With good care and a suitable location, the Zamioculcas has enough defenses to make life difficult for fungi, lice and the like. In addition, the various plant diseases caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria are very rarely found on the plant, also known as the lucky feather. If you should nevertheless notice any pathological changes, it is important to react quickly and appropriately.
Mistakes in care are usually to blame when the Zamioculcas falls ill
Diagnosis is made before treatment
Diseases and pests on the Zamioculcas (and of course on every other plant too!) can only be successfully combated if you have identified the damage without a doubt. Here you will find a list of the most common causes.
Recognize maintenance errors
Incorrect water supply, too much or too little fertilizer, too high temperatures or an unsuitable location lead to pathological reactions such as leaf spots, wilting or growth retardation. Usually another place or better care is enough to eliminate the causes. A lack of light, for example, manifests itself in the yellowing of the leaves, if the air is too dry, the tips and edges of the leaves turn brown, if the air is too humid, so-called "cork spots" form. Overwatering - one of the most common problems with the lucky feather - is reflected in the brown coloring of the leaves and the drying up of the shoots - despite the moist substrate.
Diseases often arise as a result of care errors
Fungi, bacteria and viruses can also damage plants. An infestation is often triggered by care errors. Fungal diseases, for example, can be recognized by the typical deposits, cotton-like coverings, only partial wilting or leaf spots and pustules. If the Zamioculcas is kept too moist, for example, stem rot will quickly occur. This is caused by fungal pathogens. The affected stems turn brown and rotten. Combating it is hardly possible, at most you can try to pot the affected plant and separate healthy parts of the plant. Diseased parts are discarded.
Regular pest control
An infestation with leaf sap-sucking insects such as aphids or spider mites usually shows up as deformations, spots, signs of feeding, stunted growth or a sticky coating. Check your Zamioculcas regularly for animal pests, especially spider mites! Many like to sit on shoot tips, young leaves and buds. Also check the leaf axils and the underside of the leaf.
tips
Don't just resort to poison to fight it. There are a number of proven home remedies available to combat diseases and pests. In an emergency, biological sprays (e.g. based on rapeseed oil), which are generally less toxic than chemical substances, can help.