Zamioculcas, or the dollar tree, is a beautiful flower that has emerged from South American latitudes. Many flower growers value the plant for being unpretentious, and also for the legend that the plant attracts luck and wealth. Every year, the tree is gaining more and more popularity in landscaping offices, municipal institutions. Before buying, you need to learn how to properly care for the dollar tree.
Flowering features
The flower looks great in the house, office premises. The branches of the plant are long, the leaves are large and glossy, they make a vivid impression and attract the attention of people around. Many people are interested in how to care for a dollar tree in a pot, how it blooms. The flowering time can be seen in the plant, but it occurs extremely rarely - exclusively in adulthood. Externally, the flowers are completely unattractive, presented in the form of ears of corn with pale small buds, but surrounded by lush and lush greenery, they look very original and elegant. And how to care for a dollar tree flower? Now we will understand this issue.
Choose a place, light and temperature
The plant loves sun-drenched windows. It is allowed to put on a bedside table or desk, which are located near the window. Not sure how to care for a dollar tree at home? Then immediately determine the place, light and temperature. This is the first thing to do. Zamioculcas prefers diffused and soft light. In the summer, the plant should be taken out to the terrace or balcony, and in winter, when daylight is short, additional lighting will not be superfluous. Why is light so important? The lack of ultraviolet radiation leads to the fact that the plant's health is weakened and it becomes prey for many insects. However, artificial light is needed only from December to March, in other cases, natural lighting is the life force of a flower, otherwise it will not be able to grow and develop. Due to the fact that the origin of the flower is African, it easily tolerates high temperatures. If the room is +30 degrees Celsius, then do not worry, Zamioculcas will not have anything, on the contrary, he loves heat and does not tolerate low temperatures.
Watering and humidity
The plant does not tolerate dry air, from this fungal infections develop and pests appear. On especially hot days, it is recommended to put a tray with water near the vessel, and with the start of the heating season, the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth. Watering the plant is necessary from spring to mid-autumn, after the dollar tree goes into a dormant state, therefore water will be needed only when the soil is completely dry. You grow a dollar tree, you know about how to care, but how much water does a flower need? The amount of liquid should be such that it is enough to moisten the pot, but no more. Oversupply still drains into the pot, which means that watering can be done less frequently. Stagnant water is harmful to the rhizome of the plant, and it provokes decay. Choose only clean, well-maintained room temperature water for irrigation.
Pot selection
Interested in a dollar tree? How to care for him, are you also interested? Then still pay attention to the choice of pot. If the plant is young, it is best for him to pick up a small capacity, and over time, just replace it with a large one. Give preference to heavy flowerpots, so that the rhizome of the flower could quietly grow. Do not transplant the flower into a narrow and tall pot, as the plant has a tuberous root system.
Fertilizer and soil
You have already bought a room flower (dollar tree), you still do not know how to care, but you have already chosen a place and a pot. Now you need to choose the necessary fertilizer and earth. The ideal option is soft, loose and with good throughput soil, through which water and oxygen penetrate. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or slightly higher than this indicator, there should be enough useful substances in it. Usually purchased land for indoor plants, soil for succulents, or even cacti. You can even make a good ground with your own hands from the following components:
- leaf and turf land (take one part of everything);
- peat and turf (in part);
- perlite, sand in a small amount.
All living things need nutrients. While the green mass is growing, it is worth adding to the soil a complex suitable for succulents and cacti. Additionally, the plant needs to be fed in the warm season. Much attention should be paid to young individuals that are grown at home. If you buy a seedling in the store, then “feeding” it is allowed only a couple of weeks after the move. Organic fertilizer is favorably perceived by the plant. You can use a weak solution of chicken manure, wood ash and mullein for fertilizer. Feeding should continue until winter and resume it in the spring.
Pruning
You have already bought a room dollar tree, how to care, read a little, now it's time to talk about pruning. Such manipulations are necessary only in special cases, for example, an incorrectly formed crown. A crown is formed at the very peak of growth, a spherical shape can only be achieved by cutting the stems that grow up. Remove the upper kidney, proceed to the incorrectly grown lateral shoots. After these manipulations, zamioculcas actively throws out new shoots, but at this time it is worthwhile to monitor the even distribution of light and nutrition so that the crown of the plant is magnificent and uniform.
Flower transplant
You bought a dollar tree, how to care for it at home, you know about it, now you can talk about a plant transplant. The growth of the flower is slow, and it is necessary to transplant it no more than once every three to four years. After you buy a plant, it is allowed to transplant after a month, not earlier. If you change the pot for an adult, then everything happens when the existing tank is fully filled. Seedlings must be replanted every year.
