ZZ Plant Care
We are always asked what plant is truly easy to take care of, or what plant is great for those of you who may not have the greenest of thumbs. Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or ZZ Plants, is a perfect starter plant for any “brown thumb” who tends to love plants from afar. If you have a less-than-stellar track record with plants, consider ZZ your new best friend. ZZ will thrive, even if you forget about it or neglect to water it as frequently as your other plants, in fact, it may actually prefer that!
ZZ plants are hearty, tough, and don’t need a lot of tender care. They are great for those of you who are forgetful, don’t have great lighting in your space, or need something that can succeed if you travel often!
Read along for specific care instructions.
ZZ Plant Light Requirements
The ZZ plant will do best with bright, indirect light but also lives happily in low light. This makes it a great option for an apartment without a lot of windows, an indoor office, or even a bathroom without any natural light.
ZZ plants will grow more quickly if they receive more lighting, but they don’t need it to stay alive, like some other foliage plants. Truly, they are a great plant for darker spaces because they can fend for themselves more than most house plants.
How much water does a ZZ Plant need?
Your ZZ Plant likes to be showered with compliments, not water. Tell it how nice it looks and how shiny its leaves are. Play some music or ask how its day went. Forget to water it for weeks at a time. Be amazed by how well it does.
All kidding aside, the ZZ Plant does thrive on very little water. Water your ZZ when the soil has completely dried out. It’s like a succulent or cactus in its watering needs and can survive for months without water.
The roots of your ZZ plant are called rhizomes, compared to the loose, string-looking roots like other plants. They resemble potatoes and hold onto water and moisture REALLY well. This means that giving your ZZ plant water weekly like other plants in your space will oversaturate the roots and lead to root rot.
We aren’t just saying it to be cool, we genuinely don’t want you to water your ZZ more than about once each month, maybe longer!
Why Does My ZZ Plant Have Yellow Leaves?
To put your best foot forward with your low-key ZZ Plant. Your ZZ leaves should be a variety of shades of green. Older leaves are going to be richer and deeper in color, while new leaves are going to be a lighter shade of green.
However, none of your leaves should be yellow! Keep reading to see what could be causing your plant to have issues.
Too Much Light
While it’s nearly impossible to give the ZZ too little light, it can get a sunburn if it’s left in too much direct sunshine. If the leaves are curling, leaning away from the light, or showing signs of yellowing, try adding some shade or moving the plant away from the light source.
While the leaves on your ZZ are thicker and heartier than some other foliage plants, too much sun can still impact them easily.
Overwatering
The easiest way to ruin your ZZ Plant is by overwatering. If the ZZ is turning yellow or feeling soggy/mushy, it may have root rot and has been overwatered. Back off on the water until the soil has completely dried out. If your roots are already rotting, you may need to trim them and repot the ZZ Plant or take a cutting of your existing ZZ stalks to propagate new roots (ironically, this is done by placing the cut stalks in water).
Like we said above, overwatering is going to impact your ZZ’s roots and it doesn’t need frequent watering to thrive. Let your ZZ go through the water already in its roots and if it still has issues once it’s dried out, then you can evaluate how serious the damage is.
Does a ZZ Plant need fertilizer?
Nope. You can fertilize at half-strength in the spring if you want to, but your ZZ will be fine without it.
ZZs are self-sufficient and don’t need a lot of outside support like your other house plants. Fertilizer may not even make much of a difference in your ZZ either, especially since it’s such a slow grower.
What is the best temperature for a ZZ Plant?
ZZ Plants do well at room temperature but should not be placed near drafts, vents, or air conditioning units. Being too cold (under 50 degrees Fahrenheit) will stunt the growth of your ZZ.
But as we’ve said above (many times), the ZZ plant is pretty resilient. If temperatures increase or decrease for a short period, your plant should be fine, just try and keep the temperature consistent.
Underwatering
While underwatering is impossible to do, your ZZ will let you know if it needs more water. It is a drought-resistant plant but in times of extreme drought (i.e., forgetfulness - no judgment, it happens), your ZZ Plant may start to drop leaves to conserve moisture. Water thoroughly so the top inch of soil is moist and watch your ZZ Plant thrive once again!
The great part about this is that if you give your ZZ a healthy drink, it should bounce back quickly and do great after it’s gotten that drink.
Crazy About your Sharp Dressed Plant
The ZZ is a gorgeous and eye-catching addition to any home, but you should keep it out of reach of curious pets and kids since it’s toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Wash your hands after handling your ZZ Plant.
It won’t cause any harm being around kids or pets, but playing with the leaves may cause some skin irritation or itching if you don’t rinse off afterward!
If you have further questions about caring for your ZZ Plant, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.