Zamioculcas, or the dollar tree, very rarely blooms even in natural habitats. This fact raises many questions as to whether the plant blooms at home or not. About the features of the flowering phase and the nuances of care during this period, read below.
What do the flowers of Zamioculcas look like?
The heterogeneous flowers of Zamioculcus are small, of a light green hue. In a tubular inflorescence, 4-7 cm long, male flowers are located in the upper part, female flowers - in the lower. In the central part of the inflorescence there is a so-called sterility zone, consisting of flowers that do not have sexual characteristics. The main role of this zone is to prevent self-pollination.
On the outside of the cob is a green veil, reaching an average of 8 cm. The color of the veil is similar to the leaves, so blooming zamioculcas is difficult to distinguish from not blooming. Initially, the peduncle is located strictly horizontally, and as it blooms, it falls closer to the soil. The flower stalk is located on a low stem growing directly from the tuber.
Did you know? The dollar tree got its name because of its similarity to the money tree (fat girl) in 1908. Due to the fact that Zamioculcas is much larger than a fat woman, it was decided to name it in honor of the most common major currency in the world.
How much time and how often a dollar tree blooms at home
The rare flowering of this plant, even in the conditions of its natural habitat, has led to another name - “celibacy flower”. The main reason for the rare flowering is the living conditions of plants. In a dry steppe climate, plants lose a lot of energy on the formation of flowers, so they need a long recovery period.
The dollar tree enters the flowering phase at the age of 4–5 years. Flowering lasts only 2-3 days. The plant will be ready for the next flowering again only after 4–5 years. At home, the plant may not enter the flowering phase at all. It is more attractive to flower growers as a decorative foliage succulent.
There are several signs explaining how to understand that the succulent is blooming:
- from the bottom of the plant, directly from the rhizome, a short stem begins to stretch;
- at its end a peduncle covered with a veil is formed;
- about a day later, the veil opens the ear, dotted with small spherical flowers;
- after 24 hours, the erect stalk begins to dry out and bend under the weight of the peduncle to the soil.
Important! Leaves of adult plants reaching a length of 12–15 cm, under their weight begin to fall apart on the sides. To maintain the shape of the dollar tree, you can use special decorative frames in the shape of a cone or cylinder.
Care during and after flowering
A dollar tree is completely unpretentious in maintenance and can develop a lush green mass in any conditions, but for it to bloom, a special microclimate and care are necessary:
- temperature condition - +16 ... + 18 ° С in the winter and +20 ... + 40 ° С - in the summer;
- humidity - the plant develops well with low humidity in the summer within 40%, because during the winter it stores moisture in the leaves;
- lighting and placement - Zamyokulkas needs abundant diffused light for flowering, it is best to install young plants on the southeast window sills, and adults who have reached large sizes should be placed on the floor in the southern rooms;
- the soil - universal mixture for succulents with the addition of 20% vermiculite;
- fertilizers - phosphorus (20%), potassium (20%), nitrogen (5%) + 2% calcium, magnesium and boron - 1 time in 3 weeks during the active phase of the growing season, in the cold period, feeding should be discarded;
- watering - copious, but rare, almost after the drying up of an earthen coma;
- transfer - annually up to 3 years, every 2 years - up to 5 years, from 5 years - once every 4 years.
During flowering, it is not necessary to change the microclimate conditions and rearrange the plants. If zamioculcas began to bloom, then all the conditions were correctly observed. He will need special care to restore strength after flowering.
As soon as the peduncle descends to the ground, proceed as follows:
- Cut the peduncle under the root.
- Limit watering to 1 time in 4–5 weeks.
- Refuse completely from top dressing.
- Keep the room temperature within +17 ... + 20 ° С.
Important! You need to understand that Zamioculcas may not bloom at all at home, even if all the rules are followed, so you should not be very upset about this.
What to do if Zamioculcas does not bloom
If all conditions are met, and Zamioculcas for 5-6 years of life has not entered the flowering phase, you need to pay attention to the volume of the pot. This is one of the many mistakes that flower growers make when growing succulents. In large containers, plants direct all forces to the formation of the root system, and in small ones they suffer from a lack of nutrients. In this case, try transplanting the plant. Its root system should be freely located in the pot - the optimal distance from the roots to the bottom and walls is 2-3 cm.
Why does the dollar tree bloom: signs
The rare flowering of Zamioculcas gave rise to peculiar signs and beliefs:
- if the plant bloomed in the apartment of an unmarried girl, this means that incredible luck will come to her life and soon she will meet her betrothed;
- Eastern beliefs say that a blossoming dollar tree attracts luck and wealth;
- according to some indications, for a plant to bring happiness to a house, it must be donated, not bought personally;
- It is possible to strengthen the plant’s monetary energy by pouring water on it, in which silver coins or a gold ornament lay for a day.
A dollar tree blooms in exceptional cases, when the microclimate in the room corresponds to the natural habitat. But even a non-flowering plant is a valuable decorative foliage specimen that can emphasize the dignity of any interior and create a favorable atmosphere in it.
