ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) have gained tremendous popularity among houseplant owners due to their easy-to-care for nature. This beautiful houseplant is drought-tolerant and can survive even in shade.
If you notice your ZZ plant leaves turning brown, it is a signal that there is something wrong with your plant’s conditions. This could be due to several reasons, involving water, soil, sunlight, pests, or disease. While the solution may not be readily apparent, this article explains the different causes of brown ZZ plant leaves and what to do to fix each one.
Find everything you need to know about taking care of your ZZ plant in this ZZ Plant Care Guide.
1. ZZ Plant leaves turning brown due to bright sunlight
If ZZ plants are exposed to several hours of bright sunlight per day, they develop sunburn on their leaves. This results in brown, calloused patches on the leaves.
If your ZZ plant is in front of a window, move it farther away or draw a sheer curtain so that it receives indirect light. Make sure the plant’s leaves do not directly touch the window, as that furthers the risk of leaf burn.
Avoid placing ZZ plants directly in front of south facing windows because they provide very bright light. East, west or north facing windows are better.
2. ZZ Plant leaves turning brown due to improper watering
Over watering
Another common cause of ZZ plant leaves turning brown is over watering. ZZ plants are drought-tolerant and prefer for their soil to completely dry out between watering. Over watering leads to root rot, and is one of the most common reasons of ZZ plant death.
Other signs of over watering include: yellow leaves, limp stems, and mushy leaves that fall off easily. Check the soil of your plant- if it feels soggy to touch, over watering is the likely cause.
Learn about other causes of yellow ZZ plant leaves here
If your ZZ plant is over watered, remove it from the pot and clean the soil off it’s roots. Using a clean pair of scissors, remove any rotten roots (they are black, and feel slimy). Healthy roots are light tan and strong. Clean the scissors between each cut.
Clean the pot with soap and water and fill it with fresh, new potting soil. Prune the damaged leaves off the ZZ plant and replant in the new soil. Keep the newly potted plant in a well-ventilated area with bright, indirect sun. Avoid watering for several weeks and do not mist the plant. If your plant was in complete shade, consider moving it closer to the window for more light.
To avoid over watering, always check that the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry before watering. Water enough to moisten the soil without soaking it. If you are not sure whether to water, wait it out- it is much easier to correct under watering than over watering. After watering, dump out any excess water that collected in the saucer so the plant does not sit in it for too long.
Keep in mind, the frequency of watering depends on your home’s specific conditions. A ZZ plant that is in bright sunlight or a dry environment requires more frequent watering than one that is in the shade or somewhere humid.
I water my ZZ plant once every two weeks during the summer and once a month during the winter- it seems happy with that frequency.
Plant the ZZ plant in well-draining soil. Adding perlite or orchid bark increases the drainage of the soil. Choose an appropriately sized pot, preferably with a drainage hole to allow the extra water to dry out. Too small of a pot will stunt the plant’s growth, while too large of a pot will cause root rot since the extra soil retains water. Clay pots help keep the soil drier by providing good air flow, in comparison to plastic pots.
Under watering
A less common cause of ZZ plant leaves turning brown is under watering. While ZZ plants are drought tolerant, completely neglecting watering leads to dry, crispy brown leaves. You may notice wrinkled leaves and drooping stalks. Under watering is especially likely if your ZZ plant is kept somewhere very warm or in front of bright sun.
Fortunately, under watering is much easier to correct than over watering. Simply give your plant a good soak until the water runs out of the bottom. If your plant is very dry, you can bottom water it:
- Place the pot in a tub of room-temperature water for an hour. Allow the pot to soak up water from the drainage hole.
- After an hour, feel if the water has reached the top few inches of soil. If the top still feels dry, pour water on the top.
- Once the soil is saturated, remove the water from the tub and allow the pot to drain thoroughly.
- Once the excess water has been drained, place the pot back in it’s original place.
3. ZZ plant leaves turning brown due to water quality
ZZ plants are sensitive to water with high volumes of salts, chlorine and fluoride. If frequently watered, the salts buildup in the soil of the plant and lead to brown leaves.
