Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea)

Cardboard palm plant (Zamia furfuracea) is one of those ancient plants with a lot of character that can grow inside or outside depending upon your gardening zone. What is a Zamia cardboard palm? In fact, it isn’t a palm at all but a cycad — like the sago palm plant. Knowing how to grow Zamia palms starts with knowing your USDA planting zone. This little guy is not winter hardy in the majority of North American regions, but it makes an excellent container or houseplant anywhere. Grow it outdoors in USDA zones 9 to 11 year-round.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Cycads, which have been around since the dinosaurs, form cones at the center of the plant. The cardboard palm plant is native to Mexico and has tropical tendencies in its preferred temperature and light levels. Zamia cardboard palm does have pinnate leaves like a palm tree, but they are rounded with a thick tuberous stem.

The evergreen leaflets grow in opposing pairs of up to 12 per stem. It is a low-growing plant that may spread 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) and an underground trunk. The trunk stores moisture in times of drought, which makes Zamia ideal for xeriscape gardens. Cardboard palm care requires enough moisture to keep the trunk fat and healthy. Never let it dry to the point that the trunk and stem are wrinkled or dry.

All parts of the plant including seeds are poisonous to animals and humans. The toxicity causes liver and kidney failure, as well as eventual paralysis. Dehydration sets in very quickly. No treatment for the poisoning is currently known. Protect pets and children to never eat or chew any part of this plant.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Cardboard palms grow best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Indoors, place your plant by your brightest window, and be sure to rotate the pot regularly so all parts of the plant get an even amount of light. Otherwise, the cardboard palm will start to grow lopsided.

Temperature and Humidity

Cardboard palms are fairly hardy plants. They can tolerate heat, but cold temperatures and frost can damage or kill them. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and they prefer low to average humidity levels.

Watering

Only a moderate amount of water is required for cardboard palms. And overwatering can cause the roots to rot. From the spring to fall, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. But over the winter, reduce watering by about half of what you watered during the growing season.

Soil

These plants can tolerate a variety of soil types as long as they have good drainage. A loose, sandy soil with a slightly acidic soil pH is best. Cardboard palms in containers will grow well in a potting mix made for cacti and palms.

Fertilizing

Feed your plant twice a year with a slow-release palm fertilizer. One application should be at the beginning of the spring and the other at the start of autumn.

Pruning

Regular pruning is not necessary, but you can prune off dead, diseased, or damaged leaves as they are found.

Propagation

Propagation of this plant can’t be done by cuttings, but it can be done by division. The best time to do this is when the plant is still dormant in fall or early spring. Here are steps to propagate cardboard palm by division:

You will need a sharp, sterilized garden tool, well-draining potting mix, and a 6-inch pot.

• Divide the plant when the soil is evenly moist and the plant is well hydrated.
• Carefully remove an offset—new growth coming off the mother plant—and make sure its roots are still attached and that it contains a bud. You may be able to do this by hand, otherwise use a sharp, sterilized garden tool.
• Plant the rootlet in a pot with well-draining soil and place pot in a sunny spot.
• Replant once roots are established and new green growth appears. This may take several weeks.

Growing From Seeds

It can be difficult, but not impossible, to propagate cardboard palm from seeds. Commercial growers typically harvest the bright red seeds from cones produced by the female plant which are viable for a very short time. However, if you can verify that you have a female plant and can quickly harvest the seeds, take these steps and stay patient:

• Plant seeds as soon as you can in small seed starter pots filled with moistened sand.
• Place pots in a warm spot with moderate light. Make sure the temperature is above 65 degrees
• Fahrenheit or use a warming mat.
• When two sets of leaves have appeared and roots are strong (with a gentle tug), transfer the plant into a larger pot.

Potting and repotting

Repotting Zamia furfuracea should not be necessary more often than about once in every two or three years as the plant does not like to be disturbed.Use a heavy container to prevent toppling, because these plants can get top-heavy. Move the plants into one size larger pot in spring when the plant becomes root-bound; use an equal parts good-quality potting mix and sand for good drainage.

After reaching maximum pot size, top-dress these plants by replacing the top 5-8cm (2-3 inch) of potting mixture with fresh one.

Pests and Diseases

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

These plants don’t have major problems with pests or diseases. However, overwatering and allowing water to collect on the plant foliage can cause fungal diseases. So be sure only to water the soil around the base of the plant.

Otherwise, this tough plant is most susceptible to spider mites and scale insects (most notably the red plant scale, an armored bug that mostly attacks citrus plants).

Common Problems

It’s tough to find an easier plant to grow and maintain. Inspect your majestic cardboard palm for the following issues.

• Yellow Leaves

The plant may be overwatered which turns leaves yellow. Or, the leaves are older and dying off. Simply prune the yellow leaves off with a sharp, sterile cutting tool.

• Brown Leaves

The biggest problem you may see with a cardboard palm is brown leaves indicating root rot or crown rot. Rot is caused by overwatering. Too much watering is unnecessary because the plant’s thick semi-succulent stem is like a tank that holds water. You may not be able to save a cardboard palm that experiences rot.

Brown leaves, however, may also indicate sun scorch because the plant was placed in a spot where it got too much sunlight.

• Leaves Drooping and Wilting

Your plant is likely underwatered and dehydrated if it’s drooping or wilting. If the pot feels lighter than you think it should, the roots and soil are very dry. Begin to salvage the plant by watering the soil slowly to moisten it and don’t drown the roots.

III. Uses and Benefits

Zamia furfuracea is a great houseplant tough enough to survive occasional neglect and harsh indoor environments.It makes a great dramatic accent or specimen plant. Also it makes a great container plant for the patio or deck.

It is use for border, mass planting, container or above-ground planter, in mixed foundation plantings or in perennial beds.

This cycad is salt resistant and can be used in beachside plantings.