June 2016: Zamioculcas is Houseplant of the month
The heavyweight Zamioculcas is the Houseplant of the month for June. It’s hip, stylish and incredibly easy to look after. Display it in store and draw extra attention to it with the POS material which is free to download and can be accessed via the link at the bottom of this article.
The story of Zamioculcas
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a member of the Araceae (Arum) family. It’s an evergreen plant with feathered leaves which grow to a length of 40 to 60cm. The leaves on the thick stems are smooth, shiny and dark green. The plant can flower, but rarely does indoor sand. the arum-like flowers grow from the base of the plant.
It’s hard to trace the origin of the name. Culcas is an old name for another family, Colocasia. The zamiifolia genus has leaves which resemble the Zamia ferns, so the name is a mix of the two. It is also called the ZZ plant, as an abbreviation of the scientific name. Because the plant has only been part of the houseplant range since 1996, it has not yet got any specific symbolism. But in view of its indestructibility, terms such as ‘strength’, ‘survivor’ and ‘staying the course’ are very appropriate.
Production of Zamioculcas
Zamioculcas’ natural environment consists of rocky ground in lowlands or the foot of highlands in East Africa. Zamioculcas occurs in countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi and Zanzibar. This island has a rich history and thanks to shipping, the cultivation of spices and trade brought different cultures together. This colourful background goes well with the equally exotic Zamioculcas. Its cultivation as a houseplant is thanks to ambitious Dutch growers who identified the unusual exotic as a good houseplant. Cultivation as such is not particularly complicated: every leaf grows its own roots when it’s placed in the soil. However, Zamioculcas grows very slowlyso that the growers have to use every trick in the book to still be able to supply plants within a reasonable timescale. A warm and humid environment helps with this.
What to look for when buying Zamioculcas
When buying Zamioculcas, it’s important that the plant is free of pests and diseases, although Zamioculcas is not particularly prone to these. The number of feathers determines the classification. A feather is counted if it is at least half the length of the longest feather on the plant. The plant may sometimes have one yellow leaf, in which case it may have been in storage for too long or got too wet. Black spots on the stems are natural, and do not indicate problems. Also check the pot size in relation to the thickness of the plant and the number of feathers and their length. With some plants the pot is somewhat distorted by the enormous strength of the underground tubers in the pot. This can even cause pots to crack sometimes. In that case urgent repotting is required.
Choice of Zamioculcas
The Zamioculcas range is limited, but there is an extensive choice of pot sizes of the same species. The only deviating name within the family is the mini-Zamioculca, which is called Zamicro.
Care tips for customers
Zamioculcas is an 'easy care' product which can tolerate a great deal. In terms of position, it will be happy in both a light spot and partial shade. A room temperature of 18-22°C is fine: The plant should not be kept too cold, although again it’s not too fussy in this regard. The only thing that Zamioculcas really can’t cope with is wet feet. The pot soil can be left to dry out slightly between waterings: the plant has strong succulent characteristics in its leaves and roots in order to get it through a drying spell. Feed once a month, and regularly spray the leaves with tepid water. Old leaves can be removed if required; new feathers (leaves) will form if there is sufficient light. In the summer when the temperature no longer drops below 12°C the plant can also be placed in the garden or on the patio. Do be careful of strong sunlight though. The plant is only for decoration and not suitable for consumption.
Sales and display tips
The strong vertical lines of the upward feathered leaves make Zamioculcas an ideal eye-catching plant for bringing greenery into an interior. The fact that it is a very easy houseplant makes it appealing for students and busy people, whilst its green convenience also appeals in offices and public spaces. The plant works in both modern and traditional interiors, depending on the pot.
Images of Zamioculcas
You can download the images below free of charge.
Zamioculcas poster
You can download the poster using the link below.