Fix water quality issues in any of the following ways:
- Install a water filtration system
- Water the plant with collected rainwater
- Let a bowl of tap water sit out in an open container overnight before watering so the chlorine has time to evaporate
Use room temperature water- very hot or very cold water furthers the problem
4. ZZ plant leaves turning brown due to low humidity
Leaves with dry, crispy tips are probably due to dry air. Move your ZZ plant somewhere more humid. Keeping a humidifier nearby is a great way to reduce dryness. Place the pot in a pebble tray of water helps if you do not have a humidifier.
Avoid placing the plants near heating or cooling vents where the air is especially dry.
5. ZZ plant leaves turning brown due to temperature extremes
ZZ plants thrive in temperatures from 65 – 85 °F (18 – 30 °C). They are not fond of very cold or very warm weather. Temperature extremes lead to brown leaf damage and curling leaves.
Learn more about other causes of ZZ plant leaves curling
Keep the ZZ plant at room temperatures and avoid sudden temperature changes.
6. ZZ plant leaves turning brown due to pests
Browning leaves may also be due to pests. Keep a close eye on your houseplants for any signs of infestation so that the problem can be solved early.
Other signs that hint at infestation include:
- Irregular new growth
- Cotton-white webbing
- Leaves dropping prematurely
- Black spots or mold like substance
- Holes in the leaves
Check closely for signs of infestation, paying attention to the undersides of the leaves. If you notice pests:
- Quarantine the zz plant so the infestation does not spread to other plants.
- Wash the plant under a strong stream of water with an insecticidal soap.
- Spray the plant with rubbing alcohol or diluted neem oil.
- Repeat this process every few days for several weeks until the pests are completely gone.
7. ZZ plant leaves turning brown due to disease
Bacterial and fungal diseases also cause brown leaves. These diseases lead to decreased growth and may kill the plant if left unchecked. The spots may have a yellow “halo” surrounding them, or be slightly raised against the leaf surface. You may also notice distorted leaf shape and drooping.
Snip off the affected leaves with gardening shears, cleaning the shears between each cut. Check any neighboring plants for signs of disease, and treat them the same way because it is contagious.
To prevent bacterial and fungal disease, avoid excessively wetting the leaves of the ZZ plant. Do not mist the leaves and wipe off any wet spots after watering. Keeping the leaves dry and the plant well-ventilated helps prevent disease.
Leaf spot disease can be prevented with good air circulation, well-draining soil, and by not excessively watering. If leaf spot is suspected, use a fungicide, or a home remedy of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon mineral oil in a spray bottle of water. Spray this over the infected areas.
Can you remove brown leaves?
ZZ plant leaves that have turned brown cannot go back to their green color. However, by fixing the underlying issue you ensure the new growth will be healthy. The brown leaves fall off as the plant ages.
If you do not want to keep the brown leaves, cut them off with scissors. Do not remove more than 20% of the plant’s leaves at once so that it is still able to photosynthesize.
How to care for a ZZ Plant
| Sunlight | Indirect light is ideal, but they tolerate low light. Avoid direct sunlight because it causes sunburn on the leaves. |
| Water | Once every 1 to 2 weeks in the summer and once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter. Check that the soil is completely dry before watering. |
| Temperature | 65 – 85 °F (18 – 30 °C). Do not keep in temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C) or above 90 °F (32 °C). |
| Humidity | Prefers drier conditions. Avoid misting the leaves. |
In summary for ZZ plant leaves turning brown…
ZZ plant leaves turning brown may be due to:
- Bright sunlight
- Improper watering (too much or too little)
- Water quality
- Low humidity
- Temperature extremes
- Pests
- Bacterial or fungal disease
A few brown leaves on your ZZ plant are not the end of the world and the plant can bounce back if the issue is fixed soon enough. Provide your ZZ plant with bright, indirect light, keep in room temperature, and water when the soil is dry to prevent leaf browning.
See other plant specific care guides here
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