You do not know after buying a dollar tree, how to care for it at home? Then study this issue, the main thing - do not forget: caution is required in working with the plant, and it is allowed to touch it with gloves. Why? The flower has poisonous juice, which causes burns on the skin upon contact. Therefore, when replanting, follow this rule. In addition, a transplant for a flower is stressful, and it is necessary to carry out it by transshipment in order to preserve a very fragile root system. At the bottom of the pot should lay a drainage layer, at least a third of the total volume. You can put claydite, gravel, stone fragments, shards into practice. The second layer should be a special soil mixture for cacti and succulents (it was mentioned earlier). Do not excessively deepen the roots so that they do not begin to rot. Gently insert an earthen lump into the ground, and then lightly press down. At the end, pour the remaining earth to the rim of the vessel, and after transplanting, pour, but in moderation.
Pests and diseases
Parasites appear as soon as the plant becomes weakened. A healthy flower in comfortable conditions is not afraid of any pests, but if you see that the foliage has turned pale and curled, it's time to conduct an inspection. Found aphids? So, you need to get rid of it.
Scabies and ticks are frequent enemies of the plant. As soon as they appear, you can install it and immediately begin treatment. If you bought a dollar tree, how to care, revered, then you already know that brown and black spots, cobwebs, twisting and yellowing falling leaves are the first signs of parasites. First, you need to wipe the leaves with a sponge, which is moistened in a soap solution. If you find larvae, then get rid of them with a tobacco spray, and after half an hour rinse it off with warm water. Solving problems with parasites will be simple, the main thing is to acquire the necessary funds for this.
What if foliage dries?
If old foliage falls, then this is a normal process in nature, but a plant devoid of young foliage is unhealthy. A common reason is improper care. Cold, cold water, rotting of rhizomes and so on can provoke falling. Restore proper plant care so that it can please you again with its decorative effect.
Propagation by cuttings
We continue to discuss the dollar tree (how to care for it, you already read). Now is the time to talk about flower propagation. This method is ideally suited for medium-sized individuals that new processes have already started up, but they have not grown to division. Rooting is fast and virtually always successful. Choose a part of the stem and carefully cut it with a sharp and processed garden tool. The length of the planting flower should be from nine to eleven centimeters. The cutlery is placed in a glass where water is poured in advance, and activated carbon is added to the composition. The room should be warm and bright, water must be changed with enviable regularity so that rot does not begin, and as soon as the first roots appear, plant.
Foliage propagation
This method is ideal for people who do not have a plant and who have lent a leaf. Yes, the growing process will be lengthy, sometimes it takes about six months. First, they tear off a large leaf to ensure that a good root is formed and the seedling will grow faster. You can even take only the upper fragment of the sheet or the plate, however, in the latter case, you will need to completely remove the lower leaves. Rooting will occur in water or soil, but the earth will need to be disinfected. If you have large planting material, then it will need a backup, you can also use phytostimulants.
How to choose a good plant in the store?
You want to buy a dollar-tree indoor flower (you already know how to care for it), but it is still unknown how to choose a healthy plant. When buying, carefully inspect the flower, sellers may be a little tricky and not even indicate the age of the tree. The young individual has foliage of a soft green hue, she is not tall - up to thirty centimeters, but the mature representative has a strong root and an already formed crown.
Pay particular attention to greens. The foliage should be fleshy, tight, and there should be no defects on it. Did you like a middle-aged flower? Then choose a plant with a well-formed hat. Inspect the branches, if you see sluggish, yellowed and dried branches - these are signs of the presence of an ailment or parasites, so do not buy such zamioculcas.
Key recommendations
In the article, you looked at a photo of a dollar tree, how to care for it, you also have an idea now, but it is worth mentioning some recommendations:
- The tree grows beautifully in a bright place, therefore it is better to place it near the windows of east and west.
- In winter, put the flower closer to the window, to natural light.
- It is better to let the soil be dry rather than excessively moist.
- After wintering, the plant should get used to natural light gradually so that it does not have sunburn.
- Do not forget to wipe the leaves, spray them.
- Transplant adult plants every couple of years.
- In the summer, take the flower to the balcony, to the garden, in other words, to the open air.
- For watering use exclusively soft and settled water.
- If the plant has thick and fleshy stems, then support will be required in any case, otherwise the flower will fall over.
- The flower pot should be wide.
- Avoid direct exposure to the plant, otherwise you cannot avoid sunburn.
- From April to August, the plant requires top dressing, because every two weeks it needs to be fertilized.
- The soil for the normal development of the flower should be enriched with organic and mineral components.
Did you receive the plant or did you buy it yourself? Since you already have a dollar-tree houseplant, you probably know how to care for it, then just follow the general rules, try to follow the recommendations, and the flower will delight you for a long time. Perhaps he will also contribute to attracting wealth, who knows.