Methods for propagating Zamioculcas at home

Features of Zamioculcas

A special feature of Zamioculcas is that the leaves are the entire aerial part, and not each leaf separately, as many people think. It consists of several plates located on the handle.

Unlike other tropicals that live in apartment conditions, this plant is not whimsical - it grows well in the heat, in a cold room - of course, you need to observe moderation. The only thing the flower cannot tolerate is excess watering in a cool room. The roots may begin to rot; the zamioculcas will need to be urgently rescued and replanted.

The plant can survive in any soil, so it does not need to select anything special. To create conditions for full growth, it is enough to place the flower on a lighted windowsill, but shade it from the sun's rays so that they do not damage the leaves.

Carefully! Zamioculcas is very poisonous - alkaloids are contained in all its parts - aboveground and underground, so any manipulations are carried out with gloves.

Breeding rules

Zamioculcas grows slowly, so adult crops are rarely replanted. It is necessary to select the right pot so that its size exceeds the previous one by no more than 2 cm. If you plant it in a large one, all the energy will go into root growth, while the leaves will stop developing.

The peculiarity of the dollar tree is that its root system stops growing when it touches the edge of the pot. After this, foliage begins to develop.

To get a lot of small zamioculcas, reproduction at home can be done in any way:

• whole cuttings;
• separate leaves;
• dividing a root or bush.

The main condition for the reproduction of a dollar tree is a healthy plant. You cannot take leaves damaged by rot - they will not take root and the soil will be contaminated. Parts of the flower take root in water, peat, and sand.

Important ! The smaller the rooted part, the longer you will have to wait for a full-fledged plant. In general, the process takes about 6 months.

Practical advice on care and breeding

In order for Zamioculcas to grow quickly and be healthy, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• It is better to use a substrate for a flower bought in a store; either universal soil or soil for succulents, which contains perlite and vermiculite, is suitable; these components loosen the soil and serve as a good source of nutrition;
• without a drainage layer, the root system can rot, causing young plants to die;
• It is advisable to replant young bushes once a year without disturbing the root system; replanting should be carried out by transferring the bush with a lump of earth into a large pot; after replanting, watering is carried out only after 3 days;
• Both young and adult bushes do not like excessive watering; it is better to moisten the soil less than too much, so that the tubers do not rot. It is necessary to water only when the top layer of the substrate is dry;
• zamioculcas does not tolerate direct rays of the sun, as well as a dark room; when exposed to sunlight, burns appear on the leaves, and in a dark room the plant loses its decorative properties;
• You need to feed the flower with fertilizers twice a month; you can also spray the leaves with fertilizers, due to which they will acquire an intense green color;
• the plant sometimes needs a shower with warm water, while the soil must be covered with film; thanks to water procedures, the leaves will be attractive and smooth.

Soil selection

For aroids and succulents, the soil should be light and well-permeable to air. Heavy soil mixed with clay will slow down the growth of the root system and can lead to rotting. Clay or too oily soil retains water well, preventing the roots from breathing.

To properly compose the soil mixture, you need to take more sand and peat, for example, 2 - 3 parts of both. The remaining components - garden soil and turf - are taken in smaller proportions. The optimal ratio is:

• peat 2 parts;
• sand 2;
• turf soil 1 part;
• leaf humus 1.

You can add 0.5 parts of mullein humus for nutritional value, but this is not necessary. To prevent rotting, it is recommended to mix perlite into the soil and add pieces of charcoal.

Important ! Drainage must be laid at the bottom. In case of overflow, there will be air left for breathing and the flower will not get sick.

Methods of propagation of Zamioculcas

When Zamioculcas reproduces by leaf, the process of formation of a root and a small tuber occurs due to the supply of nutrients found in the leaf blade. When this supply is exhausted, the planting material turns yellow. There is no need to throw away the cutting at this moment - this is exactly how the dollar tree reproduces. After some time, a new leaf appears above the soil surface.

The same thing happens if you cut a tuber. The appearance of the above-ground part is due to the nutrients stored by the plant.

In order for the transplantation of a dollar tree to be successful, they stock up on fungicide and activated carbon in advance to disinfect the roots. They are delicate and can easily break if handled carelessly. To prevent bacteria and fungus from getting into the wound, they are dried after separation and treated with chemicals.

