Among the many plant options you can use indoors, zamioculca can be an excellent choice to transform your home. This plant stands out for being one of the most used in interior decoration due to its beauty, its elegant look, its resistance and its low maintenance.
All these characteristics have made it the perfect species for those who don’t have much gardening practice or don’t have a lot of time to take care of their plants, but want to add a little green in their home or office.
But do you really know the zamioculca? Of course, you’ve probably seen this plant in some decorative image, but to use it at home, you need to have some fundamental information to keep it healthy.
With that in mind, we decided to share this article with tips on how to take care of this species, as well as decoration examples, to help you use it in your decoration.
DISCOVER THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ZAMIOCULCA
Popularly known as zamioculca, Zamioculcas zamiifolia , its scientific name, is native to Tanzania and draws attention as it is a shade plant very well adapted to hot weather. In a natural environment, it grows in the soil of forests, protected by other trees. That’s why this species loves a warm, shaded environment protected from wind and direct rain.
This plant also stands out for its green and exuberant green foliage, being widely used in decoration not only for its appearance, but also for its resistance and ease of cultivation. It can be used almost anywhere and doesn’t need a lot of lighting and ventilation to develop well.
In addition, the zamioculca belongs to the same family as the lilies and the anthuriums, so it has a flower very similar to the flower of these two species. In fact, as with these other plants, what we call a flower is an inflorescence, which is this white part, and a green bract, which is a modified leaf that looks like a petal.
However, its “flower” does not have great ornamental value in landscaping, as they are hidden inside the clump, so their lush foliage ends up stealing all the attention.
HOW TO USE ZAMIOCULCA IN DECORATION
Due to its great plastic beauty and for not being a plant with large growth or that requires a lot of maintenance, the zamioculca is very successful in internal decoration in dining rooms, living rooms, balconies, bedrooms, bathrooms, entrance hall and even corporate environments .
Furthermore, it has the advantage of combining with different styles of decoration, making the environment more elegant, sophisticated or modern, depending on the vase in which it is grown. Decorated ceramic vases, straw baskets or fabric baskets guarantee an important improvement in the look of the environment, complementing the decoration you already use in your home.
HOW TO CARE FOR THE ZAMIOCULCA
Despite being a hardy plant, the zamioculca also requires some care to grow healthy and keep its leaves always green and shiny. Check out the tips in the next topics to learn how to care for your plant.
HOW TO WATER THE ZAMIOCULCA?
Zamioculca is very resistant and can survive for a long time without water. Therefore, it does not like water-soaked soil, which can lead to its rhizome rotting and turning its leaves yellow. So avoid accumulating water in the pot, always check if the soil drainage is taking place and only water if the soil is dry. The ideal is to water your plant 2-3 times a week on hot days and only once on colder days.
HOW TO FERTILIZE?
The zamioculca also needs fertilization to develop healthy and vigorous, which can be carried out every three or four months, using a natural fertilizer rich in organic matter, such as earthworm humus. If you prefer a chemical fertilizer, you can choose products with the formula NPK 10-10-10.
However, none of this will greatly accelerate the growth of your plant, as the zamioculca grows very slowly. The good news is that, because of this characteristic, it is not necessary to carry out a lot of pruning or replanting frequently to another pot. However, you need to remove the yellow and dead leaves, which compromise not only the look, but also the health of your plant.
WATCH THE TEMPERATURE
As shown above, the zamioculca loves a warm, shaded environment protected from wind and direct rain. In other words, it develops well in a space similar to a greenhouse, as this is the environment of the forest from which it originates.
Therefore, this plant is not suitable for regions with harsh winters, as it does not like the cold. But if the place where you live is very cold, it is necessary to reduce the number of waterings and leave this plant protected in your apartment or house.
It is also important to remember that this species does not tolerate direct sun exposure and should be kept at home in a place with indirect lighting.
FIGHTING PESTS
Caterpillars and beetles love to feed on the leaves of the zamioculca. These bugs usually appear in flocks and can harm your plant’s health. Therefore, it is important to pay attention and, if any of them appear, it is necessary to apply some natural insecticide to protect it, allowing it to develop beautiful and healthy flowers and leaves.
To encourage you to use this plant in your decoration, we have separated a selection of images that will inspire you to enjoy the beauty of the zamioculca in your home.