ZZ plants are native to Africa’s tropical regions, which have rainy and dry seasons, resulting in wildly changing growing conditions. As a result, they are very forgiving houseplants! ZZ plants thrive in fluorescent lights in offices and commercial buildings since they need a lot of indirect light (direct sunshine can scorch the leaves). ZZ plants can be cultivated outside in zones 10 to 12 in regions with filtered sunshine and well-draining soil. (The sun is OK in the morning, but plants need shade from the intense afternoon sun.)
Can a ZZ plant go outside in the summer?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, commonly known as ZZ or zee-zee plant, Zanzibar jewel, aroid palm, chubby boy, and eternity plant, is a year-round indoor plant that can be enticed outdoors in the summer.
I’m admiring the shiny green leaves of a Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or ZZ plant, and I’m wondering how I missed it before.
Master Gardener Kathy Reed, who owns the plant, says it thrives in her office’s extreme low light and is the best indoor plant she’s ever had.
Zanzibar jewel, aroid palm, fat boy, and eternity plant are all names for the ZZ plant. The letters are sometimes spelt zee-zee plant. Reed claims she bought a ZZ plant with a tag that simply said “Plants of Steel” last summer.
ZZ plant, whatever you call it, appears to be a true treasure of a plant for the house or office. In the summer, it can also be grown outside, however it is only hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9. (Lawrence is located in Zone 6).
Apart from being tolerant of low light, the ZZ plant requires little water and fertilizer. The plant also grows slowly, which means it won’t need to be re-potted as often. Reed keeps her ZZ plant in an office with only overhead fluorescent lights and dark weekends, and she only water it when the soil dries out.
ZZ plant can take bright light from a window if you are fortunate enough to have extra light available. In the summer, you could even put it outside in the shade, as previously recommended. Overwatering is the most typical issue indoor gardeners have with ZZ plants; its roots prefer to dry out a little between waterings, so water occasionally.
At 2 to 3 feet tall, Reed’s ZZ plant is nearing maturity, though it may spread out a little more. After reaching maturity, the ZZ plant grows to be around 3 feet across in nature.
Flowers are produced by the plant, although they are small and are borne near to the plant’s base. The nearly glossy leaves are what make this plant so attractive.
According to the University of Connecticut, NASA has recognized the ZZ plant for its ability to purify the air.
The ZZ plant is a relatively new addition to the tropical plant business, but it is quickly gaining favor. It may take some hunting to find your own ZZ plant, but as garden center workers gain more knowledge about the plant, it should become more readily available. The bottleneck is the plant’s slow growing tendency, which makes it difficult to create a saleable plant in a reasonable amount of time. Last summer, Reed bought one of her ZZ plants from a local garden business, and the other she bought two years ago from a garden center in a nearby community.
If you must fertilize, do so once a month with a basic houseplant fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label.
Leaflets that fall to the ground will root and generate bulblets, making propagation quite simple. Leaf cuttings can be rooted in the soil as well.
The ZZ plant has one disadvantage: if swallowed, all components of the plant are harmful to humans.
Is ZZ plant indoor or outdoor?
The ZZ plant is a simple to grow and care for indoor plant with small glossy leaves on stalks that can reach 3 feet in length. The botanical name for zamioculcas zamiifolia is zamioculcas zamiifolia, which grows well in dim or strong illumination and with frequent or infrequent watering.
What temperatures can ZZ plants tolerate?
In a climate with average humidity, ZZ plants thrive best between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your ZZ plant away from temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and if your air is dry, especially in the winter, consider keeping it near a humidifier. Every spring, repot ZZ plants.
What happens if you touch a ZZ plant?
What Causes the Poisonous ZZ Plant? Calcium Oxalate, the same chemical found in human kidney stones, is produced by the plant. This substance takes the shape of a crystal with sharp edges. This is what causes irritation of the skin when it comes into touch with the sap, and it can also cause irritation of the interior tissues if eaten.
When should I transplant my ZZ plant?
