the winter months, like any other exotic plant, the dollar tree will appreciate supplemental lighting to extend daylight hours. However, it's worth noting that this isn't essential for this tree, and the lack of a supplemental light source won't have a detrimental effect on the plant.

How much additional air humidification is necessary?

The tree thrives in a humid climate, which must be maintained regularly. This can be achieved by misting the leaves daily with settled, room-temperature water. However, gardeners typically achieve optimal humidity by placing a tray with drainage or damp moss under the plant's container.

Please note!

During the heating season, it's important to take extra care of the plant—it's recommended to spray the flower and humidify the air, as indoor heating noticeably dries out the air.

The best option would be a humidifier, which is sold in every pharmacy. A cheaper, but no less effective option would be a container of water placed near a radiator—as the liquid evaporates, it will humidify the air in the room.

Watering and fertilizing

Although the plant thrives in moisture, it's recommended to water it only after the soil has completely dried out. Water the tree generously, but not frequently. Since excessive moisture can cause the tuber to rot, avoid standing water on the soil surface or in the tray.

From spring to fall, the tree grows actively, so it requires frequent fertilizing. Florists recommend fertilizing the plant no more than once every two weeks. For fertilizing, experts recommend using fertilizers designed for cacti or succulents.

In winter, when the room temperature drops, feeding is suspended until the next stage of active growth.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home

Zamioculcas is a poisonous tree, so it should be repotted only while wearing gloves. Failure to do so will result in sap coming into contact with exposed skin, causing a painful burn that typically takes a long time to heal.

A young plant should be repotted annually, but a mature tree should be repotted only after its rhizome has filled the entire pot and begins to emerge from the soil surface. It's best to repot flowers in the spring.

Important!

Don't repot a plant immediately after purchase; it needs time to adapt to its new growing conditions. A few weeks is sufficient for this.

Stages of transplantation:

The bottom of the pot, which should be approximately 2-3 cm larger than the previous one, is filled with drainage made of peat and sifted sand.
Soil is added over the drainage layer. Cactus-friendly soil is ideal, as it's fairly soft and loose. You can add some well-placed pebbles to the mixture, for example, to improve the soil's aeration.
Soil for Zamioculcas
Once the container has been prepared, you can begin the actual repotting, which is done using the transshipment method. To do this, remove the plant and its root ball from the old container and place it in the new pot. The tubers should not be completely buried in soil; 0.5-1 cm of the tubers should remain exposed.

Remember!

It is not recommended to water the flower immediately after transplanting; it is better to postpone watering for 2 days.

It's a common misconception that trees should be planted in clay or ceramic pots because of their powerful root system, which can deform a plastic container. However, experienced gardeners generally recommend planting in plastic pots, as the dense texture of clay and ceramic can damage the plant's rhizomes during their active growth phase.

The bush is propagated in 3 ways, namely by cuttings, leaves and division of the tuber.

With a cutting

Propagation by cuttings is best chosen during the plant's growing season (spring and summer). Cuttings should only be taken from healthy plants that are at least one year old.

The cutting should be taken from a bare branch near the ground with a bud. The cut portion should be trimmed with a knife to create a cutting with a leaf and bud.

The cut should be treated with activated charcoal, and the cutting itself should be dried and slightly placed in a container with growing medium. If the growing medium is periodically moistened, the cutting will root within two to four weeks.

Leaflet

Leaf propagation is time-consuming. This method requires:

Separate a small leaf from the flower branch and place it in a loose substrate.
Moisten the soil substrate.
Place the container with the leaf in a place with sufficient light.
Cover the sheet with polyethylene, creating greenhouse conditions.

Polyethylene helps speed up the root maturation process, which without it can take several months.

By dividing the tuber

The flower's root system is fairly easy to divide, and its parts can be planted in different containers. This method is convenient when repotting.

After replanting in special soil, the flower is watered and placed in a semi-dark place to acclimate for a couple of weeks, after which its maintenance conditions are no different from standard care.

Potential difficulties in growing and their solutions

Zamioculcas is a very easy-to-grow plant, but if not cared for properly, it can become ill. Problems can include:

Insufficient light can cause shoots to become elongated and weakened, which is why it is recommended to place the flower pot near south-facing windows.
Sometimes the leaves of a plant begin to turn yellow, but this doesn't indicate disease. Typically, it's the older leaves that turn yellow, which eventually die off and are replaced by new leaves. However, sometimes new leaves fail to appear to replace the dead ones, indicating poor care.
Yellowing of leaves can be caused by tuber rot, drafts, lack of moisture and sudden changes in temperature.

To solve the problem, simply move the flower to more suitable conditions and adjust watering.
If the rhizome rots, the tree should be repotted, first removing all rotted roots. To prevent further rot, undamaged areas of the tuber should be treated with activated charcoal.
The appearance of spots on the leaves indicates a fungal infection. Treating the plant with antifungal agents will help combat the disease. While treating the fungus, avoid fertilizing the tree.
Pests include aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. All are easily eliminated by treating the plant with a soap solution or commercial pesticides (Antikleshch, Akarin, Fitoverm, Intavir).

Frequently asked questions about growing

Whose "money" energy is stronger - the fat woman or the zamioculcas?

There's no definitive answer to this question; it's quite difficult to objectively assess the tree's ability to attract money into the home. Some believe this ability of these plants is nothing more than a myth. However, others believe that the money tree (the jade plant) generally attracts material well-being to the home, while the zamioculcas is a magnet exclusively for dollar bills.

Which pot is best for planting?

To plant a zamioculcas, choose a container slightly larger than the plant's tuber. The most important thing when choosing a pot is to have holes in the bottom; otherwise, excess moisture will stagnate in the soil, which is absolutely unacceptable. It's best to choose a plastic container, even though the plant's extensive root system can deform it.

Where should I place the plant in summer if all the windows face south?

South-facing windowsills are ideal for growing zamioculcas, as they thrive in bright conditions. However, in summer, especially at midday, it's best to shade the tree, but relocating it isn't necessary.

What does it mean if a tree dries up?

A dead tree indicates improper care. Typically, the flower begins to wither due to a lack of moisture in the soil or a rotting tuber. As for "money" superstitions, a decrease in income due to the death of a tree is a superstition.

Zamioculcas is a robust, resilient plant that, thanks to its decorative leaves, has gained popularity among professional florists and houseplant enthusiasts. It is believed that the tree can increase the wealth of its owners if treated with respect. Whether you believe this or not is a personal matter, but with proper care, the plant will delight its owners with a radiant, healthy appearance.