Identification, and advice re: splitting the roots

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by playethic, Jul 25, 2013.

  1. playethic

    playethic New Member

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    I've been growing the expanded family of the attached-photo plant for some years, but don't actually know what it is.
    Can someone help with the identification?

    Also, a question. When these plants were little, it was fairly easy to gently untangle and pull apart the roots when one was pot-bound, and to separate it into new plants. Now that it's quite big, however, the bases of all the 'branches' seem to be melded, hard, as one. Do I 'cut' this hard root core into sections, ensuring there is a mass of roots attached to each section, and re-pot that way? Or would that kill it?

    Thank you
     

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  2. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Looks like Zamioculcas zamiifolia, ZZ Plant.
     
  3. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    When I propagated mine I used the individual leaflets. It takes a long time but there's no chance of killing the plant.
    Root as you would African Violet.
     
  4. Indignation

    Indignation New Member

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    As Jungle Keeper has said that plant is definitely Zamioculcas Zamifolia or the "ZZ plant" for short. I think they look utterly stunning when they get larger like yours has.

    I did divide one once but it died! (I think though the plant was on its way our to start with though). Whatever, when I did, it was too gently trying to untangle the roots, just made a mess. If I did it again, I'd be brutal and just make a straight cut down through the middle.

    The ZZ plant is quite resilient because of the roots / tubers storing a lot of energy so as long as you have at least a few and some roots with each section you should be OK. It will always be a gamble though... Leaf propagation is much more reliable.
     

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