What does Zamioculcas need to form new shoots?

Zamioculcas is not pruned, at least in the usual sense of the word. Although the flower is called a dollar tree, it is a herbaceous evergreen perennial plant. The stem is part of the rhizome, a tuber, and what is mistaken for branches or shoots is a complex leaf consisting of a central axis (rachis) swollen in the lower part and oval segments. The question of how to trim zamioculcas at home has its own answer. But the people asking it probably want to know how to restore the plant’s decorative properties.

Proper watering

When watering zamioculcas, it should be taken into account that this crop belongs to succulents. The plant is capable of extracting moisture from the air itself, so during the growing season the soil should be moistened only when the soil layer is half dry.

Irrigate the soil substrate approximately once a week, especially if the room is not too hot. In the cool season, Zamioculcas is watered even less frequently. You should not allow the earthen clod to dry out.

The need for watering can be easily determined by the leaves - they fall off the top of the shoots in case of drought. So in the wild, the flower reduces the area of evaporation and conserves moisture.

Water the zamioculcas with well-settled or filtered water. It is also necessary to protect the dollar tree from stagnation of moisture in the roots.

How to properly carry out the procedure at home?

There are formative and rejuvenating pruning of the aerial part of zamioculcas.

When rejuvenating pruning, remove all yellow leaves, as well as the outermost old and dry parts.
When forming , the leaves are thinned out, and those that grow intensively or have slowed down in growth are also pruned.

If there is a desire or need to give a special shape, then pruning is carried out according to a certain pattern:

If you need a ball, then after tying up the leaves, cut off part of the outer leaves by one third of the length, from the sides by two thirds, and cut off the central leaves so that a spherical surface is formed on top. As the leaves grow, repeat pruning so that the entire bush has the shape of a ball.
Often plants are planted in oblong boxes and form leaves in the form of a parallelepiped. To do this, only protruding leaves are cut off along the side edges, and the top of the plant is formed as a flat surface.

Pruning is done with sharp pruning shears or a sharp knife.
Before work, you need to disinfect the devices with alcohol.
The cut areas should be dried and then treated with powdered charcoal.
The shoots are not completely removed. Small stumps should be left. They can be pruned when transplanting or propagating the plant, when the tuber-stems are freed from the ground. After trimming, dry the cut and treat it with charcoal powder.
All work must be done with gloves. Zamioculcas has very poisonous juice.

Nitrogen

Zamioculcas is replanted every few years. The container is filled with soil of approximately the following composition: sand, garden soil, forest soil. Charcoal is sometimes added to this mixture.

Usually, the dollar tree has enough nutrients for a long time, because in nature it grows in rocky areas. If the plant does not dry out and regularly produces full-fledged shoots, it does not need to be fed. However, most experts agree that Zamioculcas needs nitrogen.

For feeding, special preparations for succulents are usually used. They are applied to moist soil twice a month, but only during the active growing season. Sometimes the foliar method is also used.

The fertilizer is diluted in a ratio of 1:10 with clean, settled water. The dry plant is sprayed with a spray bottle. When budding and flowering, zamioculcas should not be stimulated using this method.

Why prune zamioculcas and how to do it correctly

Zamioculcas, or the so-called money tree, is a common decoration of a house or apartment, catching with its unusualness. It has thick stems, densely covered with shiny leathery leaves.

When buying a zamioculcas, it is important not only to learn the pruning rules, but also to choose the right pot for it. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©delniesoveti.ru

When purchasing such a plant, it is important not only to learn the pruning rules, but also to choose the right pot for it. It should be 4 cm larger in diameter. This plant is afraid of cold weather, so it is better to buy it in the warm season. For a more successful transplant of a flower or its shoots, it is recommended:

Use light and fertile soil.
Make drainage from expanded clay, brick, etc.
It is better not to bury the roots completely.
You should not remove the earthen ball that was with the money tree when you sold it.
When working with the plant, it is important to remember safety precautions due to its poisonous sap.

After transplanting the plant, it is recommended to water it every 10 days with a small amount of water.

