If Zamioculca Zamiifolia were a person, it would be that popular individual that no one can explain how everyone likes him, but as soon as you talk to him you realize that he is good vibes, relaxed and patient. This plant is beautiful and has its charm, with those long, fleshy branches, deep green color and bright leaves that reflect the light and make any environment luminous, but its popularity is due to other reasons: it is almost-almost immortal.
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If you are looking for a cute plant, so relaxed that it can withstand being forgetful, the Zamioculca is for you and with this care guide you will have everything to make it the protagonist of your spaces.From Z to
Z: facts about Zamioculca
- It is a very old species, which originated on the African continent and where it learned to survive in drought conditions. It was brought to this side of the world by Dutch nurses who were in South Africa in the mid-1990s and began to spread.
- It's not all about size, beauty and resilience. It is part of the army of purifying plants. The ZZ plant improves air quality and is a machine that removes xylene, toluene, and benzene toxins from the environment.
- It's a family of Potos and Peace Lily, so you could buy them together to keep each other company.
- The Zamia, as it is also known, is slow growing and can reach a height of up to one meter, but it will not take up too much space, like a monstera or other bushier and more aggressive plant.
- It goes by many names: Zamioculca, Crow Plant, Zanzibar Gem, Zamia, and ZZ Plant. In English they call it ZiZi.
- Envy exists. A decade ago, there was a false rumor that it was a poisonous plant. The truth is that as long as neither humans nor pets chew the leaves, they are in no danger. Seriously, it's a very laid-back plant and good vibes, don't listen to gossip (and don't chew on plants, please).
Plant Care ZZ
Lighting
Zamioculca can live in very low light conditions, but this is not always ideal. In fact, if it doesn't get enough light, it will grow too little and the branches will get too long and stretched with few leaves. The ideal point of light is moderate or medium, never in direct sunlight because the leaves are singed. In short: don't leave it in full sun or put it in a completely dark room, it needs some indirect light.
Watering
On the roots of your ZZ plant, you'll find plump rhizomes that look like tiny potatoes. That's where they store some water and allow them to withstand some periods of drought; In other words, they will be prepared to live, even if it is one of those forgetful people. In fact, they prefer you to water them infrequently.
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I water my ZZ plant every week or two, depending on the ambient temperature. In winter it is advisable to water it every 3 or 4 weeks. In any case, pay attention to your crow plant for the first few days so that you establish a watering rhythm.
Remember that you should always let the substrate dry out between each watering, if you touch it and it is wet, wait a few more days. It's better to forget to water than to overwater.
Substrate and pots
Zamioculca is not picky about the substrate. Any universal substrate will do you good, as long as you have a pot with good drainage that allows you to remove any excess water that can rot the rhizomes. You can put it in pots that are taller than they are wide, so that it has enough room for roots and new branches.
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Temperature & Humidity
These plants come from warm, tropical climates, so if you feel comfortable and at ease at home or in the office, then your Zamioculca will be too. Remember to keep it away from air conditioning vents (it doesn't like cold drafts) or radiator/heating, as they reduce humidity.
You don't need to spray it with water or anything because it would damage the protective layer of the leaf, but it would do good to be with other plants to keep it rusty.
The
nutritional requirements of Zamia are very simple, so you can use a balanced universal fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring-summer). It's a slow-growing plant, so you'll need to change pots maybe every 12 to 18 months. And since you're doing the transplant, you can take the opportunity to propagate it. For this you have two methods: either you separate the rhizomes, which is a delicate task, or you take advantage of the branches that you have pruned, bent or broken (I am not judging you. Accidents happen.)
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Take the branch you have cut, let it sit for a couple of hours protected from the sun and place it in a glass or vase with some water. It should only be submerged a few centimeters from the twig. You can replenish the water as it evaporates. You need to be patient, because it can take several weeks to take root. You'll know it's time to put it in the pot with substrate when you see the rhizomes, those chubby roots.
A couple of tips: smaller, younger branches take less time to develop roots, and cutting two or more twigs is better, because they tend to grow better and stronger when there are several.