Cuttings or branches in the ground and in water

It is easier to propagate with a whole cutting, which has many leaf blades and growing points. A large specimen contains a larger supply of minerals, so it takes root more successfully and faster. If the old zamioculcas has grown greatly, propagation by a branch will be the best way for it for the following reasons:

• you can get several large copies at once;
• randomly fallen leaves are also rooted so that flowers will grow from them later;
• the culture rejuvenates and begins to grow again, like a new plant.

True, in this case it is necessary to injure the plant, after which it takes longer to recover and remains in the pot without signs of growth.

Potassium humate or another rooting agent can be added to the water to speed up the root formation process. It is best to root Zamioculcas when propagating by cuttings in May. At this time, the daylight hours are long, the plant has enough light to synthesize chlorophyll.

Without water, immediately in the ground, Zamioculcas also takes root well. The main thing is that the soil is moist, but not flooded. Water the cuttings along the edge of the pot, the moisture then rises in the form of steam through the layers of soil and the roots can breathe.

With this method of propagation, a tuber appears in about a month and a half. He is small and delicate, so you don’t need to touch him for 6 months. Transplantation is carried out when the roots have outgrown the volume of the pot and appear from the drainage holes.

Leaf propagation

You can use a less traumatic method for zamioculcas - leaf propagation:

1. To do this, not the entire cutting, but 1–2 leaf plates are cut off with a knife close to the branch.
2. Place the leaf in water with a rooting agent and shade it.
3. Periodically spray and ventilate. You can put on a transparent bag or make a greenhouse out of film.

The soil is taken loose. Just sand, pre-calcined in the oven, will do, but it is better to mix it with peat 1:1 for greater nutritional value. Although, while the leaf does not have a root system, it will not be able to feed from the soil - this is for the future.

There is no need to overwater or spray the cuttings heavily. The soil must be permeable to air - this is the main condition for the successful reproduction of zamioculcas. If the growth of the cutting stops - its height has not changed in several days, then you need to check the soil for moisture. Perhaps the grower overdid it and did not add water, for fear of rotting.

Dividing the bush

If the time has come to replant the dollar tree, propagation at home can be combined with this procedure. An adult Zamioculcas may have several tubers in the soil and large feathery leaves and branches growing from them. To decide how to divide the zamioculcas bush, it is taken out of the pot and inspected. Most often, all the roots turn out to be intertwined; they will have to be carefully untangled in order to reduce injury. The tubers are in the center, close to each other. They are connected by a small thin bridge, which is cut with a knife and rubbed with fungicide.

Procedure:

Get a flower.

1. Check that each tuber has a growing point - a branch or bud. Otherwise, the tuber without a bud may die.
2. Carefully cut off the parts that represent individual root systems.
3. Unravel the roots.
4. Treat cuts and breaks with fungicide and leave to dry for 5 – 6 hours.
5. Prepare the soil and lay drainage.
6. Plant zamioculcas in the soil so as not to deepen the root collar too much.

Next, the flowers are placed in a bright place without direct sunlight. Over the next 4 to 5 months, the plants will adapt and take root.

Tuber division

The tuber that has several growth points - green buds - is suitable for division. If there is only one growth point, the underground part is not divided, since it will not be able to develop and will rot.

If the flower meets all the parameters, for example, there are three growth points, a tool is prepared - a sharp knife and activated carbon. Before manipulation, you must wear gloves and protect your eyes.

How to do it:

1. Cut the rhizome as planned.
2. Treat with activated carbon or fungicide.
3. Leave the sections to dry for 3 – 4 hours.
4. During this time, prepare a damp substrate and place it in a pot with large drainage holes.
5. Replant the divisions.

The leaf embryo must be above ground level in order to begin to develop and produce chlorophyll.

