ZZ Plants

The ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia - its botanical name.

We seemed to get asked everyday about this interesting interior plant. Slightly difficult to find around town, but Exotic Plants has a great connection with a grower on the coast that keeps us in good supply. These easy to care for plants are great for today’s more modern homes and offices; but also hold their own in a Tuscan container, oriental pot, or country basket.

ZZ Plants have long leafy stalks that keep their shine naturally. They vary in height from around a foot to about 3 feet tall. As far as care goes … they are easy. They like a little bit of water weekly, but like to be kept on the dry side, some people recommend watering every other week. And they handle low light conditions well; they can flourish in good light, but seem to burn in super direct sunlight. A great plant for those who forget they own houseplants or travel a lot. They are slow growers but growth speeds up when in brighter light conditions and their waxy leaves are nicely resistant to pest or insects. Interestingly enough, this plant’s origins are from East Africa, but can easily be found in Sacramento at Exotic Plants Ltd. We carry many sizes from an inexpensive 4” potted ZZ to a lush 14” potted ZZ plant. Visit us soon for your special ZZ Plant, 1833 Howe Avenue, Sacramento in The Cost Plus Shopping Center at Alta Arden. Hope to see you soon!

Summer is slowly coming to a close as families return from vacation and children return to school. A great way to keep that vacation feeling in your home or office, is the addition of a tropical bromeliad. If you can't be there, Exotic Plants can bring a little touch of the tropics to you with brightly colored tropical Bromeliad plants. These long lasting plants with vibrant blooms are grown in many colors and are easy to care for.

They need bright light and warm indoor temperatures. Add water to the cups of the leaves once a week, and just a touch to the soil, not too much or it will cause the roots to rot. In one week, most of the water should be absorbed by the plant. If not, wait a week before watering again.

In a few months the colorful bloom will begin to die. When you're unhappy with its look, simply remove at the base of the stem with clean scissors. By this time you may already have a "pup" or new shoot growing from the mother plant. The secret to getting a new flower with color is Ethylen gas. In the wild, animals and insects live in the bromeliad cups, and their dead remains, along with decaying leaf matter, create Methane gas. In the home, we can provide this by cutting up an apple and putting a couple of pieces into the cups. Then placing a clear plastic bag over the plant to intensify the effect ... encouraging a colorful bloom. Hope that provides some insight into Bromeliads, be sure to visit Exotic Plants to see our large selection of these tropical beauties. And don't forget ... We deliver in the greater Sacramento Area!

Summer Snakes

Summer is a great time to introduce you to the Snake Plant or Sansevieria traifasciate. Exotic Plants has a wide variety of these modern beauties this month. Snake plants are known to be one of the easiest house plants to care for. A great plant for horticultural beginners or to give as a gift. They are very forgiving and can withstand many weeks without water. Great for people who enjoy plants but travel a lot or forget to water a lot. They also enjoy good light and warm temptures. Just make sure to under water, this plant likes to be ignored, over watering will surely kill one. August is a great month to add a Snake Plant to your home. Come in soon and enjoy our special of $10 Off Any $25 Purchase, valid through August 31st, 2010.

Keeping and growing Bonsai in Sacramento is not as hard as you may think. Often considered living art, “bonsai” means ‘tree in a tray’, and the Japanese have specialized in the art for hundreds of years. They are no more difficult to look after than most houseplants, needing food, consistent watering and light to survive. However most bonsai are not houseplants. In Sacramento's summer heat they need watering daily and in winter are subject to frosts, but bringing them indoors over winter, is a mistake and sure way to kill them. Bonsai are trees, very special, small ones, but most often need to be treated as the plant that they are. Trees live outside, unless known as a tropical. Exotic Plants has a large selection of small and simple, to very aged and exotic bonsai tree species right now. Please take a moment to enjoy the art of bonsai at our store some time soon. Summer is often a good time to take on a new plant growing experience or challenge. An adventure into bonsai might be what your home or garden needs right now, and can bring added serenity to your life as you care for these enchanting small trees.As always, if you have questions or need to know more, give us a call at 916-922-4769, visit us online at www.exoticplantsltd.com or stop by our urban jungle at 1833 Howe Avenue at Howe & Alta Arden in Sacramento.

Summer Heat

Just a quick reminder from Exotic Plants that summer heat is here! Make sure you keep your interior plants happy by checking them and watering them at least once a week. Especially an issue for homeowners who keep their air conditioning to minimum while they are at work during the day, or do not have air conditioning. If you know your home is warm, you might want to check your plants mid-week to see if a splash is needed until your next watering day. Most plants should have damp soil, never drowning in water and never desert dry. By checking regularly you can save the life of the your beautiful, green companion. Have questions or need advice? you can always send us an email or stop by our shop, we are always glad to help! exoticplants@att.net

Amusing Venus Fly Traps have arrived, along with other carnivorous plants.  They prey on flies and insects to add to their diet. They evolved into carnivorous plants in need of more nutrients in their soil ... they feed themselves. Venus Fly Traps need bright sunlight for a majority of the day. Keep the soil moist with water and if possible keep in high humidity. And if they don't encounter insects naturally, make sure the soil is kept balanced with nutrients. Come on in and take a look at our selection of interesting and carnivorous plants!

Exotic Plants would like to remind you of the air cleaning benefits of interior plants. Two to three plants in pots approximately 8 -10" wide can significantly remove toxins from the air of your home. If healthy living is a concern of yours, make sure interior plants and their care are included in your plan.

Certain plants have an affinity for removing toxins from the air more easily than others. Most of the plants effective in removing indoor air pollutants are not exotic and are readily available. They include English ivy, aloe vera, ficus benjamina, areca palm, bamboo palm, sansevieria, philodendrons, pothos, all of the draceneas but especially the Janet Craig, chrysanthemums, bromeliads and orchids. The draceana is pictured here. All have been proven to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, carbon monoxide, and even formaldehyde.

Let Exotic Plants help you find the plant that would benefit your living space and thrive. Remember ... "You haven't gone green until the plants arrive"!