Description
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a stemless plant with pinnately complex leaves that emerges from a thick underground rhizome. It can reach a height of 2 feet (60 cm). Normally evergreen, but during droughts it becomes deciduous, surviving because to a massive potato-like rhizome that stores water until rainfall starts. Smooth, lustrous dark green leaves grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) long. Flowers are produced on a tiny spadix that ranges from brilliant yellow to brown or bronze in color. They grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and appear from mid-summer to early October, partially concealed amid the leaf roots.
Is a ZZ plant considered a succulent?
The ZZ plant is a succulent houseplant from Africa that belongs to the Araceae (ariod) family. The species name refers to leaves that resemble those of the unrelated genus Zamia.
It’s one of the easiest low-maintenance houseplants to cultivate, and it’s commonly seen in business interiorscapes.
It will grow to a mature height of 2 to 3 feet and a spread of 2 to 3 feet over time.
It has bulbous meaty rhizomes that produce pinnately compound glossy leaves with stout petioles that store water and help it to withstand drought.
The leaves are waxy in appearance and are oval in shape and meaty.
The blooms are a white spadix and a green spathe, and they appear only on mature plants.
Wet feet are not tolerated, therefore plant in well-drained potting soil that is watered regularly but let to dry out between waterings. Water it only once a month during the winter months when it stays dormant, then twice monthly in the summer if the soil has totally dried out. Once or twice a year, apply a balanced fertilizer. Cactus and other succulent plants can be handled similarly to this plant. They can grow in very low light conditions, even in spaces with only fluorescent lighting, but they prefer bright indirect sunshine. If the plant is placed in direct sunlight, it may suffer from scalding and browning of the leaves.
In some regions, this plant can be grown in a container outside and taken inside once the weather drops below 60 degrees F.
How to Grow and Care
Plant maintenance begins with a lack of attention. In fact, if you leave ZZ Plants alone, they will thrive. They, like cactus, require less water rather than more. Only water the plant when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering is the only way to destroy this plant. When a ZZ Plant becomes yellow, it is indicating that it is receiving too much water and that its underground rhizomes are decomposing. So, if nothing else comes to mind when it comes to caring for a ZZ Plant, just remember not to forget to water it. It may go months without water, but it will grow more quickly if watered on a regular basis. ZZ Plants thrive without fertilizer, but you can feed them half-strength fertilizer once or twice a year during the warmer months if you like.
ZZ houseplants are simple to care for and are ideal for the forgetful gardener. Learn more about how to grow and care for a ZZ plant at How to Grow and Care for a ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).
LIGHT
The ZZ plant is one of those houseplants that will thrive in almost any environment! This plant will thrive anywhere between utter darkness and full direct sunlight, and this is not an exaggeration.
The best-case situation is brilliant indirect light, but a little direct sunlight won’t hurt either.
Although this plant can tolerate very low light, don’t expect it to grow very large if your lighting is inadequate.
It is, however, quite tolerant, and would be an excellent choice for office spaces with no windows and only overhead illumination.
When you see the words “low light” on a plant tag, it doesn’t necessarily signify that the plant requires low light.
Simply put, it will tolerate low light.
In reduced light circumstances, this plant will still look fantastic, but don’t expect it to grow as quickly, and it may weaken with time.
This plant, along with a few others like Pothos and Sansevieria, is one of the finest for low light circumstances.
On top of my kitchen table, which is a few feet away from a Western exposure window, I have a ZZ plant.
A skylight is also located just above the kitchen table.
It may get a ray of direct sunlight on occasion during the year, but it spends the majority of the day in indirect light.
I’d still call it a low-light setting, but it’s good enough for me because the new growth is strong and the rate of growth is far faster than I anticipated for this plant.
You may need to raise your light levels if your growth is floppy and weak.
However, don’t travel too far in the opposite way because you don’t want these sitting in direct sunlight.
