Popular element of home furnishing - dollar tree

Recently, an interesting flower has appeared in apartments and offices. Its scientific name is Zamioculcas, and people know it as the dollar tree. The plant was first discovered in the tropical forests of Africa.

It refers to succulents that accumulate moisture in their roots, stems and inside the leaf blade. A distant relative is Money Tree with the same properties. What is the beauty of this tropical flower? Are there any secrets for plant care? The answers to these questions will help you fall in love with an African guest in cooler latitudes. caring for the money tree at home).

Looking at the flower from the side

The dollar tree is a neat bush with original leaves, which are covered with a thin layer of waxy coating and consist of 8 or 12 feathers growing separately. Each specimen has a fleshy structure that stores moisture in case of dry periods. Likewise, it retains water and tuberous rhizome. It is often referred to as the natural reservoir of moisture for a rainy day.

A dollar tree can grow up to a meter in height and decorate any home interior. Unlike the money tree (crassula), it periodically blooms with an unusual inflorescence. When you look at the flower from the side, it seems that a yellow or cream-colored ear of corn has appeared among the fleshy leaves. In fact, this standing bud is made up of many miniature flowers that shine brightly in the daytime sun. Usually, the inflorescence is hidden under a light green veil, so it is not immediately visible. The photo clearly shows the dollar tree during its flowering period.

Since the plant originated from the tropics, it is quite rare to see its buds in Europe. However, the flower is prized for its pretty foliage.

The plant was first described in 1828 by the famous collector of tropical flora K. Loddjes. He named it - the benevolent Caladium. 28 years later, Heinrich Schott, an Austrian biologist, listed it as a tropical plant as Zamioculcas Loddiges. Only in 1908 did the director of a botanical garden in Berlin immortalize its modern name. Despite this, many indoor plant lovers know the flower under the name of the dollar tree.

Since the plant blooms very rarely, the leaves are considered its main advantage. It grows up to 100 cm and more, when suitable conditions are created. How to achieve this result when caring for a flower? It turns out it's not difficult. The main thing is to stick to simple tips.

Since Zamioculcas is considered a poisonous plant, transplanting or pruning is performed with gloves. Otherwise, contact of juice on open skin leads to unpleasant burns that take a long time to heal.

Simple flower care methods

Some believe that by introducing such a plant in the house, one can achieve wealth and eternal well-being. But does Zamioculcas grow among all rich and "successful" people? Much depends on the person himself and the circumstances he is facing. Nevertheless, people want to believe fables and nothing can be done about it. Let's return to the flower.

Practice shows that caring for a dollar tree at home includes fairly simple rules:

1. In order for a flower to successfully take root in a new territory, you should not transplant it immediately after purchase.He needs time to adapt - at least 2 weeks.
2. Zamioculcas feels great next to the windowsill, if the direct rays of the sun do not fall on it.
3. In winter, it is better to put the plant in a bright room, where there is a lot of air and light.
4. With the arrival of spring, the dollar tree is gradually accustomed to the bright rays of the sun.

As you can see, the first steps of getting to know the plant are not at all complicated, but very important. Although the flower is unpretentious, lighting and temperature conditions are the main conditions for its development. Therefore, the best option for him is a window sill, the window of which faces the south side. Thanks to this position, sunlight will freely affect the fleshy leaves of the plant.

Sometimes the apartment is located in the house so that all windows face north. It doesn't matter, Zamioculcas will not die, although his appearance will be slightly dull.

To provide decent care for a dollar tree, a suitable temperature regime is required. Since the plant came from hot countries, high temperatures are not dangerous for it. Even if it's + 35 ° C outside, the plant feels great. In the cold period, the thermometer should not be allowed to drop below + 18 ° C. This can lead to serious disease-related problems.

When growing a dollar tree, it is important to consider the size of the pot and the type of soil. A prerequisite for the container is the presence of holes in the bottom so that excess moisture can freely come out.

The soil must meet the following conditions:

• softness;
• looseness;
• air tightness.

Thanks to these properties, the root system will receive a sufficient amount of oxygen and moisture. In addition, the soil must be thoroughly fed initially. To do this, you can mix together the following components:

• peat;
• sifted sand;
• sod or leafy soil.

To make the earth as loose as possible, expanded clay is used, which is mixed with the prepared soil.

For the active development of a young seedling, a quarter of the container in which the plant is planted should be filled with drainage.

Caring for a dollar tree at home means regular feeding. It is best done during the warm season. You can start in March and until mid-October. An ideal top dressing can be ordinary humus or ready-made fertilizers for succulents, which are sold in flower shops. It is better to feed the flower once every 14 days. In winter, the plant does not need fertilization. You can also stop watering. Once a month, the plant should be “bathed”. Wash each leaf thoroughly with clean water.

Sometimes Zamioculcas freezes and it seems that its growth has stopped. In fact, it needs more moisture. But at the same time, you should not fill it. It is enough to simply observe the topsoil to notice signs of drying out. It is necessary to replenish the moisture reserve only as needed.

With proper watering, the soil is moistened throughout the depth of the pot. There should be no puddles on the pallet and the surface of the ground.

Unpleasant phenomena - what to do?

A flowering dollar tree is a wonderful piece of home decor, even if it doesn't have buds. Fleshy leaves filled with moisture attract the eye and delight the heart. The flower is unpretentious and hardy enough to unfavorable conditions. But nevertheless, he is not immune from diseases, the main reason for which is inept care of the plant.

Often the dollar tree turns yellow, which causes alarm for its fans. Fortunately, this is not always caused by disease. Since the flower grows very slowly, the old leaves first turn yellow and then die off. In their place, new ones appear, which indicates the normal development process of Zamioculcas. If this does not happen, the reason may be the following factors:

• insufficient watering;
• draft;
• a sharp drop in temperature;
• the appearance of pests.

In this case, it is advisable to take action and eliminate the main problem of flower suffering.And then a magnificent dollar tree can become a visiting card of a house where love and kindness flourish.

Video recommendations for caring for a dollar tree