Zanzibar Zamia

A few feet away from a window, a sill without direct sunlight or a bright spot indoors away from direct sun would be ideal. Although it likes bright, filtered light, it will adapt to a low light situation without a fuss.

It's native to arid lands so it doesn't like a lot of water.

The best way to do it is to generously water until water runs out of the drainage hole of the pot. Wipe up drained water because the plant doesn't like wet feet and this can cause root rot.

Let the top layer of the soil dry out before giving it another drink to make sure it does not get overwatered.

Poke your finger into the soil to test its moisture level. If the top few inches of the soil are totally dry to the touch, it is safe to proceed with watering. But if you can feel moisture, you should wait before watering it again. The aim is to keep the lower level of soil moist but not soggy. It’s a bit of experimenting to get to the right balance but don’t worry, you’ll get it after a bit of trial and error.

Start with roughly once a week. More in the hot, summer months, less in the monsoon and cooler seasons.

1. Trim off brown leaves. Pull out old stumps from the base to make space for new leaves.

2. Scrape off any white mould on top of the soil. It’s just harmless fungi that lives in the soil. Lightly dust the soil with ground cinnamon.

3. Poke holes in the soil with a chopstick to aerate it and and give your plant a bit of extra breathing room. Sprinkle a tablespoon of vitamins in the soil and massage in.

4. Shine its leaves with a damp cloth, gently removing any dust. Front and back. This not only makes your plant look nicer but also helps it to soak in light more easily.

5. Spin it around to make sure its leaves are sunned evenly as it tends to grow towards sunlight.

6. Clean your cork mat with soap and water or white vinegar.

But don’t wet it too much.