Few people know why to prune zamioculcas and how to do it correctly. Often non-compliance, and sometimes ignorance of this or that point, leads to the death of the flower.

Zamioculcas is not afraid of dryness because... originated from the jungles of Africa. Easy to care for. It is enough to water and prune it. Pruning is carried out to form a crown. To increase density, it is important to prune the branches correctly. If the money tree feels a lack of light, its leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off. Regular pruning rejuvenates the plant because it does not waste nutrients on unnecessary or diseased leaves.

To avoid injuring the plant, it is important to use a small and sufficiently sharpened pruning tool. The wounds are treated with an antimicrobial solution to avoid possible blackening or rotting of the flower. Crushed charcoal is perfect for quick healing.

Regular pruning rejuvenates the plant because it does not waste nutrients on unnecessary or diseased leaves. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©delniesoveti.ru

Before pruning the leaves and branches of the money tree, first of all, all damaged or dry stems and, of course, yellowed leaves are removed. Shoots with a large number of leaves are also pruned, because they have slow growth and a high likelihood of getting sick. Before carrying out this manipulation, it is imperative to treat the instrument with alcohol to prevent infection. If the shoots to be removed are cut off at the rhizome, then it is worth leaving a small stump. You can't cut them close to the root, because... you can damage the rhizome, thereby ruining the zamioculcas.

Money tree is known for its excellent pruning tolerance. Its stems recover well and heal fairly quickly. This procedure is best carried out in the warm season, during the growing season. In winter, you should not prune the plant, because... it is in a state of hibernation.

If dividing a bush is carried out for propagation, then it is important to adhere to simple but mandatory rules:

The money tree is carefully removed from the pot, and one or more roots are separated from the root system. This method does not injure the plant, so it is quite popular.
The next step is to place the separated root in a pot and take root in a new place. Long-term survival is possible, because the root still needs to form buds. Don't expect a green leaf after a week.

When propagating using cuttings, it is important to prepare a piece of plant with 5 leaves in advance. After the procedure, the cut of the flower is treated with crushed coal, and after a couple of hours the cutting is immersed in a moistened environment. He needs a warm and well-lit place.

Zamioculcas is very popular because of its unpretentiousness. Only proper care is important for him. The owner of such a plant is obliged to monitor the condition of the soil and prevent it from becoming waterlogged. The only thing is that for a healthy flower it is necessary to carry out a pruning procedure to form and rejuvenate its crown and to remove unnecessary or diseased parts.

Moving towards the light

You can place Zamioculcas in an apartment or office on the windowsill or next to it. If the window faces south, it is better to place the pot away from it. Diffused lighting is enough for the flower.

On a northern windowsill, the plant may not receive enough sunlight. Western and eastern windows are considered ideal.

If the location for the container is chosen correctly, the shoots will be strong, not elongated, with healthy leaves often planted. Lack of light is expressed in the faded color of the above-ground parts.

Is it possible to cut the stems (branches) and roots of a flower?

In Zamioculcas, you can trim all parts, both aboveground and underground, namely:

Roots with tubers (which are biologically stems).
Leaves whole or in separate leaf blades.

The stems of the flower are hidden in the ground and look like small potato tubers. Roots extend from the stems into the ground.

When transplanting and dividing the pet, you should free it from the ground and carefully inspect the underground part of the zamioculcas.
If there are rotten or dry roots, they should be cut off.
You also need to inspect the tubers and trim the spoiled parts.
Remove all stumps from the leaves.
After trimming, let the tuber dry, sprinkle the cut with coal and only then plant it in a pot.

Reproduction

At home, the plant is propagated only vegetatively:

cuttings of shoots and feathers;
dividing the root.

The plant is not grown from seeds.

Division

This method is the simplest; it can be combined with transplanting an adult and large bush.

The plant must be taken out of the pot, inspect the root to determine how many parts it should be divided into to form tubers with 1-2 leaves;
Divide the bush into pieces with a sterile knife;
Treat the cut area with an antiseptic, charcoal or root and dry for a couple of hours;
Plant the separated plants in small pots;
Water moderately; at first, do not place it in a place exposed to direct sunlight.

