Zamioculcas Zamiifolia – Zanzibar Gem

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia brings luck. It is called the ‘Lucky Plant‘ as there is a belief that this plant brings luck. Apparently, luck is not limited to the affairs of men and gods. It can be influenced by plants as well.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia belongs to the family Araceae and is a deep green. Its growth is quite slow and can be kept for a long time. The plant does not have a long history,, and the origins of this plant are rather vague.

As an indoor plant, it is widely used in Korea and also popular in China. It is also used in European countries as a house plant.

You might find it in restrooms in a hotel. Although not cultivated in the Middle East, you can find them on display there,” said Omega Green Managing Director I. Anandatissa.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia Growing And Caring Tips

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia can be grown as an attractive bush and can be easily maintained. There are four types of Zamioculcas Zamiifolia with small differences between the varieties.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia Micro is smaller than the other varieties.

The most important necessity is to grow it in a medium that has good drainage. When cultivating this plant, either the leaves or the stem are planted.

When planting the leaves, to pull the roots out, you need to plant it in a bed that consists of a medium containing Coir Dust and Compost – 50 percent of coir dust and 50 percent compost.

This is the first stage. After the roots are pulled out, it is planted in a pot. This is the second stage.

The size of the container is determined by how large we want the bush to be. The medium in the pot should consist of coir chips and compost – 75 percent of coir chips and 25 percent of compost.

After the second stage, there can be a third stage or a fourth, or a fifth. Each time the pot is larger to get a larger bush.

Compost is used in a mixture and small quantities because it absorbs the water and does not permit the water to drain. So when it is used along with coir chips, the water is well-drained.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia produces many branches,, and there are a large number of leaves. Those leaves remain on the plant for a long time.

Growing Methods

If we want to get quick results,, we plant the stem. If we want to get a bush by planting a leaf, it takes a long time, about three years.

When growing the stem or the leaf, both are grown in the same mediums and techniques. When planting the stem, it is quickly marketed when it reaches the second stage.

Like the leaf, it is planted in a bed consisting of coir dust and compost when planting the stem. That is the first stage.

When the roots come out, it is planted in a pot consisting of coir chips and compost. And in that second stage itself, it is marketed.

The same bush can be grown in larger pots for four or five years when growing the leaf. Each pot is larger than the other.

In the first stage,, when the medium is coir dust and compost, it takes three months for the roots to come. When the roots come out, it is planted in coir and compost for one year.

In the third stage,, when it is planted in another pot, bigger than the previous pot consisting only of coir chips,, it is kept there for three years.

You cannot market the leaf at the second stage when cultivating it because it doesn’t look good. You need to go into three, four, or five stages to get a good ‘look.’ It takes 1 half – 2 years for the ‘look’ to come.

When planting the leaf, when the plant matures, a potato forms,, and the plant has to be changed to a bigger pot because there is no space.

When planting the leaves in the bed – 75 percent will grow roots. Five of those plants will be planted in pots containing coir chips and compost.

They will remain there for 1 half – 2 years (depending on the size of the pot). Then the bush is planted in a larger pot. Then you get an attractive bush.

It would help if you went into so many stages to get that perfect attractive bush. You can’t keep the bush in the same pot because there is no room- the bush keeps on growing.

Stems (branches) are suitable for small pots (8-10cm). They don’t produce a proportional large bush in bigger pots (15-30cm). Bushes are not expected from the stems/branches.

These plants are used as indoor plants. But they are not attractive as bushes from the leaves. They are not bushy enough.

These may be used for table decorations or to be kept in a bathroom in a hotel. For those, you need small bushes.

The main unique feature of Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is that you can plant the leaf. It can be grown commercially and as a hobby. When growing commercially, it is done according to a specific program by professional growers.

For these leaves are planted rather than stems. Of course, when growing as a hobby,, you need not do it on a larger scale,, obviously. Maybe 50 – 100 leaves would be enough.

However, a layman growing will need to find the plant material and might not have the patience to watch the plant grow. But it is grown as a hobby.

When growing commercially, you have to supply according to a certain quality standard to the market. When growing as a hobby, you don’t think of these requisites.

They don’t think of the size of the pot, or they may even use a polybag. When growing commercially,, the objective is to sell the plant.

When growing commercially, attractiveness is a huge consideration. When growing as a hobby, a finished pot is not a consideration.

Even though a polytunnel is not compulsory, it can be useful. At the infant stage, having a polytunnel is beneficial. A person growing Zamioculcas Zamiifolia as a hobby cannot buy materials over the counter.

So when growing as a hobby, one might use a polybag as they may not be able to purchase good pots. They may even not be able to find coir chips.

If they can’t find coir chips, then they will have to grow the plant in normal soil. If you know the subject fairly well, then you will be able to pull the roots out of the leaf.

TIPS WHEN GROWING ZAMIOCULCAS ZAMIIFOLIA

The temperature has to be between Celsius 25 – 35

Humidity 50 – 70 percent

Shading has to be 70 percent.

Wetness is important. Coir chips will retain the necessary amount of water and let the excess water drain out. Watering every three days is enough.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia must be prevented from too much sunlight and too much water.

When keeping Zamioculcas Zamiifolia normal room temperature is alright.
It is a hardy plant,, and when the roots are pulled out,, potatoes form.

The potato must not be harmed. If the potato is harmed,, the plant will suffer. When the roots are pulled out,, potatoes forms at that stage.

It is a part of the plant. If the potatoes are harmed,, fungal diseases start. You can use fungicides.