Zamioculcas black Black raven

Black zamioculcas is known as the dollar tree, "female happiness", "flower of celibacy." Initially it was grown in Dutch nurseries, but now this evergreen plant adorns apartments, offices, shopping centers, schools.

Black zamioculcas: description, appearance

Zamioculcas Black Raven is native to the arid regions of Madagascar. About 20 cultivated plant varieties are known. The most unusual of them is Raven.

The plant can grow up to 1.5 meters in height. The main difference between the variety is the black and purple leaves. They have a rounded-pointed shape and are located symmetrically along the length of the stem. The nickname "Raven" - "raven" black zamioculcas received for the similarity of the stem with the spread feather of a bird.

Zamioculcas Zenzi

Breeders bred a miniature type of shrub with black leaves - Zenzi zamioculcas, in the description of which it is said that it is distinguished by short internodes and a thicker trunk.

Tips for caring for a Black Crow at home

Taking care of the plant is easy. Zamioculcas Raven black is used to surviving among stones and sand, and is able to adapt to harsh conditions.

Illumination

The plant is comfortable in the shade, direct sunlight leaves burns on the leaves. A suitable place is the northern windowsill.

Temperature regime

Zamioculcas actively develops at room temperature. All he needs is the absence of drafts and the temperature not lower than 16 degrees Celsius.

Watering and humidity

The flower does not tolerate excessive moisture. It firmly withstands the lack of moisture, but do not overdry the soil. Lack of water leads to the expenditure of internal reserves of fluid, and as a result, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

It is necessary to water the plant as the top layer of the soil dries out.

After watering, remove excess water from the pan. Due to the stagnation of the liquid, the roots of the plant begin to rot. In winter, it is enough to water the flower 2 times a month.

There is no need to spray a dollar tree, as central heating creates conditions close to African deserts.

The soil

The plant prefers light, loose soil, this consistency allows air to penetrate unhindered to the roots. The soil mixture should contain coarse river sand, expanded clay, charcoal and a small amount of sod land.

Top dressing

It is not necessary to feed Raven zamioculcas, because the plant is able to survive even with a minimum amount of nutrients in the soil. But if there is a desire to grow a flower of the size that it reaches in its natural environment, fertilization is necessary.

For active growth, the plant requires nitrogen and phosphorus. The first component affects the length of the shoots, the size and color of the leaves, the second stimulates the growth of roots.

Fertilizers are applied from the beginning of March to the end of October at intervals of 2 weeks.

Pruning

To form the crown, the plant is cut off. The procedure is best carried out in the spring and summer.Damaged, dry stems, yellowed leaves, shoots with a large number of leaves are removed with a small sharp instrument.

You cannot cut off the shoots close to the rhizome, it is better to leave a small stump. Sections need to be treated with an antimicrobial agent, the best option is activated carbon powder.

Regular pruning is also necessary so that the flower does not waste nutrients on unnecessary or damaged leaves.

Transfer

It is better to replant the dollar tree in the spring. But if the flower was bought in a different season, it is better to deviate from the rule. The commercial shipping soil does not contain substances that are necessary for the healthy development of the plant.

Low wide pots with many drainage holes are suitable for the Black Crow. The diameter of the container should be no more than 5 cm wider than the root system of the plant.

The procedure for transplanting a plant:

1. Drainage and a small amount of soil are poured into a new pot.
2. The flower is carefully removed from the old container (the plastic pot can be cut) and transferred to a new one.
3. The nutrient mixture is poured into the empty space and compacted a little.
4. Part of the rhizome is left above the soil surface.

For sick specimens, this method is not suitable. You will have to completely clear the roots from the soil, rinse and cut off the damaged areas. The same should be done when dividing large plants.

Zamiokulkas has very sensitive roots

Due to the increased sensitivity of the roots of the flower, its transplant is carried out by the transshipment method while preserving the earthen coma. After that, it is better to put the plant in a shaded warm room, and after rooting, move it to a permanent place.

Flowering and resting period

Many growers are unaware that Zamiokulkas Black can bloom. This happens once every few years, but only when ideal conditions are created. The peduncle grows from a tuber, its height can be from 3 to 20 cm.

The inflorescence is a large ear surrounded by a petal blanket

Reasons for preventing flowering:

• non-observance of the temperature regime, excessive watering or lack / excess of light;
• lack of minerals;
• unsuitable pot;
• diseases, insect attacks.

The dormant period begins from the beginning of October. From this time, you should stop feeding, reduce watering and move the pot with the plant to a cooler place.

Reproduction of the dollar tree

You can grow a tree from any part of the plant, but you have to be patient, since the germination process is very slow.

The flower can reproduce in the following ways:

• Rooting the leaf. Large well-developed leaf plates are cut with a knife, left for 2 hours. Then the cut is treated with Kornevin and deepened into the ground by a third.
• Reproduction by a branch. A healthy branch is cut off, treated with a root formation stimulant and placed in water with potassium permanganate. As soon as sprouts appear, the branch is transplanted into the ground.
• Tuber division. To successfully divide the plant, you need to carefully remove it from the pot, clean the roots from the soil. Then you should find the parts with the individual tuber. It is necessary to separate the roots carefully, it is advisable to treat the sections with activated carbon.

Tuber formation takes 2 to 6 months

Diseases and pests

Problems that a florist may face when growing a Black Crow, and how to solve them:

Signs of a pest attack:

• the presence of thin cobwebs;
• the appearance of dark spots of different sizes;
• pallor and curling of leaves (black midges are clearly visible on the plates);
• white bloom that turns brown over time.

If insects are found, it is necessary to treat the flower with a mild soapy solution. If the method does not work, insecticides will come to the rescue.

Some people believe in the magical properties of zamiokulkas. Some are sure that the plant brings female happiness, others consider it a muzhegon. To believe or not to believe - everyone chooses for himself. In any case, the black dollar tree is a worthy home decoration.