How to Care for a ZZ Plant
amioculcas zamiifolia (which is more commonly known as the ZZ plant) is one of the toughest plants around and making it ideal for new plant parent or anyone who has a brown thumb. The nickname, “ZZ plant” is the result of the first two letters of its name. It thrives in zones 9 and 10, but its origin is from East Africa. You can further check out the plant hardiness zone map USDA home page to learn more about the different zones. It is an arum plant and thus related to such indoor plants as the pothos and peace lily.
The other common names for the ZZ plant include the zanzibar gem, zee zee plant, zizi plant or z plant. The bigger ones – hanging baskets, tall planters, fill out empty spaces near doorways and odd corners. Suitable for both office shelves or bedside tables the small houseplants is a perfect fit.
ZZ Plant Overview
The presence of ZZ plants is a common feature of waiting rooms and working places. The fact that many people erroneously think them to be a fake plant at first sight is mainly due to their very realistic and waxy foliage.
They are able to thrive in many conditions and continue even when kept in the dark for several weeks. ZZ plants can grow as far as five feet, but usually attain only one to three feet tall.
ZZ Plant Care Tips
If you absolutely want to toast your ZZ plant, you will have to work hard! In other words, it’s a very sturdy fabric. However, even though ZZ plant can take a high level of attention, you could still grow it more if you pamper it.
Light: ZZ plants work best with bright, indirect light, but they carry on even with the low-light conditions. These plants can grow comfortably in bright white lights as well. Therefore, this is one of the main reason, they are preferred for the indoor environment with no windows. The other important thing is that ZZ plant does not like direct sunlight. Although sunlight is one of the main nutrients for plants, an excessive direct exposure can burn or dry the leaves. If that happens, go on and look for a shadier location for your plant and make sure that the leaves start to resemble the green state within a few days.
Water: Deep water only when the soil is dry. Be conscientious, as stem and rhizome rot will surely happen if you keep your plant in water. While your plant can withstand lack of water up to months, it will be growing at a faster rate with the watering being more frequent. It is better to underwater than overwater, because the death of ZZ plant can occur mostly via root rot and not due to water shortage.
Temperatures: The ZZ plant typically needs a range of temperature between 65-75°F. It is the most humid-loving, but if the air is not very wet, it may survive even in the less humid climates. If it is your flower, then you can just spray the leaves with water instead of dry air. The plant may stop growing due to the presence of the air conditioner vent and the temperature dropped below 45°F.
Toxicity: Handle with care, this plant has calcium oxalate crystals which are harmful. It might cause skin itches or more serious condition such as stomach pain. Toxic oxalate crystals present in the plant make it extremely poisonous even to pets; therefore be careful to not leave it close to the wall. To date, Zamioculcas zamiifolia are still safe to be kept at the home provided that it is away from pets and kids who are too inquisitive. You should wash your hands right away after you tend to the plant or you wear gloves instead to avoid the contact with the plant.
Pests: Aphids thrive on the “saps” from ZZ plants. As one of the common symptoms of an aphid infestation is yellowing or spotting on the plants, make sure to check for such signs as well. Aphids tend to be well camouflaged against the leaves, therefore, it is important to use a magnifying glass to detect them as well as to look underneath leaves since they hide there. Eliminate most pests by washing the leaves gently with mild soap and hot water solution.
Problems: In addition, the most common cause of death for the ZZ plant is an overdose. When watering the plant, make sure that at least the initial inch of its soil is dry. When the leaves of the plant starts to wither, the plant is in need of water. In case of ZZ plant leaves turning yellow and falling off, you might be overwatering this plant.
This particular plant develops very slowly. It may take several years before your plant would be large enough to show a few feet in growth. The top aids in ZZ plant’s growth process are perfect light, water and temperature conditions.
Fertilizing: Fertilize your plant once or twice in the spring or summer months with a half strength liquid fertilizer like 20-20-20.
Pruning: ZZ plants leave no room for complicated trimming. Throughout the year green leaves by pruning any stems which are overgrown. Remember to wear gloves!
Repotting: Repotting is not essential unless you start to notice that the plant is running out of space in the current pot. When repotting your ZZ plant, the best time is in spring. Get a pot that is a size larger than usual and has adequate drainage. Take the ZZ plant out from its original pot for now. Take out all the weeds and dead branches. Replace it into the new pot with the one having good drainage capacity. Water until when the drains from the top bottom.
Propagating: One of the way to reproduce the plant ZZ is to stick a mature stem in water and wait until roots come out. The other option is to make these plants two to three smaller plants. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to divide them often due to their ultra slow-growing rhizomes.
The ZZ plant has been found to be nearly impossible to kill, making it a perfect houseplant that can thrive on any corner at home or at the office. Zamioculcas zamiifolia care is not complicated at all, provided that you place it in moderate lighting and always allow its soil to dry between waterings. Keep it in a safe place where nobody can get access to it to ensure safety.