Leaf cuttings

This method is suitable for a small plant. The main thing is that there are several large leaves. The more cuttings you take, the faster the plant will take root. Here is a detailed description with photos :

the leaf is cut with a sterile knife;
wither the cuttings for 5-6 hours;
place in water with activated carbon, place the vessel in a warm and bright place;
when the roots appear, you should plant the cuttings in a transparent glass with light soil mixed with sand;
make a greenhouse by covering it with a bag or glass and ventilate it regularly;
water carefully so that moisture does not get on the plant, you can sometimes use a fungicide solution to prevent rot from appearing;
the plant can be considered rooted when the first shoots appear;
let it get stronger and replant it in regular soil.

Rooting feathers

A very young plant can be propagated by leaf blades. True, they often die, but it can take up to 6 months to take root. Therefore, you should prepare planting material with a reserve.

Dry the feathers for 5-6 hours, dip the tips in root powder.
Prepare soil from 1 part peat and 1 part sand;
Place the leaves there, deepening them 1/6 of the way;
Compact the soil around the leaves and make a greenhouse, covering with a transparent bag;
Water moderately and ventilate constantly;
You can use a solution of a growth stimulator (for example, heteroaxin) to speed up root formation;
Plant leaf cuttings in separate containers after tubers appear.

Possible problems

When growing this noble flower, many gardeners encounter problems that are easy to solve.

If you see that the flower begins to lose its attractive appearance, try reducing watering and adding lighting.
When planting this crop with tubers, be careful not to destroy the mother plant.
In winter, the flower lacks air humidity. If in winter the tips of the leaves become brittle from dryness, spray them with warm water more often or place the flowerpot in a tray filled with damp moss. You can fill the tray with expanded clay and pebbles and moisten them periodically.
When old leaves turn yellow, they are cut off to give room for new green foliage.
Zamioculcas grows slowly, so if it is “frozen” and does not grow, then do not be alarmed. If there are no pests, then this is normal.

Possible mistakes during care

The dollar tree hardly gets sick, and it is difficult to destroy it. But if you make mistakes, then even such a patient plant can be destroyed. Excessive watering and stagnation of water in the pan are especially dangerous.

Excessive watering

The main mistake when growing a flower is excessive watering. The roots can rot, destroying the flower. To save a dollar tree, it must be removed from the flowerpot, cut off the rotten areas, washed with a solution of manganese, powdered with charcoal, dried and replanted in a new substrate.

Lack of lighting

A flower, even each of its leaves, loves to be in the light. If you put a flower in the bright sun, it will only be happy. To ensure that all branches have enough light, you will have to thin them out, removing old stems.

When daylight hours are shortened, it is better to illuminate the flower with a fluorescent lamp. He feels bad when there is little light and there is no excess.

Excessive dry air

If the foliage turns yellow, then the air in the apartment is too dry. There is no need to spray the succulent, but it is not prohibited to freshen it in the shower. Wiping the leaves with a damp cloth will also benefit him.

Leaves can turn yellow not only from dry air, but also from natural properties. Old leaves turn yellow, dry out and fall off. New feathers will appear in their place.

If the leaves fall off and new ones do not grow, you should look for other reasons. Perhaps it is being destroyed by pests.

Improper care during the cold season

The dollar tree loves warmth and light. But from cold drafts, a drop in temperature below 12 degrees, you will begin to suffer. Move the bush to a warm and well-lit place and it will come to life.

If the rhizome is not damaged, it remains full of strength, which means that the flower will begin to turn green and develop again.

Incorrect soil composition

The dollar tree does not like hard and acidic soil. The substrate should allow water and nutrition to pass well to the roots. It’s not bad if the soil contains a lot of washed, disinfected river sand.

Watering with cold water

Cold and hard water is not good for succulents. A resident of southern countries is used to standing in the warm rain. Therefore, let the water sit for at least 2 days, and then water it, but make sure that it is not cold. When watered with cold water, the leaves of the dollar tree will begin to turn yellow and fall off.