Zamioculcas zamiifolia, more commonly known as the ZZ plant, is a common and popular houseplant due to it’s hardiness and tolerance of neglect. With glossy green leaves and thick stems, this houseplant looks great in any indoor garden. ZZ plants need low light and are fairly drought-tolerant, so you can skip a watering… or several. Furthermore, they have air-purifying qualities that remove toxins such as xylene and benzene from the atmosphere (seriously, NASA said so). Even though ZZ plant care is pretty simple, if you really want your plant to thrive, follow the following recommendations. At the end of this article are common ZZ plant problems you may encounter and how to fix them.
See other plant specific care guides here
| Name | Zamioculcas zamiifolia “ZZ plant” |
| Sunlight | Prefers medium to low sunlight. North, East, or West-facing windows are best. Avoid South-facing windows because they provide light that is too bright. |
| Water | About once every 2 weeks. Allow the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to completely dry before watering again. Do not over water because that can cause rhizome rot (the most common cause of ZZ plant death) |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Thrives in the warmth. Room temperature is best. Do not keep at temperatures lower than 50 °F (10 °C). |
| Humidity | Not picky about humidity, average house humidity is fine. |
| Propagation | Propagate ZZ plant by dividing rhizomes, leaf cuttings, or stem cuttings Propagation is generally a slow process and may take up to a year |
| Toxicity | Toxic to cats, dogs and children |
Growth
ZZ plants are slow growers, usually reaching a height of 3 feet (90 cm) and a width of 2.5 feet (76 cm). Warmer temperatures and brighter light encourage growth (however, do not keep the ZZ plant in direct, full sun).
It has dark green, fleshy leaves that are about an inch wide and a few inches long. It may produce flowers at the base of the plant when grown outside during late summer to early autumn. The flowers are small and can easily be missed.
Temperature & Humidity
Native to Southeastern Africa, ZZ plants enjoy periods of drought and warm temperatures. They grow well at room temperature (60 to 75°F or 15 to 24°C). Do not keep them in temperatures lower than 50 °F (10 °C).
ZZ plants are not picky about humidity- the average humidity of your room will be fine. If the air is really dry, mist the ZZ plant’s leaves with a spray bottle every once in a while. Do not keep the houseplant near air conditioning vents or heaters because those areas are especially dry.
Watering
ZZ plants grow from rhizomes, which are thick underground plant stems that send off roots and shoots. They look like little bulbs under the dirt. Rhizomes store starches, water and proteins for the plant, which is why the ZZ plant is drought-tolerant. Over watering can lead to rhizome rot and is a common cause of ZZ plant death, so it is better to under water if in doubt. Under watering is much easier to fix than rot from over watering.
In general, water your ZZ plant about once every two weeks. The top inch of soil should be completely dry before you water again, to help prevent rot.
Be aware that if your ZZ plant is in low light, it requires less frequent watering than if it was in brighter environment. Similarly, ZZ plants in areas with high humidity require less water than those in drier areas.
Light needs
ZZ plants thrive with medium levels of indirect light. If you have a corner in a windowless room that needs some green color, a ZZ plant would make a great addition. They can even grow in fluorescent lighting, making them perfect office plants.
While they are pretty tolerant of low light conditions, they do not do well with bright, direct light. Excess sun exposure leads to dried out leaves. If you notice this happening, move the plant to a shadier location.
Be aware that if your ZZ plant is in a low light area, it is more susceptible to rot. Water less frequently than you would a ZZ plant in a sunnier location.
Propagation
ZZ plants can be propagated through 3 main ways:
1. Separating the Rhizomes
The fastest way to propagate ZZ plants is by separating the rhizomes. This is best for larger-sized plants. The downside is that propagating by this method can only be done once in a while because the ZZ plant produces rhizomes slowly.
Just remove the ZZ plant from it’s pot and gently separate the rhizomes. Plant each new section into a different pot with well-draining soil.
2. Stem cutting
This method is slower than separating by rhizomes, but works if your plant is not big enough to be separated.
- Choose a mature stem with several leaves on it to cut. Cut right at the base of the stem with a clean pair of garden shears.
- Let the fleshy opening dry out for a few days.
- After the opening has dried, put your cutting in a jar of water. Fill the water until about 4 inches of the stem are covered.
- Keep the jar in an area with bright, indirect light and in a warm environment. Change out the water once a month.
- When you see a rhizome and about 1 to 2 inches of roots have formed, transplant the ZZ plant into soil. Now, just follow the same care steps you would for an adult ZZ plant.
Propagating by stem cuttings takes several months, so just be patient!
3. Leaf Cutting
For propagating ZZ plants from leaf cuttings, follow the following steps:
- Use a clean pair of gardening shears to cut off a leaf, taking some of the stem along with it.