WATERING
When it comes to watering, ZZ plants will withstand a lot of neglect. However, just like with lighting, if you DON’T fully ignore your ZZ plant’s watering demands, it will reward you!
However, if you have a habit of forgetting to water your plants, this is one of the best plants you can grow!
I will wait a long time before watering ZZ plants again. I don’t use a calendar to determine when I water because it varies greatly depending on various circumstances.
After thoroughly watering it, I will wait until almost all of the soil is absolutely dry before watering again. At the very least, you should wait until the top inch or two of the soil is dry before watering again.
If you touch the surface of the earth and it is still moist, don’t even THINK of watering this plant again!
I know someone who only watered her enormous ZZ plant once a month, and it grew to monstrous dimensions.
If you leave this plant in water for an extended amount of time, it will quickly decay. It is really tough to kill this plant unless you use a lot of water!
ZZ PLANT SOIL
ZZ plants require good drainage. For these plants, I like to use a cactus and succulent mix, but I will also add gritty perlite or pumice.
Miracle Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus mix is my go-to potting soil when I want to use a succulent/cactus mix.
I also like to add additional coarse perlite or pumice to this mixture.
As a result, you’ll have an exceptionally well-draining potting mix.
I don’t have specific measurements, but it’s probably one part perlite or pumice to three parts potting soil.
You can change the ratios to your preference.
What type of plant is ZZ?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, often known as ZZ plant or aroid palm, is an aroid palm native to Eastern Africa’s arid grassland and forest. It’s a stemless evergreen plant with gorgeous, pinnately complex leaves that rise up from its rhizomes and grow to be 3′ tall.
Is ZZ plant good for bedroom?
This beautiful plant, with its gleaming leaves and robust, upright structure, is a must-have for your nightstand or vacant floor area. What’s better? Zamioculas Zamiifolia, sometimes known as the ZZ Plant, can withstand extremely low light levels and sporadic watering. Water only when the top several inches of soil feel dry to maintain it healthy.
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:
Average household humidity levels are good, but avoid placing your plant near air conditioning and heating vents, which could 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.
Do ZZ plants like small pots?
You won’t have to worry about growing this plant from seed because you’ll probably get it from a nursery or garden center. However, cuttings or leaves may be used to propagate the plant. If that’s the case, keep scrolling down to the propagation section!
If you choose, you can keep using the same size container that you bought your zz plant in indefinitely. In a little pot, they do quite nicely. If you do need to repot your zz plant, simply place it in a larger pot and cut the roots to prevent them from becoming root-bound.
ZZ plants grow slowly in general. They can grow to be 3 feet tall inside, which is significantly more than they are in their natural habitat.
Should I mist my ZZ plant?
On a ZZ Plant leaf, there is a sunburn. I put mine out in the rain one afternoon and kept it out until 11 a.m. the next morning. This one leaf was the only one that caught fire. It was also the end of October, and they burn quickly!
Humidity
Tropical climates are home to ZZ Plants. Despite this, they are adaptive and do well in our homes, which have dry air. Mine barely has a few microscopic, tiny brown tips here in hot, dusty Tucson.
Fill the saucer with stones and water if you think yours are stressed owing to a lack of humidity. Place the plant on the pebbles, but make sure the drain holes and/or the bottom of the pot aren’t flooded. Misting a couple of times a week should also assist.
Fertilizing
When it comes to fertilizing, ZZ Plants aren’t picky. I use worm compost and compost to feed my. I’ve been doing it once a year, but starting next year, I’ll start applying in late February/early March (here in Tucson, where the weather warms up quickly) and then again in July. Here’s where you can learn more about my worm compost/compost feeding.
If you have it, liquid kelp or fish emulsion would be good, as would a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer (5-5-5 or lower). In the spring, dilute any of these to half strength and apply. If you believe your ZZ requires another application, repeat the process in the summer.
