Zamioculcas, or as it is also called the dollar tree, is considered an unpretentious plant that is easy to care for at home. The only weakness in cultivation is the watering of zamiokulkas. This plant is a succulent, so it tolerates a lack of moisture better than its excess, which often provokes various fungal diseases and flower rot.
How to water zamiokulkas at home, every owner of a glossy bush with shining emerald leaves of a complex pinnate appearance should know.
How to water Zamioculcas
Zamioculcas loves soft water, similar in composition to rainwater. Of course, at home you have to use tap water, which must be defended for at least a day.
When watering, the temperature of the water should also be taken into account - it should not be too warm or too cold, ideally - the ambient temperature or 1-2degrees higher. It is especially important to know how to water zamiokulkas in winter - watering with cold water in a cool room is dangerous for the plant.
The best option would be to take into account the microclimate in the room and adjust the irrigation mode when it changes.
Spring-summer period
Zamiokulkas watering in the warm season is carried out more often than in winter, because the ambient temperature is higher and the humidity is low. In this case, the soil in the pot should dry out at least half. If the room is cool, then watering is carried out when the soil is completely dry.
If watering is done at the wrong time, then the lack of moisture will affect the apical leaves first of all - they will gradually begin to dry out. But after watering, the plant will look he althy again.
Spraying and moistening the leaves of Zamioculcas is not necessary even on the hottest days, you only need to occasionally remove dust from the leaves to maintain their glossy appearance.
In summer, the dollar tree can be taken out to a balcony or an open terrace, but not placed in direct sunlight so that burns do not appear on the leaves.
Autumn-winter period
In winter, the plant is at rest, it has been preparing for it since autumn. Zamioculcas grows very slowly even in the warm season, and in winter its processes slow down even more. Therefore, watering Zamioculcas in winter is rarely recommended - when the soil is completely dry. The root system of the dollar tree is small, so it is watered about 1 time in 3-4 weeks at room temperature12-15 degrees.
If the room is warm enough, then you can water more often, guided by the drying of the soil.
Spraying
Watering zamiokulkas at home is perhaps the most important aspect in caring for this plant. At the same time, the humidity in the room for the flower does not really matter, so special devices to increase the level of ambient humidity are not required here.
But sometimes you need to wipe the leaves so that dust does not accumulate on them. This is usually done with a damp cloth. Once a month, Zamioculcas can be given a warm shower to refresh and invigorate the plant. It is important to remember that water should not remain in the pot, it should drain.
Water Zamioculcas after transplantation
The root system of Zamioculcas grows slowly, so it does not need to be repotted often. It is enough to change the soil once a year for the first three years, and then once every two years. Be sure to transplant after buying a plant, as flowers are sold in technical soil, which is not suitable for long-term cultivation.
How to water zamiokulkas after transplantation? After transplanting, it is important to leave the plant alone for 7-10 days so that it gets used to the new conditions and new soil. After that, it can already be watered. But watering should be moderate, gradually increase the amount of water.
The dollar tree does not tolerate excessive watering, therefore, when transplanting, it is important to take care of drainage - pour expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, make drainage in the bottomholes, and put the pot on a plate or tray.
Water combined with top dressing
The general rule of fertilizing is to feed the plant in a moist soil mixture, so the dollar tree needs to be watered first. It is not advisable to fertilize the plant too often. Zamioculcas accumulates nutrients in its tuber and consumes them little by little. An excess of these substances is just as harmful to the plant as their deficiency.
During the growing season, Zamioculcas can be fed several times: with the help of a mineral complex for succulents or deciduous houseplants at the beginning of the season, then twice more every month. In the middle of the growing season, foliar top dressing can be carried out by adding the necessary trace elements to the plant.
Zamioculcas does not require fertilizing in winter, as the plant rests from October to March.
Watering: ways
How often to water zamiokulkas, we have already figured out above, now we need to figure out how to water it so that watering is of high quality. Flower growers distinguish two ways to water the dollar tree:
- First option: pour the soil from the watering can abundantly and evenly. After that, you need to wait until the water drains into the pan, and drain it for an hour until it stops appearing there.
- Second option: pour water into the pan for 10-15 minutes, then drain the remaining water, and pour the soil evenly from the watering can. If water appears in the pan, then it should also bedelete.
Problems with the plant due to improper watering
No wonder watering Zamioculcas is considered the most important aspect in plant care. Violation of the irrigation regime is the main reason for the poor condition of the succulent. Moreover, the appearance and he alth of a flower can deteriorate both due to a lack of moisture, and because of its excess.
Dry plants will make themselves felt with brown leaf tips. If watering is not restored, then the leaves will dry out and crumble - Zamiokulkas will have an unforeseen dormant stage. From here, another problem may appear - various pests, in particular spider mites, can attack an overdried flower. The dry air of the environment exacerbates the unpleasant situation. Humidification of the air around the flower slows down the defeat.
Excessive watering for a flower is also undesirable. In this case, fungal diseases actively develop. Waterlogged conditions activate root and stem rot. Especially excess moisture is dangerous for a plant that is in a room with a low temperature. Rotting of the root system and tubers in such conditions occurs very quickly, and in this case it is very difficult to save the flower.
When the flower is waterlogged, young leaves begin to turn yellow first. In order to save the dollar tree, you need to limit watering and watch him.
If the foliage has stopped turning yellow, it means that the root system was slightly damaged, rotten areas have not yet appeared, or were very small, and the plant itselfde alt with them. In this case, the soil must be well dried, the next watering should be very scarce, you can add "Fundazol" to the water.
If this stage has already been missed, and the petioles of the plant began to stagger in the soil, then the root system of the plant was seriously damaged by rot. In this case, an emergency flower transplant is required, during which the degree of the disease is determined.
With a small outbreak, you need to remove all rotten roots, remove rotten areas from the tuber, treat with "Fundazol" and leave to dry. After that, all fresh wounds should be sprinkled with activated charcoal or any other antiseptic, and the plant should be planted in new soil. At first, after transplanting, it is not necessary to water it, then watering is carried out in small portions until the flower is fully restored.
When extensive foci of decay appear in a flower, it will not be possible to save it, Zamioculcas will have to be thrown away. You can try to save the upper parts of the leaves that are not affected by rot, root them, following all the rules, getting a few new plants.
Conclusion
Not a single flower can live without water, it is a necessary and vital product, but you need to water the plants correctly. Zamioculcas came to us from hot Africa, where he got used to getting water very rarely, only during the rainy season. During such periods, he stored water in his tubers and then used it up gradually. In order for a flower to feel good at home, you need to create it as close as possiblemicroclimate, without swampy, constantly moist soil.