- Allow the cut edge to dry for a few hours.
- Take a pot filled with well-draining potting soil. Place the leaf’s stem (with the cut edge going in first) about half an inch inside the soil. Make sure that the majority of leaf is above ground to prevent rot.
- Keep the pot in a warm location. Water the soil after planting, and twice a month after that. Do not move the leaf around or disturb the growth.
- Know that it can take almost a year to notice progress.
In general, ZZ plant propagation is pretty slow and takes a lot of patience. However, the results are worth it!
I have a whole guide that explains how you can propagate ZZ plants here for more information.
Soil & Repotting
Choose a well-draining soil that does not retain extra water to prevent rhizome rot. You can mix some perlite into the soil for extra drainage.
A plain terracotta pot with a drainage hole is the best choice for a container because it does not retain excess water. Do not choose a pot much larger in size than the current pot because it could drown the roots.
If you want to keep the size of your plant the same, repot the plant in the same container, only changing the soil. Trim away some of the roots and stems so it fits (propagate the cuttings following the steps above!).
Since ZZ plants are slow growers, they do not need to be repotted that often. Once a year, at the beginning of spring is the best time to repot.
Pruning ZZ plants
Extensive pruning is not necessary. Just remove the yellow leaves and cut back stems that are overgrown.
Fertilizing your ZZ plant
ZZ plant’s growing season is from April to August. Use a diluted fertilizer once a month during this time. However, fertilizing ZZ plants is not essential, and they can grow well without it.
Do not fertilize during the winter.
ZZ Plant Toxicity
The ZZ plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause irritation if ingested. They are toxic to dogs, cats and children, so keep it out of their reach.
ZZ plants are still safe to have in your home. Just wear gloves when handling your plant to minimize contact.
Does the ZZ plant cause cancer?
There was a rumor a few years ago that ZZ plants cause cancer. ZZ plants are toxic if eaten, but they do not cause cancer. As long as you do not ingest them and wear gloves when handling (or wash your hands after), they are safe.
Learn more about ZZ plant toxicity here
ZZ plant pests
If you notice yellow markings or spots on the leaves of your plant, you may have an aphid infestation. Take a closer look at the leaves to find them. Wipe the leaves with a soapy hot water solution to remove the pests.
ZZ plants are fortunately pretty resistant to pests and diseases.
Common ZZ plant problems
Why is my ZZ plant yellowing?
How many leaves are yellowing? If it is a small amount of yellow leaves at the bottom that are falling off, this is normal and nothing to worry about.
However if any of the following signs are present, you are over watering and your plant is suffering from rot:
- A lot of leaves are yellowing
- The stalks are turning brown and mushy
- Several leaves are easily falling off
Cut back in watering frequency and prune your plant. Let the soil completely dry out for as long as a month before watering again.
Remember that over watering is the most common cause of death in ZZ plants. It is better to err on the side of under watering because that is much easier to fix.
Learn about other causes of ZZ plant leaves turning yellow here.
Why is my ZZ plant turning brown?
7 common reasons of brown leaves include:
- Bright sunlight
- Improper watering (too much or too little)
- Water quality
- Low humidity
- Temperature extremes
- Pests
- Bacterial or fungal disease
Prune the parts of the plant that are brown.
Learn about how to fix different causes of brown leaves here.
Why is my ZZ plant leaning?
If you notice your ZZ plant is leaning away from it’s light source, it is receiving too much sunlight. Move it to a shadier area or draw the curtains if you do not want to move it.
Why are my ZZ plant’s leaves curling?
There are several reasons that lead to curling ZZ plant leaves, such as:
- Too much sunlight
- Insufficient water
- Too much water
- Cold temperatures
- Pests
- Rootbound plants
Learn more about ZZ plant leaves curling and how to fix it with this article.
How do you save a dying ZZ plant?
- Carefully inspect the plant. Cut away any leaves that look diseased (do not be afraid to cut all the way down to the base if you need to).
- Unpot your ZZ plant and loosen up the roots
- Put your plant in a fresh pot of well-draining potting soil. You may want to increase the amount of perlite in the soil to improve drainage. Make sure your pot has a drainage hole as well.
- Secure the plant in the new soil. Water until the soil is moist.
- For the future, decrease your watering frequency and move to a slightly sunnier location.
Those were common ZZ plant problems, how to fix them. ZZ plants are pretty hardy as long as they do not receive bright light and are not over watered. Their air-purification qualities make them a great addition to a bedroom.
Even though ZZ plants are pretty tolerant of neglect, if you truly want your plant to thrive, follow the above tips for optimal ZZ plant care.
See other plant specific care guides here
Have any more questions about ZZ plants that I did not answer? Let me know down below!
