Zamioculcas zamiifolia is part of the Araceae family and its native range is Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal. Leaves are compact leathery and glossy, each leaf consists of several pairs of elliptic leaflets. New growth emerges from what looks like a bud, growing into a frond. This plant has large tuberous rhizomes which store a lot of water. Zamioculcas zamiifolia are one of only a few species that can be regenerated from a single leaflet.
Genus name comes from the unrelated genus Zamia and culcas comes from calcas, the Arabic name for an elephant’s ear. Specific epithet means ‘looks like Zamia’.
Light: These plants are tolerant to lots of different types of light but grow best in bright indirect light, meaning the plant sees the sun for 0-4 hours per day - this could be through trees or a translucent curtain, it’s important for the plant to see the sky in order to thrive.
Water: Allow the potting mix to completely dry out in between waterings, carefully aerate the mix with a few pokes of a skewer or blunt stick (avoid poking by stems), pour water slowly over the top and allow the water to pass through the drainage holes.
Potting mix: A well draining mix composed of coco coir, perlite or vermiculite, orchid bark and worm castings.
Fertilising: Feed your plant every other watering during the growing season or when you observe active growth. You can dilute fertiliser to half the recommended amount but never add more.
Temperature: 18-30°C.
Humidity: Average to moderate humidity, increasing humidity can be achieved by grouping plants together, placing the plant on a tray of watered pebbles and by using a humidifier.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is toxic, keep out of reach of pets and children.