Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zamicro'

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zamicro': where its species grows naturally

‘Zamicro’ is a compact form of Zamioculcas zamiifolia. The species grows from Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal in eastern and southern Africa, across seasonally dry forest and grassland. Its thick underground stems and fleshy leaves store water, which is why a fast-draining mix and a clear dry period between waterings are important indoors.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zamicro': indoor care

Light

Medium to bright indirect light produces the neatest, densest growth on ‘Zamicro’. It can persist in lower light, but new shoots will be slower and may lean; introduce any gentle direct sun gradually.

Water

Let most of the potting mix dry before watering deeply and draining the pot. Its thick underground stems store water, so wait when in doubt and never add small routine top-ups to mix that is still damp below.

Potting mix

Use a free-draining blend with generous pumice, perlite or bark mixed through a small amount of organic potting material. A snug pot with unobstructed holes is safer than a large decorative container that traps moisture around the underground stems.

Temperature and humidity

Ordinary indoor humidity is sufficient. Keep the plant around 18–27 °C and protect it from prolonged temperatures below about 15 °C, especially while the potting mix is moist.

Feeding and repotting

Feed sparingly while new shoots are appearing, and stop when the plant is resting. Repot only when expanding underground stems crowd or distort the container, choosing a pot only one size larger.

Choosing the right pot

The short foliage does not mean the roots and underground stems are equally small, so select a low, stable pot with enough room for the fleshy underground stems. Do not bury the stem bases deeply, and wipe the compact leaflets rather than using leaf shine.

Propagation

Division of a rooted underground stem section is the quickest method. Individual leaflets or complete leaves can also form new underground stems, but they may need many months before a shoot appears.

Signs of stress in Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zamicro'

New shoots are sparse or very slow

Zamicro is naturally compact and unhurried, especially in winter. If no shoots appear during the growing season, give it brighter indirect light and check that the mix is not staying cold and wet; do not compensate with extra fertiliser.

A stem yellows and the underground stem is soft

Prolonged wetness can rot the underground stems. Unpot the plant and cut away every soft brown section. Let the clean cuts dry briefly, then repot the firm pieces in a clean pot with dry, loose mix.

Leaflets become wrinkled

Wrinkling can mean a genuinely dry plant or roots that have rotted and no longer absorb water. Inspect the pot first: soak a firm plant in dry mix, but remove decay and repot if the underground stems or roots feel soft.

Pale patches develop on one side

Bleached tan areas facing the window usually follow sudden direct sun. Move the plant out of hard rays and introduce the brighter light gradually. Existing marks are permanent, but later shoots can remain healthy.

Scale or mealybugs hide along the stems

Check leaflet bases, the undersides and the soil line for hard bumps or white cottony deposits. Keep the plant separate, wipe away the visible insects and recheck the leaf bases as new crawlers emerge during treatment.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Zamicro’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

What does the name Zamioculcas zamiifolia mean?

Zamioculcas combines the genus names Zamia and Colocasia. The epithet zamiifolia means having leaves like Zamia, referring to the resemblance of the compound foliage to that cycad genus.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Zamioculcas in 1856 in Synopsis Aroidearum, page 71.

George Loddiges first described it as Caladium zamiifolium in 1829 in The Botanical Cabinet, volume 15, plate 1408. Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler later placed it in Zamioculcas as Zamioculcas zamiifolia in 1905 in Das Pflanzenreich, IV, 23B, page 305.