Caring for a ZZ Plant: A Simple Guide

The ZZ plant is undeniably a perfect choice for those who want a dependable houseplant but are too busy conquering the world to spend a lot of time with them. ZZ plants are great because they do not require ongoing management, and they don’t need a lot of water every day!

ZZ plants are from eastern Africa, and they are succulents. ZZ plants like moderate to bright light- but not direct sunlight. They will do well in most homes with indirect sunlight coming through a window. This means that they store water in their leaves and stems, so they can go for a while without water and not die.

I know you guys are excited to grab a ZZ plant and take them home, so here are some things you should remember on how to take care of a ZZ plant so they won’t ZZ away!

What Is It and How Does it Grow?

Caring for a ZZ Plant: A Simple Guide sZZ plants are surely no snoozers, even though their name says otherwise. The ZZ in their name stands for “Zamioculcas zamiifolia,” which is the plant’s scientific name. They are also commonly called a “ZZ plant.”

ZZ plants grow best in moderate to bright light, but it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. ZZ plants have water stored in their leaves and stems, and will survive even if not watered for a short period of time. They don’t need a lot of water each day and may thrive for extended periods of time without it.

These plants make good houseplants since they don’t need much attention and are easy to care for. Regarding light and temperature needs, ZZ plants are great since they demand less maintenance from even the busiest individuals than other houseplants. Indeed, don’t we all deserve a healthy dose of greenery and the opportunity to pet some grass?

As mentioned earlier, ZZ plants do well in moderate to bright light but should not be placed in direct sunlight. They will do well in most homes with indirect sunlight coming through a window.

So how do we do that?

Here are some helpful tips:

If you have a north-facing window, place your ZZ plant near it.

If you have an east- or west-facing window, place your ZZ plant in a spot where it will get indirect light.

If your ZZ plant seems to have slowed down in growth, check for dust. Sometimes if the leaves get covered with a fine layer of dust, it can prevent the plant from receiving enough light to enact photosynthesis, and can slow the plant’s growth to a crawl. Get a damp rag and gently wipe the leaves on both sides. There are products that are specifically designed to make leaves shine more, but these are not necessary. (They do make the leaves shine, but the main goal is to get the leaves free of dust.)

As for temperature, they can tolerate temperatures from 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit. How can we ensure that they’re not getting too much? That can be done by placing the ZZ plant in a shady spot outdoors on a hot day. They will get all the things they need: indirect but bright sunlight and perfect temperatures.

How and When to Water?

No, even though I said that ZZ plants do not need much water, I did not want to imply that you should not water them on a regular basis. If the top layer of soil feels absolutely dry to the touch on your ZZ plants, it’s time to give them a drink. Once the drainage holes have been irrigated, water should begin to seep out of them as a result. Overwatering has the potential to produce root rot, therefore we must exercise caution. This is something we absolutely do not want!

The amount of water that this plant requires will be determined by how moist and light its surrounds are. Most of these plants only need watering once a week, at the most.

_What about during winter?_

We don’t have to worry about withholding water since the ZZ plant does not go dormant in winter as other plants do. We can just continue watering them like we normally would.

How and When to Feed?

ZZ plants don’t necessarily need to be fertilized often, but we can do so about once a month. We don’t want to fertilize them too much, which can also lead to root rot.

Slowly add the fertilizer to the water and mix well before watering the plant. As mentioned earlier, ZZ plants are resilient and can tolerate a range of soils, but it is still important to use a well-draining soil mix.

ZZ plants don’t flower very often, but if the right conditions are met, they will put forth a flower called a spadix, which has no colorful petals, but it does do something very interesting… it produces heat. The exact reason plants that produce spadix produce heat is still a bit of a mystery, but no matter the reason, it is fascinating.

How Does the ZZ Plant Propagate?

Propagating a ZZ plant is really easy and can be done in two ways.

The first way is by division, which can be done when the ZZ plant is about to be repotted. Cut off a section of the rhizome with at least one healthy leaf and replant it in potting soil.

The second way is by stem or leaf cuttings. Cut off a 6-inch stem or leaf from the plant and remove the leaves from the bottom two-thirds of the stem. Dip the end of the stem/leaf in rooting hormone powder and place it in a potting soil mix. Water well and keep the soil moist until the cutting roots.

Both methods will work, but the division method is a little faster.

So Remember…

ZZ plants are indeed so easy to care for, but there are still a few things we need to remember:

•  Do not place in direct sunlight
•  Make sure to keep the leaves free of dust
•  Water when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch
•  Fertilize once a month
•  Propagate by division or stem cuttings
•  Can tolerate a range of temperatures from 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit

ZZ plants are excellent houseplants since they are low maintenance and don’t need a lot of attention. With just a little bit of light, water, and fertilizer, we can keep our ZZ plant healthy and thriving!

Congratulations, You Made it Here!

Now that we’ve got everything covered, I assume you guys are now ready to put your acquired knowledge to the test and check if everything the we said is true. The next best thing everyone should do now is to go to the nearest plant store and grab a ZZ plant! It’s like the application of what you guys have learned from me.

ZZ plants are easy to maintain, but we should remember that they still need some lovin’ and carin’ like what we all deserve. Don’t we all?

Do you have any recommendations or feedback to add to the discussion? Then comment below! I answer every comment. You can also email me at randi@fairycirclegarden.com or send me a message through social media as well!

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Wishing you all the best,

Randi