The lucky feather is almost indestructible as a houseplant. Here you can find out what you should consider when buying, caring for and propagating Zamioculcas.
You love indoor plants, but your office or apartment is just too dark? Are you looking for an elegant accompaniment for your windowsill? Are you longing for a breath of fresh air among your green roommates? The lucky feather (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has a lot to offer and, despite all its advantages, is also easy to care for.
The lucky feather has become the ultimate designer plant in recent years. Ever since it hit the German market almost 20 years ago, it has conquered offices, medical practices and designer apartments in no time. She is the epitome of modern design with indoor plants. But what makes the plant so extraordinary?
Zamioculcas: origin and characteristics
Zamioculcas appears extremely elegant: The long petioles are adorned with numerous, paired leaves that shine in deep dark green. In its appearance, the lucky feather corresponds perfectly to the current fashion full of elegance and simplicity. With a height of around 60 centimetres, there is always a place where it can unfold its effect. With very good care, the lucky feather can also reach a height of 1.5 meters. Originally it comes from East Africa. Tanzania and the associated island of Zanzibar are its main distribution area, which is why it is also called the "diamond of Zanzibar". The lucky feather grows there in mountainous regions in the scrubland. The adaptation to the rainy and dry months there and the inhospitable conditions has made it an easy-care houseplant.
Zamioculcas Flower: When will the Feather of Fortune bloom?
The lucky feather doesn't necessarily bloom, but with the right tricks you can make it bloom. It usually blooms in summer or early fall, as is typical for Araaceae (Araeceae): A white spike protrudes from a green bract. To encourage your Zamioculcas to flower, you should keep the plant a little cooler in winter. So canthey rest over the winter. But never expect the plant to be below 12 °C. In addition to hibernation, regular watering encourages flowering.
Zamioculcas varieties
The genus Zamioculcas consists of only one species Zamioculcas zamiifolia. However, there are a few different cultivars - the best known is the classic form, whose name is simply Zamioculcas zamiifolia. The two varieties 'Variegata' and 'Raven' are striking. 'Raven' is a new variety that was only bred in 2022. It is characterized by its extremely dark, almost black leaves. The leaves of the 'Vaiegata' variety, on the other hand, are white variegated. It is extremely decorative, but unfortunately rare and expensive.
Buy Zamioculcas
The classic, plain green Zamioculcas is available in most nurseries. It becomes more difficult if you are looking for a special lucky feather. The dark variety 'Raven' can be found online at Baldur. The variegated variety 'Variegata' is occasionally offered on eBay.
Click here for more tips on buying a Zamioculcas.
Repot Zamioculcas
Repot your lucky feather about once a year. The best time to do this is spring, when the new growing season begins. However, you should not give the plant a pot that is too large, otherwise it will put most of its energy into root growth. If your Zamioculcas is a bit older, repotting every two to three years is sufficient. Whether the selected pot is mainly wide or deep is not so important. The lucky spring adapts flexibly to this. Our peat-free and sustainably produced Plantura organic universal soil is ideal as a substrate for the rather undemanding plant. If you mix about a third of this with sand, the water permeability improves. Otherwise, the Zamioculcas will quickly develop root rot when waterlogged.
Propagating Zamioculcas
Zamioculcas is best propagated vegetatively, that is by stolons of its rhizome rather than seeds. So you can easily propagate the plant yourself, even without flowering.
Propagating Zamioculcas by cuttings
Probably the simplest form of propagation are cuttings. Here you have the option to make either shoot or leaf cuttings.
Instructions for Zamioculcaspropagate by cuttings:
- shoot cuttings: Cut off an entire shoot with leaves at the bottom. Now place the cutting in a glass of water. Since rooting takes some time, you should wrap the jar with paper or something similar to reduce algae growth. If the shoot has formed enough roots, you can pot it. The advantage of this method is that you have a good-looking houseplant almost from the start, even if it can take quite a while for additional shoots to grow.
- Leaf cuttings: Instead of the whole shoot, you only need a single leaf for this. Cut it off and stick it into moist soil about an inch deep. You should then place the vessel with the leaf cuttings in a bright place. Now it's just a matter of waiting. Don't worry, even when the leaf wilts and withers, a water-bearing bulb usually forms in the soil. This provides the basis for new growth. However, the whole thing can take quite a long time, so you will have to wait up to a year before the plant will also take action above ground.
Propagating Zamioculcas by Division
Another option for propagation is to divide the underground rhizome. When repotting in spring, you can simply pull the plant apart a little. This will help you know where it's best to share them. Then cut them apart with a sharp and clean knife and repot both parts. Alternatively, you can plant a water-storing underground tuber separately.
Caring for Zamioculcas
Unpretentious as it is, the lucky feather requires little maintenance. She takes a lot of things calmly and doesn't give up easily. Always let the soil above ground dry before the next watering and fertilize sparingly. A one-off fertilization in spring with a primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer provides the plant with all the nutrients it needs all year round. Also, one of the most important factors for almost all plants is the light. But here, too, the lucky feather is frugal and takes what it gets.
We have compiled more information on caring for your Zamioculcas here for you.
Yellow leaves at theZamioculcas
Yellow leaves are often caused by too much water on the lucky feather. You should therefore water your plant a little less frequently or less. To prevent or reduce root rot, it is best to repot your plant as soon as possible. How to prevent worse.
We have summarized for you here how you can proceed with yellow leaves on the Zamioculcas.
Is the Zamioculcas poisonous?
If you like to enjoy rhubarb cake, then you also know the sour taste of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum). This is due to the oxalic acid it contains. This acid is toxic in high doses, especially when not cooked. Still, you wouldn't think of dismissing rhubarb as poisonous and banning it from your garden, would you? Then you can certainly get used to the slight toxicity of the lucky feather, because it also contains oxalic acid in all parts of the plant and is therefore quickly considered poisonous.
Learn more about oxalic acid and the toxicity of the lucky feather in this article.