Because ZZs are known for being sluggish growth, they don’t need to be replanted very often. Once every two years, we usually only need to transplant these plants up a pot size.
Repotting your ZZs should be done in the spring or early summer. This is because your plant goes into dormancy throughout the colder months of the year, slowing down its growth. I’ve found that transplanting your ZZ in the early spring gives it the space it needs to create new growth once it’s back in its growing season.
Where should I place my ZZ plant at home?
Indirect light from a north-, east-, or west-facing window can range from dim to bright. Direct sunshine, which can scorch the foliage, should be avoided. There aren’t any windows? It’s no problem. Under fluorescent lights, the ZZ plant thrives.
Temperature:
Grow at room temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit indoors. If you leave your plant outside during the summer, make sure to bring it inside when the temperature drops below 50 degrees F.
Humidity:
Humidity levels in the home should be OK, but keep your plant away from air conditioning and heating vents, which can dry out the air and cause browning of the leaves.
Watering:
Overwatering is one of the few methods to destroy a ZZ plant. Only water once every two weeks or when the top inch or two of soil feels dry during the busy growing season (spring through early fall). If you’re growing your plant in low-light situations or throughout the winter, water less frequently.
Fertilizing:
Because ZZ plants can store nutrients in their roots, they don’t require fertilizing as frequently as other plants. During the spring and summer, feed every month or so with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended dose. In the winter, don’t fertilize.
How long does a ZZ plant live?
The leaves make up 91% of this plant, and each leaf may persist up to 6 months in terrible conditions, which is why the ZZ plant can survive for up to 4 months without water in low light.
Because this plant is still relatively new to home plant owners, it is commonly seen to live for 5-10 years, however it is suspected to live much longer.
Because these plants prefer to dry out between waterings, they only need to be watered once every 1-2 weeks.
It also requires little to no maintenance, but fertilizer may be beneficial from time to time.
Does ZZ plant need drainage?
Overwatering, as with many indoor plants, is the number one killer of ZZ plants. If the roots are kept damp all of the time, they will rot and kill the plant. This also indicates that the plant requires adequate drainage, so use a fast-draining succulent or cactus potting mix and place it in a pot with holes in the bottom. (A fellow plant-lover and I were just exchanging our regrets about “indestructible” plants we’d lost; hers was a ZZ plant, and mine was a spider plant, both of which perished from rotten roots caused by a lack of drainage.) Drainage is crucial!) When watering this plant, it’s best to go easy on it and let the top inch or two of soil dry out before watering again, around every week or two. Keep in mind that the more light the plant receives, the more water it need, and vice versa. This holds true for seasonal light levels as well. Dropping leaves indicates that the plant isn’t getting enough water, whilst yellowing leaves suggest that it is getting too much.
Repotting your ZZ plant
Repot a newly purchased ZZ plant into a pot that is somewhat larger in size and 1 inch wider across than the previous one (2.5 cm).
- Proper drainage is essential since this plant will perish if its roots are submerged in water. Check for a hole in the bottom of the new pot. At the bottom of the pot, add a drainage layer.
- The soil mix should be nutrient-rich; add one-fourth compost and one-fourth sand to improve drainage.
- If you want to cultivate or give a new ZZ to a friend, you can break the clump into various portions after repotting.
Planting the ZZ plant outdoors
This is only achievable in locations where the winters are mild. Temperatures must never fall below 40°F (5°C) for a ZZ plant to survive outside. The plant will die if it is frozen.
- If the weather drops below 40°F (5°C) in your location, you may protect ZZ plant from the cold and it may live.
- However, because the ZZ plant is a sluggish grower, dead leaves and fronds may take years to regrow.
Outdoors, the ZZ plant will grow in partial shade and shade. Drainage is crucial once again. Read up on how to make clay soil lighter if your garden soil is heavy.
Can ZZ plants get too cold?
What temperature is optimum for a ZZ Plant? ZZ Plants thrive at room temperature, but should be kept away from drafts, vents, and air conditioning systems. Your ZZ’s growth will be slowed if it is too chilly (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit).