Zamia care how to grow at home

The plant zamia (Zamia) is part of the Zamiev family. This genus unites 26 species. Its name comes from the Latin word, which in translation means “damage, loss”. In nature, this plant is found on the shores of tropical and subtropical rivers: from Florida in Cuba and the United States and to Parรก in Brazil.

Zamia is a not very tall evergreen plant. The low trunk has a smooth surface, and it is located underground. As a rule, it has an elongated tuberous shape. Alternately located pinnate leaf plates are the main decoration of this plant. The foliage is not dense. Most often, the leaf petiole is smooth, but several thorns may be located on it. At the base, rigid and dense leaves are divided into 2 lobes. They have an oval or lanceolate shape, while their edge can be serrated or smooth. In some species, veins are clearly visible on the seamy surface of the leaves.

The zamia plant is quite widespread in domestic culture. However, the most popular species is zamia furfuracea: it looks like a palm tree.

Brief description of cultivation

Zamia

  1. Flowering… Zamia is cultivated as an ornamental leafy plant that is evergreen.
  2. Illumination… Needs lots of bright light. In the midday hours it is necessary to shade from the sun’s rays.
  3. Temperature conditions… In spring and summer months – from 25 to 28 degrees, and in winter – no more than 17 degrees.
  4. Watering… In the spring-summer period, the soil mixture in the pot is moistened systematically as soon as its top layer dries out. A gradual reduction in watering should be started in the last fall weeks.
  5. Air humidity… Feels comfortable with the level of humidity that is typical for a living room. However, on hot days, it is recommended to moisten the foliage with a spray bottle or wipe it with a damp sponge.
  6. Fertilizer… In spring and summer, the bush is fed once every 1 weeks, for this they use a mineral complex for decorative deciduous crops. With the onset of autumn, fertilizers are no longer applied to the substrate.
  7. The rest period… From late November to early March.
  8. Transfer… It is carried out at the very beginning of the growing season and only when the roots no longer fit into the pot.
  9. Soil mixture… Mix humus, sand, peat, turf and leafy soil in equal parts. Add a little expanded clay or small stones.
  10. Reproduction… Seed method.
  11. vermin… Scabbards and spider mites.
  12. disease… Discoloration of leaf plates and the appearance of rot.

Home care

Zamia care how to grow at home

Illumination

Homemade zamia needs an abundance of bright light. Direct sunlight does not harm her. However, at noon, when the sun is hottest, it is still recommended to protect the bush from its rays. Feels best on a south window, but both west and east windowsills will work as well. On the north window, the growth of the bush, as a rule, slows down greatly.

If the zamia was in shade, then it must be accustomed to direct sunlight gradually, otherwise burns may appear on the foliage. For uniform growth of foliage in a rosette, the pot with a bush is slightly turned around its axis from time to time.

Temperature conditions

In the warm season, the optimum temperature for the development of zamia is 25-28 degrees. In winter, it is moved to a cooler place (no higher than 17 degrees). Culture needs a regular supply of fresh air, and therefore the room where it is located must be often ventilated.

Watering

Zamia care how to grow at home

In spring, summer and autumn, it is necessary to moisten the substrate in the pot immediately after its top layer dries. From the last days of November, they begin to reduce watering. In winter, watering should be scanty and rare, but make sure that the clod does not dry out completely.

Air humidity

Such a plant does not need high air humidity. Only in the spring-summer period in the heat is it recommended to moisten the leaves from the sprayer from time to time with well-settled water.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer should be applied to the substrate only in spring and summer, once a month, using a mineral complex for domestic plants. No feeding is carried out in autumn and winter.

Zamia transplant

Zamia care how to grow at home

The transplant is carried out, if necessary, in the spring or summer. However, it is recommended to do this immediately before the start of the growing season. The soil mixture should be fertile, and its density should be medium. To prepare it, combine sod and leafy soil, humus, sand and peat (1: 1: 1: 1: 1), and also add a small amount of small stones. Make a good drainage layer at the bottom of the container.

Cultivation from seeds

Zamia care how to grow at home

Homemade preserves can be propagated by seeds. To do this, they are sown in a light soil mixture, deepening only half. Crops are provided with high air humidity and constant warmth. When the roots only appear on the seeds, they must be very carefully transplanted into separate pots. Try not to traumatize the roots.

Possible problems

With improper care with the replacement, problems such as:

  1. Foliage becomes faded… This occurs as a result of direct sunlight hitting foliage at midday in summer.
  2. The growth of the bush has stopped… This slow-growing plant may not produce new stems for several years, which is the norm.
  3. The appearance of rot… Regular stagnation of moisture in the soil mixture leads to plant decay.
  4. vermin… Most often, scale insects and spider mites settle on the bush.

Types of images with photos and names

Zamia pseudoparasitica (Zamia pseudoparasitica)

Zamia pseudoparasitic

In nature, the species is found in the rainforests of Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Moreover, it can grow both on the ground and on tree trunks. The height of the trunk can reach about 300 cm, and the length of the leaf blades – up to 200 cm. There are rare thorns on the leaf petiole. The leaflets are about 3,5 centimeters wide and up to 40 centimeters long. Their edge is serrated, and a longitudinal vein is clearly visible on the seamy side.

Powdered zamia (Zamia furfuracea)

Powdered zamia

A plant native to Mexico. Almost all of its trunk is underground. However, in old specimens, it may rise slightly above the surface of the ground, but only by no more than 20 centimeters.

The length of the bluish-gray leaf plates can vary from 50 to 150 centimeters. In one leaf plate, there are about 13 pairs of pinnate, leathery rigid leaves that have an ovoid-oblong or ovoid shape. Veins are clearly visible on the seamy surface. In young foliage, both sides of it have a dense coating consisting of whitish scales. Old foliage has such a coating only on the seamy surface.

Broad-leaved zamia (Zamia latifolia)

Broad-leaved zamia (Zamia latifolia)

This species comes from the forest of Honduras. The thick tuberous trunk of a low-growing bush has a height of about 10 centimeters, and most often it is hidden underground. At the top of the bush grows from 2 to 4 leaf plates 50โ€“100 cm long. One plate contains 15โ€“40 pairs of leaves. The width of the elongated-oval leaves is about 5 centimeters, and their length is from 15 to 20 centimeters.

Dwarf zamia (Zamia pygmaea)

Dwarf zamia (Zamia pygmaea)

This plant is compact and evergreen, with a relatively small trunk, hidden underground, which is 25 centimeters long and 2 or 3 centimeters wide. The leaves are not very long (from 10 to 50 centimeters), with short (2 centimeters) strobili. Women’s strobiles reach 5 centimeters in length. Also has tiny seeds (5 to 7 millimeters).

You can bookmark this page

Anna Evans

Author-editor

View all posts by Anna Evans →