Dollar Tree Pests

The following pests can attack Zamioculcas shoots:

1. Ticks from the suborder Prostigmata. These are small insects with a small body. They affect the inner area of ​​the leaves by forming a white coating. To treat the plant, tobacco tincture (1:10) and spraying of chemicals containing crushed sulfur are used;
2. Insects of the scale insect family. The small size of parasites makes them invisible to the naked eye. But they multiply intensively, and as a result the plant becomes covered with spots with a dark tint. The pests simply sit under the leaves and lay larvae. The latter quickly spread throughout the plant. A solution of soap and tobacco (1:10), diluted with kerosene, is effective. Adult mealybugs are removed by treating the leaves with a damp disc. Then the plant is disinfected with insecticides;
3. Aphidoidea. This is a small insect that can be green, gray or black in color. Affects the inner foliage zone. It feeds on the plant's nutrients, causing it to dry out and the leaves to curl into tubes. Aphidoidea is prone to intensive reproduction. For effective control, ready-made sprayers or soap solutions are used.

The dollar tree is a fairly popular plant. They often decorate apartments, offices, and are given to work colleagues for office decor. Despite the rare flowering and slow growth, Zamioculcas does not lose its popularity.

With its beautiful leaves with a glossy sheen, it will decorate and complement any interior. Reproduction is carried out in different ways. At the same time, each of them has its own characteristics and rules. Despite its apparent simplicity and careful care, the plant needs high-quality watering and fertilizer. Otherwise, it will not be possible to get a beautiful and massive tree from the sprouts, symbolizing a worthy dollar capital.

Caring for a young plant

At the first stage of growth, immediately after transplantation, Zamioculcas will not grow. He needs time to get used to the new soil. You can help the plant by creating favorable conditions. These are temperature conditions, light and watering. Immediately after reproduction, zamioculcas is not fed - all the nutrients are in the soil.

Temperature

The optimal temperature in summer during the active growing season will be 22 - 25 degrees. Humidity is moderate. In preparation for wintering in the fall, the plant is transferred to a cool room with a temperature of 16 - 18 degrees. The flower is not afraid of drafts, but the room must be ventilated often - every day.

Lighting

Thick leathery leaves can get burned if the plant is exposed to the sun without gradually acclimating. The most suitable place for Zamioculcas is a south-eastern window or a southern window behind a curtain or blinds. On the north side the flower will feel worse due to lack of light.

Watering

You need to water on demand: if the soil is dry, add water, draining the rest of the tray. It is necessary that there is air between the roots and the bottom of the pot, then the roots will not rot. Water carefully in winter if the room is cool. In this case, it is better to wait until the soil is completely dry and then water.

In summer, the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely - this leads to yellowing of the foliage and its falling off. Also, the flower will grow poorly without moisture, consuming it from tuber reserves. It is dangerous to propagate a weakened plant - it may not survive the procedure.

Feeding

Fertilizers can be applied from the beginning of the growing season - in the spring. Until autumn, water with a nutrient solution twice a month. Old plants, which are rarely replanted, especially need minerals, since they take all their nutrition from the soil to grow.

In winter, do not feed zimioculcas - this can cause harm. Fertilizers are purchased for succulents or cacti. The plant absorbs nutrients better in sunny weather. If it is rainy and cloudy, it is better to postpone watering.

Formation

Old leaves naturally dry out as they grow. To prevent them from drawing nutrients from young branches, old ones are cut off. You also need to remove yellowed leaves - they contain fungal spores that can infect the entire bush.

To prevent long branches from breaking, it is recommended to provide a support and secure the flower with plastic rods. Zamioculcas grows symmetrically, as far as old branches are concerned. It is capable of forming its own crown, so pruning complex green leaves is not necessary. If this is done, you can root the cuttings to grow new plants.

Transfer

Young plants need replanting while their root system is growing and green mass is growing. When the dollar tree reaches its maximum and growth needs to be slowed down, it is not replanted, since the root receives a stimulus to grow, and the leaves follow it.

The signal for replanting is that the roots fall out from below through the drainage holes.

Possible problems and their solutions

The main danger for a young plant is rotting of the roots. This happens if the flower care rules are violated. Due to excess moisture and low temperature, rot appears, which can destroy the flower.

The life and growth of the dollar tree depends on proper care

Zamioculcas is a beautiful plant loved by most gardeners. Even if the dollar tree does not bring wealth to its owner, it will definitely decorate the house.