As the zamioculcas blooms

Many gardeners who grow zamioculcas, often the question arises – how this plant blooms and blooms if at all. Flowering zamiokulkasa not a frequent occurrence, even in nature. The more rarely it happens in indoor horticulture.

The flower on the cob

This showy plant is valued for its decorative glossy leaves. Some do not even suspect that it may still bloom. However, the zamioculcas blooms and very interesting. Flowers it from an aesthetic point of view, of little value. They are small, inconspicuous, light, dirty-white, collected in inflorescence, resembling corn on the cob (which, in General, is typical for members of the Araceae family, which include zamioculcas).

Interestingly, flowers of different sexes are found on the inflorescence-the spadix in different places – female bottom, male on top. Between them is a "border zone" of sterile flowers. It is for this reason self-pollination inflorescences of zamioculcas impossible.

Outside the flower-spathe covered with a "blanket" in the form of immature leaf length 5-8 cm, This sheet is hard to read among the foliage because the color is similar to developed young leaves of zamioculcas.

Homeliness has its explanation. In nature the flower is pollinated by wind or insects, but not flying, but crawling. Therefore he does not need beauty and fragrant aroma to attract pollinators. And for the convenience of crawling insects inflorescence forms a low, right from the tuber, at a distance of 3-5 centimeters from the soil surface.

Moreover, if the first flower on the cob growing up, then as you grow he begins to duck to the ground and bloom ends up almost lying on the soil surface. After fertilization female flowers produced brown berries that contain seeds. They ripen, sleep on the ground. Breeds zamioculcas in nature. In a flower pot seeds are usually not Mature.

How to make blossom zamioculcas

Those who wish achieving a flowering of zamioculcas in the apartment should create a plant with certain conditions. Light, water and heat regime should be optimally close to natural. Zamioculcas is a native of the African desert expanses and rocky plateau. It grows poorly and just will not bloom in the North Windows. For flowering he needs enough light, infrequent watering, from April-August twice a month dressing for cacti and succulenta, wipe or wash the leaves and moderate temperatures (optimum +18-20°C).

If not wait for it to bloom, zamioculcas is one of the most unpretentious and unusual in terms of decorative plants that can decorate any interior.