You shouldn’t fertilize houseplants in the late fall or winter because that’s when they’re supposed to be resting. Salts might build up and damage the roots of your ZZ Plant if you fertilize it too much. If your houseplant is strained, such as bone dry or dripping wet, don’t fertilize it.
Soil
My favorite combination is 3 parts potting soil, 1 part succulent and cactus mix, and 1 part coco coir. I always add a few handfuls of compost (how many depends on the size of the pot) and a 1/4-1/2 layer of worm compost on top.
I get my compost, succulents and cactus, and coco coir from a local supplier. I use this potting soil and worm compost. More online options for compost, succulent and cactus mix, and coco coir can be found here. Here’s where you can learn more about my worm compost/compost feeding.
Repotting/Transplanting
If you live in a warm environment, you can do this in the spring or summer; if you live in a cold climate, you can do it in the early fall. Your plant will need to be repotted sooner if it grows too quickly.
Both of mine are in plastic pots, but terra cotta or ceramic would work just as well. To allow them more room to expand, I potted them up a couple sizes.
What are the benefits of ZZ plant?
Do you want to be healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter? All you need to do now is add some plants!
With Americans spending over 90% of their time indoors, it’s more critical than ever to keep indoor air clean and fresh. Because of today’s advanced building construction methods, the average air exchange rate has decreased dramatically, making this time spent indoors potentially dangerous. The combination of reduced ventilation and the brew of harmful air pollutants is not ideal, but indoor plants are an excellent solution to this problem.
Plants in the home and office have been shown to provide a variety of benefits, including making you happier and healthier. According to a 2015 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, cognitive function scores are considerably enhanced in buildings with lower-than-average air pollution. Plants may purify the air by absorbing harmful poisons and chemicals in the air and creating oxygen. Plants in the home have also been shown to:
If you want to increase the quality of your indoor air, these are the top three indoor plants to buy:
- Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) lutescnes) – The areca palm, also known as Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) lutescnes, grows well in interior situations with direct light. It’s a favored indoor plant because of its capacity to eliminate airborne pollutants by transpiring rapidly.
- Sansevieria trifasciata, often known as Mother-in-Tongue, Law’s is a popular indoor plant that is frequently seen in interior plantscapes. They are nearly indestructible and can retain their vivid variegation in low-light conditions. Formaldehyde, Toluene, and Xylene are all removed from the air by Mother-In-tongue. Law’s
- The Zamioculcas zamiifolia is one of the most hardy indoor plants available. They are able to thrive in both low and high light environments. Toluene and Xylene are removed from indoor air by the ZZ plant.
How often should you water ZZ?
Always check your plant’s watering requirements as soon as you get it. Check the moisture level deep in the soil before giving your ZZ a drink to make sure it isn’t moist directly beneath the surface. Consider aerating your plant’s soil before watering it for the first time. Aerating the soil allows it to breathe and release moisture. Because ZZs love a dry climate, it’s critical to check the soil moisture at the root zone before watering.
A soil probe, which allows you to monitor your plant’s moisture level at the root level and can also be used to aerate the soil if overwatered, is the best tool we’ve discovered to get an accurate moisture reading throughout the soil. The Monitor Brass Soil Probe is a stylish choice.
Between waterings, ZZ’s want to dry completely. Because they have a very good water retention system, you shouldn’t water this plant until the soil in the pot is completely dry. In low-light environments or throughout the winter, this may mean watering only once a month.
Rotate your plant on a regular basis to guarantee even development on all sides, and dust the leaves frequently to ensure optimal photosynthetic activity. Take advantage of the opportunity to dust the leaves and inspect the undersides for bugs while you’re at it. Once every couple of months, clean your leaves with a microfiber cloth and a fine-spray mister.
If you’re going to pot your ZZ Plant in an organic container, we recommend adding a waterproof saucer underneath to protect your flooring from the moisture that may collect beneath the pot.
Remember that each plant is a unique living organism with distinct needs, especially in its own environment. Pay care to your ZZ’s health and watering requirements, and you’ll have a long and happy relationship.