ZZ Plant Care: Quick Tips
I love houseplants with unusual names, so it’s no surprise that the ZZ plant immediately piqued my interest.
The Zamioculcas zamiifolia, sometimes known as the ZZ plant, is a hardy indoor plant with dark green leaves that grow vertically upward.
A ZZ plant is easy to care for because it can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and requires minimal upkeep. In this article, I’ll explain how to care for your ZZ plant and whether it’s suitable for pets and children. Read on!
ZZ Plant Care
| Temperature: | The temperature should be between 60°F and 75°F (15°C and 24°C) on average, and it shouldn’t drop below 45°F (8°C). |
| Light: | It’s best to keep the humidity in your home at a normal level, but you can raise it if the artificial air in your home or office is making it very dry. This machine will help most of your plants. |
| Watering: | Don’t water too much, but let the dirt dry out to the touch between times you water it. If you water this plant too much, it can get stem, root, and rhizome rot. It’s better to water it too little. |
| Soil: | Most potting mixes that drain well and have a lot of perlite or sand in them will work. If you need to, you can add more perlite or sand to a bought mix. It is very important that the pot has good drainage holes at the bottom. |
| Re-Potting: | To loosen the dirt around your plant, water it. Take the pot off and cut back any roots that are hanging off or are dead. Put into a pot that is one to two inches bigger. Add a few inches of dirt to the bottom of the pot, and then put the plant back in. Put down top dirt. The new level of the earth should be a few inches below the old one so that water doesn’t go too far. |
| Fertilizer: | You should use a balanced liquid fertilizer that has been watered down once a month during the main growth season, which lasts from April to August. |
| Humidity: | It is best to keep the humidity in your home at a normal level, but you can raise it if the artificial air in your home or office is making it very dry. All of your plants will do better with a fan. |
| Propagation: | Rhizomes can be split up or leaf cuttings can be used to grow new plants. Leaf cuts need to be put in a pot with plastic wrap around it. After that, they have to wait up to a year for roots to start growing. |
| Pruning: | Take off the leaflets that are going yellow near the stem’s base. If one stem gets too long compared to the others, you can cut it off or remove it. Cutting it to size at the tip can make it look funny, so maybe taking it off totally is the best thing to do. |
Common ZZ Plant Pests and Problems
There are some things that ZZ plants do badly, even though they are very strong. I’ll talk about some of them here.
Overwatering
Overwatering is the most common problem your ZZ plant can have. You may have been watering your plant too often if it has yellow leaves that hang down too low.
This problem is often fixed by repotting the plants, but be careful because some plants may already have rotten roots and rhizomes.
Underwatering
Another usual issue is being too wet. It is possible for this plant to die if it runs out of water, even though its roots and rhizomes store a lot of it.
If your ZZ plant is either underwatering or overwatering, change how often you water it..
Pests
Even though ZZ plants don’t get eaten by most pests, mealy bugs, fungus gnats, and aphids can still get into them because they have sap.
Make sure there is no dust on the plant and add horticulture oil. Wear gloves whenever you touch the ZZ plant to avoid getting poisoned by the sap..
Common Questions about ZZ Plant
How Tough Are They?
Because ZZ plants are so tough, they have a well-deserved reputation for being the best hardy plants for new growers.
Giving them enough light, water, and air is all they need to stay healthy. They don’t need much watering or care..
Are They Pet-Friendly?
Zinc oxalate sap from the leaves, roots, and stems of ZZ plants is poisonous to pets. People should also be careful when taking care of a ZZ plant.
This plant is bad for dogs because it makes them sick and gives them throat pain if they eat it. Since the same is true for people, they should either wear gloves or avoid touching the ZZ plant without purpose.
How Big Can They Grow?
ZZ plants reach 3 to 5 feet, and their stems grow 6 to 12 inches monthly.
